Portland: Coastal Maine food town; winter and prices. Provo: Fastest-growing family metro in the Mountain West.
Dimension
Portland
Provo
Median home price
$550K
$548K
Effective property tax
1.24%
0.57%
Tax friendliness
4/10
6/10
Winter mildness
3/10
5/10
Summer comfort
9/10
7/10
Walkability
5/10
5/10
Outdoor access
8/10
9/10
Culture & food
7/10
5/10
Healthcare
7/10
10/10
Airport connectivity
6/10
5/10
Schools
8/10
8/10
Safety
8/10
8/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
10/10
7/10
Growth trajectory
8/10
10/10
Pick Portland if your priorities lean: Summer comfort, Culture & food, Airport connectivity, Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk). Pick Provo if they lean: Median home price, Effective property tax, Tax friendliness, Winter mildness. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.