Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $35,611 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($392,900 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $693/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,983)
20% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $35,611/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$35,611
$113,179 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
20% lower
174.5 vs 219.1 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$263k less
$392,900 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 3.4% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Orem wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $392,900 median home), income ($113,179 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Orem, UT are about 1,835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.