Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $35k less ($358,400 vs $392,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $17,629/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Orem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Orem, UT
Pros
57% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Households earn $17,629 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Home Value
$35k less
$358,400 vs $392,900
Orem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$17,629
$77,568 vs $59,939/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
57% lower
174.5 vs 408.7 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 7 and Orem wins 16. 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 Elizabeth to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $392,900 median home), income ($59,939 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Orem, UT are about 1,956 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.