Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
16
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,289 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $757/mo less ($1,290 vs $2,047)
65% less violent crime than Fairfield
Homes cost $153k less ($392,900 vs $546,200)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $21,289/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$21,289
$98,857 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
65% lower
174.5 vs 498.0 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$153k less
$392,900 vs $546,200
Orem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Fairfield 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 Fairfield to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $392,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Orem, UT are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.