Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($216,600 vs $392,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,290)
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $33,785/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
Households earn $33,785 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Gainesville
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
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$176k less
$216,600 vs $392,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 96.9 on the COL index
Orem
Median Income
$33,785
$77,568 vs $43,783/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
76% lower
174.5 vs 738.0 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 26.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Gainesville 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 Gainesville to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $392,900 median home), income ($43,783 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Orem, UT are about 1,805 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.