Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Orem
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46
Population
97,100 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hoover, AL
Pros
55% less violent crime than Orem
Households earn $24,197 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Orem, UT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $24,197/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Hoover
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$24,197
$101,765 vs $77,568/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
55% lower
78.0 vs 174.5 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$27k less
$366,200 vs $392,900
Orem
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 3.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 97,100 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 15 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 15 and Orem wins 8. 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 Hoover to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $392,900 median home), income ($101,765 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Orem, UT are about 1,451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.