Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
New York
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ 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.
New York, NY
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($392,900 vs $732,100)
74% less violent crime than New York
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Rent averages $424/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,714)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$961
$77,568 vs $76,607/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
74% lower
174.5 vs 671.0 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$339k less
$392,900 vs $732,100
Orem
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York'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. New York 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 New York to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $392,900 median home), income ($76,607 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Orem, UT are about 1,969 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.