Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
14
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.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($254,200 vs $392,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $102/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,290)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $16,570/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
63% less violent crime than Norfolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $16,570 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$139k less
$254,200 vs $392,900
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.4 on the COL index
Orem
Median Income
$16,570
$77,568 vs $60,998/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
63% lower
174.5 vs 469.5 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Norfolk wins 9 and Orem wins 14. 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 Norfolk to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $392,900 median home), income ($60,998 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Orem, UT are about 1,916 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.