Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Norman leads 14 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Salt Lake City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($224,900 vs $458,600)
70% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,254)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 40°F
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $9,508/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.6%)
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $9,508 more per year on average
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
70% lower
260.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$234k less
$224,900 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$9,508
$72,357 vs $62,849/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Norman is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 14 of 23 categories. Norman wins 14 and Salt Lake City wins 9. 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 Norman to Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $458,600 median home), income ($62,849 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Salt Lake City, UT are about 880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.