Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Norwalk
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,691 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Orem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($392,900 vs $593,100)
53% less violent crime than Norwalk
Rent averages $570/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,860)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $13,691/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Income
$13,691
$91,259 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
53% lower
174.5 vs 374.4 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$200k less
$392,900 vs $593,100
Orem
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Norwalk 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 Norwalk to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $392,900 median home), income ($91,259 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Orem, UT are about 564 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.