Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 Orem leads 15 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Paterson
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
82% less violent crime than Paterson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $25,476 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($314,100 vs $392,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $25,476/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Orem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$25,476
$77,568 vs $52,092/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
82% lower
174.5 vs 978.6 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
7.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 10.5% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$79k less
$314,100 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Orem wins 15 and Paterson 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 Orem to Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $314,100 median home), income ($77,568 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Paterson, NJ are about 1,954 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.