Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 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
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
37% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $16,203 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($293,000 vs $392,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,290)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $16,203/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Orem
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$16,203
$77,568 vs $61,365/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
37% lower
174.5 vs 276.7 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Median Home Value
$100k less
$293,000 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Orem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Orem wins 15 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $293,000 median home), income ($77,568 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Providence, RI are about 2,082 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.