Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
St. Petersburg
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
72% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,235 more per year on average
Rent averages $120/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,410)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($289,000 vs $392,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Median income trails Orem by $7,235/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$7,235
$77,568 vs $70,333/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
72% lower
174.5 vs 619.6 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$104k less
$289,000 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Orem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Orem wins 13 and St. Petersburg wins 10. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $289,000 median home), income ($77,568 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and St. Petersburg, FL are about 1,864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.