Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 22 categories
Orem
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
53% less violent crime than Suffolk
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,376)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Median income trails Suffolk by $10,190/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($314,400 vs $392,900)
Households earn $10,190 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Violent Crime
53% lower
174.5 vs 371.0 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 86.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.1 on the COL index
Suffolk
Median Income
$10,190
$87,758 vs $77,568/yr
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$79k less
$314,400 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Orem is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 22 categories. Orem wins 14 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $314,400 median home), income ($77,568 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Suffolk, VA are about 1,900 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.