Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $26,117 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Waterbury
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($162,800 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,290)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $26,117/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$26,117
$77,568 vs $51,451/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
46% lower
174.5 vs 322.5 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.8% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$230k less
$162,800 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Orem wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $162,800 median home), income ($77,568 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Waterbury, CT are about 2,003 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.