Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,927 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Providence, RI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Orlando
Rent averages $295/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,509)
Homes cost $40k less ($293,000 vs $332,700)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.2%)
Median income trails Orlando by $4,927/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Median Income
$4,927
$66,292 vs $61,365/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Orlando
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 83.6°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 101.1 on the COL index
Providence
Violent Crime
67% lower
276.7 vs 835.8 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$40k less
$293,000 vs $332,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 39.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 23 categories. Orlando wins 12 and Providence wins 11. 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 Orlando to Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $293,000 median home), income ($66,292 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Providence, RI are about 1,079 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.