Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($246,000 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,290)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $16,065/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
85% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $16,065 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$147k less
$246,000 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$16,065
$77,568 vs $61,503/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
85% lower
174.5 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Orem 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 Albuquerque to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $392,900 median home), income ($61,503 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Orem, UT are about 453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.