Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Orem, UT
Pros
42% less violent crime than Ann Arbor
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 32°F
Homes cost $24k less ($392,900 vs $416,500)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$978
$78,546 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
42% lower
174.5 vs 302.5 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$24k less
$392,900 vs $416,500
Orem
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 27.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 10 and Orem wins 13. 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 Ann Arbor to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $392,900 median home), income ($78,546 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Orem, UT are about 1,452 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.