Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $28,446 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
39% less violent crime than Arvada
Homes cost $160k less ($392,900 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $416/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,706)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $28,446/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$28,446
$106,014 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
39% lower
174.5 vs 285.6 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$160k less
$392,900 vs $553,000
Orem
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 11 and Orem wins 12. 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 Arvada to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $392,900 median home), income ($106,014 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Orem, UT are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.