Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
16
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,651/mo
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
82% less violent crime than Aurora
Rent averages $361/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,651)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$1,117
$78,685 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
82% lower
174.5 vs 947.8 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$17k less
$392,900 vs $409,700
Orem
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora'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 16 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 7 and Orem wins 16. 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 Aurora to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $392,900 median home), income ($78,685 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Orem, UT are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.