Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $18,002 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Orem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $880/mo less ($1,290 vs $2,170)
Homes cost $204k less ($392,900 vs $597,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $18,002/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$18,002
$95,570 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Home Value
$204k less
$392,900 vs $597,100
Orem
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 13 of 23 categories. Boca Raton 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 Boca Raton to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $392,900 median home), income ($95,570 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Orem, UT are about 2,047 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.