Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 15 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
15
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,644 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($392,900 vs $684,900)
72% less violent crime than Boston
Rent averages $691/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $11,644/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$11,644
$89,212 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
72% lower
174.5 vs 627.9 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$292k less
$392,900 vs $684,900
Orem
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Boston wins 8 and Orem wins 15. 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 Boston to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $392,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Orem, UT are about 2,096 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.