Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($248,600 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($997 vs $1,290)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $17,113/yr
Orem, UT
Pros
50% less violent crime than Columbia
Households earn $17,113 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Columbia
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$144k less
$248,600 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$17,113
$77,568 vs $60,455/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
50% lower
174.5 vs 347.5 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.0% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 28.8 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia 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 Columbia to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $392,900 median home), income ($60,455 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Orem, UT are about 1,033 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.