Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
14
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($212,500 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $129/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $14,574/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
60% less violent crime than Columbus
Households earn $14,574 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$180k less
$212,500 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$14,574
$77,568 vs $62,994/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
60% lower
174.5 vs 434.9 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 32.7 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 9 and Orem wins 14. 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 Columbus to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $392,900 median home), income ($62,994 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Orem, UT are about 1,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.