Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
7
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.
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $66,999 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Orem
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $513/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,803)
Homes cost $139k less ($392,900 vs $531,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.4%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Frisco
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $66,999/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Median Income
$66,999
$144,567 vs $77,568/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
42% lower
100.9 vs 174.5 per 100k
Orem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Home Value
$139k less
$392,900 vs $531,400
Orem
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 3.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, TX | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $531,400⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 16 and Orem wins 7. 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 Frisco to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $392,900 median home), income ($144,567 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Orem, UT are about 958 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.