Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Gilbert leads 17 of 22 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
5
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.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Households earn $37,611 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Orem
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,839)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $61k less ($392,900 vs $454,300)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 104°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $37,611/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Median Income
$37,611
$115,179 vs $77,568/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
24% lower
132.2 vs 174.5 per 100k
Gilbert
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 92.5°F
Orem
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Home Value
$61k less
$392,900 vs $454,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 53 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 17 of 22 categories. Gilbert wins 17 and Orem wins 5. 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 Gilbert to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $392,900 median home), income ($115,179 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Orem, UT are about 483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.