Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($310,000 vs $392,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $11,193/yr
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,193 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Home Value
$83k less
$310,000 vs $392,900
Glendale
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 92.5°F
Orem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$11,193
$77,568 vs $66,375/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
64% lower
174.5 vs 488.4 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Orem wins 13. 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 Glendale to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $392,900 median home), income ($66,375 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Orem, UT are about 468 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.