Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 17 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
17
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Median income trails Orem by $8,131/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
57% less violent crime than Gresham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 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 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $162/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,452)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$8,131
$77,568 vs $69,437/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
57% lower
174.5 vs 410.2 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$19k less
$392,900 vs $411,700
Orem
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 17 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 6 and Orem wins 17. 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 Gresham to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $392,900 median home), income ($69,437 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Orem, UT are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.