Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Salt Lake City
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gresham, OR
Pros
53% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Homes cost $47k less ($411,700 vs $458,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Salt Lake City
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $2,920/yr
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $198/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,452)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Smaller class sizes — 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Violent Crime
53% lower
410.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$47k less
$411,700 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$2,920
$72,357 vs $69,437/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 13 of 23 categories. Gresham wins 10 and Salt Lake City 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 Gresham to Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $458,600 median home), income ($69,437 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Salt Lake City, UT are about 622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.