Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
14
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($259,500 vs $392,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
37% less violent crime than Irving
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,423)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Home Value
$133k less
$259,500 vs $392,900
Irving
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 92.5°F
Orem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$882
$77,568 vs $76,686/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
37% lower
174.5 vs 275.4 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving'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, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Irving wins 9 and Orem wins 14. 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 Irving to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $392,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Orem, UT are about 964 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.