Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, MO
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
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.
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($208,900 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,131 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cons
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $12,312/yr
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
89% less violent crime than Kansas City
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,312 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$184k less
$208,900 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$12,312
$77,568 vs $65,256/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
89% lower
174.5 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, MO | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $208,900 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,131 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,256 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.2% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 407⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KANSAS CITY 33 | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 505,958 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($208,900 vs $392,900 median home), income ($65,256 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, MO and Orem, UT are about 913 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.