Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $9,398 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Rent averages $452/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,742)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $86k less ($392,900 vs $478,400)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $9,398/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$9,398
$86,966 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
64% lower
174.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$86k less
$392,900 vs $478,400
Orem
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Kent wins 7 and Orem wins 16. 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 Kent to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $392,900 median home), income ($86,966 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Orem, UT are about 716 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.