Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
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.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $12,152 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Orem, UT
Pros
63% less violent crime than Longmont
Rent averages $399/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,689)
Homes cost $95k less ($392,900 vs $488,100)
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 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $12,152/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$12,152
$89,720 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
63% lower
174.5 vs 469.3 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$95k less
$392,900 vs $488,100
Orem
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 13.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 44.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 11 and Orem wins 12. 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 Longmont to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $392,900 median home), income ($89,720 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Orem, UT are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.