Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
11
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($181,600 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,290)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $18,834/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
79% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $18,834 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lubbock
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$211k less
$181,600 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$18,834
$77,568 vs $58,734/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
79% lower
174.5 vs 821.0 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ 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+ (108) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 30.0 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 12 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 12 and Orem wins 11. 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 Lubbock to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $392,900 median home), income ($58,734 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Orem, UT are about 713 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.