Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Modesto, CA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Modesto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ 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.
Modesto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,497/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Orem, UT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,497)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Modesto
Median Home Value
$11k less
$381,800 vs $392,900
Orem
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$4,193
$77,568 vs $73,375/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
73% lower
174.5 vs 655.7 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Modesto, CA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,497⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,375 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 150⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Modesto City Elementary | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.3" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 218,308 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Modesto's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Modesto 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 Modesto to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($381,800 vs $392,900 median home), income ($73,375 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Modesto, CA and Orem, UT are about 532 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.