Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ 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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($196,700 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 38°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $13,317/yr
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.4%)
Orem, UT
Pros
74% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $13,317 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 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 Oklahoma City
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$196k less
$196,700 vs $392,900
Orem
Median Income
$13,317
$77,568 vs $64,251/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
74% lower
174.5 vs 676.0 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City to Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $392,900 median home), income ($64,251 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Orem, UT are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.