Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $589k less ($392,900 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $810/mo less ($1,290 vs $2,100)
64% less violent crime than Pasadena
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $20,250/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,250 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Orem
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
64% lower
174.5 vs 480.4 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$589k less
$392,900 vs $981,600
Orem
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.2% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$20,250
$97,818 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Orem wins 13 and Pasadena wins 10. 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 Orem to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $981,600 median home), income ($77,568 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Pasadena, CA are about 552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.