Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46
Population
97,100
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $332/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $33,555/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Pearland, TX
Pros
45% less violent crime than Orem
Households earn $33,555 more per year on average
Homes cost $82k less ($311,100 vs $392,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Orem
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$33,555
$111,123 vs $77,568/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
45% lower
95.9 vs 174.5 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$82k less
$311,100 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Orem is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 23 categories. Orem wins 6 and Pearland wins 17. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $311,100 median home), income ($77,568 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Pearland, TX are about 1,185 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.