Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 11 of 21 categories
Orem
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Households earn $19,625 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Provo
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Provo, UT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,290)
Smaller class sizes — 20.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $19,625/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$19,625
$77,568 vs $57,943/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
16% lower
174.5 vs 206.6 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 57 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 54 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Provo leads 11 of 21 categories. Orem wins 10 and Provo 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 Orem to Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $391,500 median home), income ($77,568 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Provo, UT are about 5 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.