Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Orem leads 15 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Rialto
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
73% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,553)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Rialto by $3,182/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Households earn $3,182 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Orem
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
73% lower
174.5 vs 641.7 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$25k less
$392,900 vs $418,300
Orem
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$3,182
$80,750 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 31.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Orem is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Orem wins 15 and Rialto wins 8. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $418,300 median home), income ($77,568 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Rialto, CA are about 529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.