Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46
Population
97,100
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,725)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $16,794/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Richardson, TX
Pros
16% less violent crime than Orem
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $16,794 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.4%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Orem
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$16,794
$94,362 vs $77,568/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
16% lower
146.7 vs 174.5 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$13k less
$379,800 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Orem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Orem wins 10 and Richardson 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 Orem to Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $379,800 median home), income ($77,568 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Richardson, TX are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.