Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
70% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $421/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Homes cost $93k less ($392,900 vs $485,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $5,880/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 38°F
Households earn $5,880 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
70% lower
174.5 vs 589.7 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$93k less
$392,900 vs $485,500
Orem
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$5,880
$83,448 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Orem is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Orem wins 14 and Riverside wins 9. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $485,500 median home), income ($77,568 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Riverside, CA are about 540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.