Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 22 categories
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Salt Lake City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $66k less ($392,900 vs $458,600)
Households earn $5,211 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Orem by $5,211/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$5,211
$77,568 vs $72,357/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
80% lower
174.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$66k less
$392,900 vs $458,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.6% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 19.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Orem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 22 categories. Orem wins 13 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $458,600 median home), income ($77,568 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Salt Lake City, UT are about 35 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.