Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Santa Maria, 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
Santa Maria
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
74% less violent crime than Santa Maria
Rent averages $478/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,768)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Santa Maria by $3,669/yr
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,669 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Orem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
74% lower
174.5 vs 660.6 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$45k less
$392,900 vs $438,100
Orem
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$3,669
$81,237 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 29.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Orem wins 14 and Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $438,100 median home), income ($77,568 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Santa Maria, CA are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.