Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $1262k less ($392,900 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $937/mo less ($1,290 vs $2,227)
78% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $29,229/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,229 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Orem
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
78% lower
174.5 vs 778.0 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$1262k less
$392,900 vs $1,654,800
Orem
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$29,229
$106,797 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 62.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Orem wins 12 and Santa Monica wins 11. 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 Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($77,568 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Santa Monica, CA are about 573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.