Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Orem leads 15 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Spokane Valley
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
103,761 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
28% less violent crime than Spokane Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,085 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($307,700 vs $392,900)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,290)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $11,085/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$11,085
$77,568 vs $66,483/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
28% lower
174.5 vs 242.1 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$85k less
$307,700 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $66,483 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ 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 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 103,761 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Orem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Orem wins 15 and Spokane Valley wins 8. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $307,700 median home), income ($77,568 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Spokane Valley, WA are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.