Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Spokane, 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
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ 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 Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $14,252 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($286,900 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $230/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,290)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $14,252/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$14,252
$77,568 vs $63,316/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
74% lower
174.5 vs 674.9 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.1°F
Spokane
Median Home Value
$106k less
$286,900 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Spokane, 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 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Spokane'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 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $286,900 median home), income ($77,568 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Spokane, WA are about 583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.