Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
17% less violent crime than St. George
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,235 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 102°F
Homes cost $22k less ($392,900 vs $415,200)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
St. George, UT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $8,235/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$8,235
$77,568 vs $69,333/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
17% lower
174.5 vs 210.0 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$22k less
$392,900 vs $415,200
St. George
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Orem wins 8 and St. George wins 15. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $415,200 median home), income ($77,568 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and St. George, UT are about 244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.