Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46
Population
97,100
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,822)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 105°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $10,188/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
37% less violent crime than Orem
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 38°F
Households earn $10,188 more per year on average
Homes cost $40k less ($352,600 vs $392,900)
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Median Income
$10,188
$87,756 vs $77,568/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
37% lower
109.1 vs 174.5 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$40k less
$352,600 vs $392,900
Surprise
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Orem is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Orem wins 8 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $352,600 median home), income ($77,568 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Surprise, AZ are about 460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.