Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
63% less violent crime than Tempe
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,472)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Households earn $5,546 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 99.9 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$5,546
$77,568 vs $72,022/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
63% lower
174.5 vs 470.3 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Median Home Value
$11k less
$382,100 vs $392,900
Tempe
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 92.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 99.9 |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,472⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 29.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Orem is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 23 categories. Orem wins 11 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $382,100 median home), income ($77,568 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Tempe, AZ are about 478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.