Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Topeka
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Topeka
Households earn $23,516 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Topeka
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($124,700 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $364/mo less ($926 vs $1,290)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $23,516/yr
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$23,516
$77,568 vs $54,052/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
80% lower
174.5 vs 856.5 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$268k less
$124,700 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 17.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Orem wins 12 and Topeka wins 11. 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($77,568 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Topeka, KS are about 855 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.