Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Vancouver
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
70% less violent crime than Vancouver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $235/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,525)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Median Income
$3,942
$77,568 vs $73,626/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
70% lower
174.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$11k less
$392,900 vs $403,400
Orem
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 80.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Orem is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Orem wins 16 and Vancouver wins 7. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $403,400 median home), income ($77,568 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Vancouver, WA are about 662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.