Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
West Covina
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63
Population
108,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($392,900 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $764/mo less ($1,290 vs $2,054)
27% less violent crime than West Covina
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $18,651/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,651 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Orem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
27% lower
174.5 vs 239.3 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$272k less
$392,900 vs $664,500
Orem
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$18,651
$96,219 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 108,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 23 categories. Orem wins 14 and West Covina wins 9. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $664,500 median home), income ($77,568 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and West Covina, CA are about 550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.