Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 Orem leads 13 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
West Jordan
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
116,383 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
41% less violent crime than West Jordan
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $199/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,489)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $21,434/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $21,434 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Higher unemployment (4.2% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 98.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
41% lower
174.5 vs 294.2 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$19k less
$392,900 vs $412,100
Orem
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.2% unemployment
West Jordan
Median Income
$21,434
$99,002 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 98.5 |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 13 of 23 categories. Orem wins 13 and West Jordan wins 10. 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 Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $412,100 median home), income ($77,568 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and West Jordan, UT are about 26 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.