Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Orem leads 16 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($392,900 vs $777,100)
60% less violent crime than Westminster
Rent averages $687/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Median income trails Westminster by $2,703/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Households earn $2,703 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/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
60% lower
174.5 vs 436.2 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$384k less
$392,900 vs $777,100
Orem
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$2,703
$80,271 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 16 of 23 categories. Orem wins 16 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $777,100 median home), income ($77,568 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Westminster, CA are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.