Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Orem leads 14 of 22 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
Westminster
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
43% less violent crime than Westminster
Rent averages $442/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,732)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $74k less ($392,900 vs $467,200)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $13,083/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $13,083 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Orem
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
43% lower
174.5 vs 303.6 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$74k less
$392,900 vs $467,200
Orem
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.1% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$13,083
$90,651 vs $77,568/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Orem is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orem leads 14 of 22 categories. Orem wins 14 and Westminster wins 8. 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 $467,200 median home), income ($77,568 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Westminster, CO are about 352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.