Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Wichita
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orem, UT
Pros
68% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $16,856 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Wichita
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($166,400 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $375/mo less ($915 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $16,856/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$16,856
$77,568 vs $60,712/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
68% lower
174.5 vs 538.6 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Wichita
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$227k less
$166,400 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Orem wins 12 and Wichita wins 11. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $166,400 median home), income ($77,568 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Wichita, KS are about 791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.