Orem, UT vs Santa Cruz, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Orem
71
#1034 nationally
Santa Cruz
60.5
#1932 nationally
Orem leads in crime level (4.8 vs 16.8). Orem leads in cost of living index (115 vs 205). Santa Cruz leads in walk score (63 vs 43).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Orem, UT | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71 (#1034) | 60.5 (#1932) |
| Population | 95,519 | 61,501 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $507,933 | $1,360,355 |
| Median Household Income | $77,568 | $105,491 |
| Average Commute | 19.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Walk Score | 43 | 63 |
| Crime Level | 4.8 | 16.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 115 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+39.8 | D+54.4 |
C-
71 Score
Orem, UT
Utah community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$507,933
Population
95,519
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
43
West
View Orem, UT →
D-
60.5 Score
Santa Cruz, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,360,355
Population
61,501
Crime
High
Walk Score
63
Pacific
View Santa Cruz, CA →