Living in Provo, UT
Provo is the 273rd-largest city in the US, home to about 115,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run close to the national average (98.2 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 114,527-0.6% since 2020
- Median home value
- $467,2007.3 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,193/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $64,171median, per year
- Price level
- 98.2US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 41° / 95°lows 24° / 62°
- Average commute
- 18 min16% work from home
- State income tax
- 4.5%top rate, flat
Been to Provo?
Added to your city passport. See things to do
Added to the wishlist on your city passport.
County: Utah County
Time zone: Mountain Time (UTC-7, UTC-6 in summer)
Elevation: about 4,551 ft
Metro area: Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT
Cost of living in Provo
The median home in Provo is worth $467,200 and the median household earns $64,171 a year, so a typical home costs about 7.3 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,193 a month, about 22% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area at 98.2, with housing at 104.1 and goods at 96.4 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $73,700 here. Utah taxes wages at a top rate of 4.5% (a flat rate). The average combined state and local sales tax in Utah is 7.42%.
What would my salary be worth in Provo?
Provo weather
Average highs run from 41°F in January to 95°F in July, and January nights average 24°F. It gets 17 inches of rain and melted snow a year and 45 inches of snow. Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter. Nights drop below freezing about 111 times a year. The most comfortable months are May and September.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Provo
People and work
The median resident is 23.6 years old, and 45% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 39% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 18 minutes; 16% of workers work from home and 5% take public transit.
- Median age
- 23.63rd youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 45%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 39%of households
- People per sq mile
- 2,73541.9 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 5%10% walk, 1.2% bike
- Unemployment
- 5.1%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 23%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1983median year
Who moves to Provo, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Phoenix (Maricopa County), St. George (Washington County) and Las Vegas (Clark County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to St. George (Washington County), Phoenix (Maricopa County) and Cache County, UT. See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
FEMA rating for Utah County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: lightning, wildfire, earthquake, winter weather.
Home prices
+3.5% in a year
Up 34% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
56% good days
1 day unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Provo-Orem, UT area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Provo
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Brigham Young University in Provo
- Utah Valley University 5 miles
- Salt Lake Community College 34 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Provo
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Provo Municipal Airport PVU | 4 mi | 455,219 |
| Salt Lake City International Airport SLC | 42 mi | 13,543,570 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Provo
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University | in town | 32,952 | $13,397 | 81% |
| Utah Valley University | 5 mi | 28,453 | $17,558 | n/a |
| Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences | 24 mi | 2,058 | $29,382 | n/a |
| Provo College | 2 mi | 669 | $26,863 | 61% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Provo
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before April 18, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around October 10 and the first frost comes around October 21.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Provo Byu, UT, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Provo.
Wildfire smoke in Provo
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Provo on about 53 days a year, including about 16 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Provo
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 34,022 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Provo
Downtown Provo is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo School District | Pre-K to 12 | 13,897 | 22 | 20.9 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Alpine School District (86,645 students), Nebo School District (43,696 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Provo's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Provo's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Boise, ID76% matchCompare
- Greeley, CO72% matchCompare
- Caldwell, ID71% matchCompare
- Meridian, ID69% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Provo
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Provo
- Sundance Resort 11 miles, 21,312 ft
- Alta Ski Area 24 miles, 30,581 ft
- Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort 24 miles
- Brighton Ski Resort 25 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Provo
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data Commutes are short: 18 minutes each way on average.
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 7.3 years of median household income.
- Data Winters are snowy: about 45 inches a year.
- Data Poverty is high: 23% of residents live below the poverty line.
Provo report card from locals
0 of 5 reports so far. We show the Provo report card once 5 residents have rated it, so one opinion never stands in for a whole city. Live here? Add yours.
Rate Provo (2 minutes)
Lived here once? Map every city you have lived in and see how your homes compare.
Ask a local about Provo
No questions yet. Thinking about a move? Ask about neighborhoods, schools, winters, traffic or anything else, and people who live in Provo can answer.
Provo through locals' eyes
No resident photos yet. Share the view from your street, your favorite park or the city on a good day.
Share a photo
Contributions are read by a person before they appear. We remove ads, links, personal attacks and anything about private people. See the most helpful locals.
Cities near Provo
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orem, UT | 5 mi | 95,214 | $472,300 | 98.2 | Compare |
| Lehi, UT | 16 mi | 95,313 | $612,100 | 98.2 | Compare |
| South Jordan, UT | 27 mi | 87,614 | $650,500 | 100.9 | Compare |
| Sandy, UT | 27 mi | 92,386 | $614,100 | 100.9 | Compare |
| West Jordan, UT | 31 mi | 116,812 | $492,500 | 100.9 | Compare |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 35 mi | 218,428 | $539,500 | 100.9 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Provo with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Provo a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show short commutes; the trade-offs are expensive homes relative to local incomes, heavy snow. Compare Provo side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Provo?
The Census Bureau estimates Provo had 114,527 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 115,193 in April 2020 (-0.6%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Provo?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,700 in the Provo area. The median household here earns $64,171.
When is the best time to visit Provo?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, May and September are the most comfortable months. July averages 95°F and January 41°F for daytime highs.
What county is Provo in?
Provo is in Utah County, Utah. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Provo in?
Provo is on Mountain Time (UTC-7, or UTC-6 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Provo?
About 4,551 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does Utah have a state income tax?
Yes. Utah has a flat income tax with a top rate of 4.5% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Provo. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Provo Byu, UT station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.