Provo vs Orem
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $467,200 in Provo and $472,300 in Orem.
- Households earn more in Orem ($83,342 vs $64,171 median).
- Provo is growing faster: -0.6% since 2020 vs -2.9%.
Side by side
| Provo, UT | Orem, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 114,527 | 95,214 |
| Growth since 2020 | -0.6% | -2.9% |
| People per square mile | 2,735 | 5,114 |
| Median age | 23.6 | 27.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45% | 44% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $64,171 | $83,342 |
| Median home value | $467,200 | $472,300 |
| Home value to income | 7.3× | 5.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,193 | $1,438 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 104.1 | 104.1 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,700 | $73,700 |
| Homeowners | 39% | 58% |
| Top state income tax | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Combined sales tax | 7.42% | 7.42% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.4 | 20.1 |
| Work from home | 16% | 17% |
| Take public transit | 5% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.1% | 3.9% |
| Poverty rate | 23% | 10.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 41° / 24° | 41° / 24° |
| July high / low | 95° / 62° | 95° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 17 in | 17 in |
| Snowfall per year | 45 in | 45 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 74 | 74 |
| Nights below freezing | 111 | 111 |
| Comfortable months | 2 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 56% | 56% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.5% | +3.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +34.2% | +34.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Provo: May and September. Orem: May and September.
Full monthly tables: Provo weather by month and Orem weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,700 in Provo and $73,700 in Orem. Moving from Provo to Orem, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.