What it's like to live in American Fork
American Fork is a small city in Utah with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. American Fork deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 41" per year
How American Fork compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to American Fork
Based on American Fork's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,394
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $67,880 a year
- 40% of American Fork renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$99,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $49,670
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 20% above US
$1,697/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,697 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $496,700. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $496,700 · 40% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 64% below US
118 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1412/100k · American Fork/Cedar Hills Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 10% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 18% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 19% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (6 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
American Fork's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,697/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (18% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals.
Other places near American Fork
All Utah guides →Moving to Pleasant Grove →
3 mi away · pop. 37,852
Rent $1,689/mo · Income $101,073
Compare with American Fork →Moving to Highland →
3 mi away · pop. 20,119
Rent $2,166/mo · Income $186,075
Compare with American Fork →Moving to Lindon →
5 mi away · pop. 11,765
Rent $1,563/mo · Income $120,956
Compare with American Fork →Not sure American Fork is the one?
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