What it's like to live in Provo
Provo is a mid-size city in Utah with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Provo deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- Cold winters
How Provo compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Provo
Based on Provo's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,386
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,720 a year
- 48% of Provo renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$93,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $46,720
- Homes cost 7.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 16% below US
$1,193/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,193 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are steep, with a median around $467,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $467,200 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 46% below US
177 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 1119/100k · Provo Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 29% below US
18 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% take public transit; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 25°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 5.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 26% above US
45% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 45% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
25 public schools inside the boundary
There are 25 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (14 miles away).
Bottom line
Provo's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,193/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near Provo
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