What it's like to live in Spanish Fork
Spanish Fork is a small city in Utah with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Spanish Fork deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 66" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Spanish Fork compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Spanish Fork
Based on Spanish Fork's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,978
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $59,560 a year
- 42% of Spanish Fork renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$96,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,150
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,489/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,489 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $481,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $481,500 · 42% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 70% below US
98 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 747/100k · Spanish Fork Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% 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 23°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
39% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 39% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
15 public schools inside the boundary
There are 15 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (23 miles away).
Bottom line
Spanish Fork's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,489/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (15% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Spanish Fork
All Utah guides →Moving to Mapleton →
4 mi away · pop. 13,114
Rent $1,386/mo · Income $133,142
Compare with Spanish Fork →Moving to Springville →
4 mi away · pop. 35,849
Rent $1,572/mo · Income $89,816
Compare with Spanish Fork →Not sure Spanish Fork is the one?
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