Drive through Downtown Provo and the towering peaks of the Wasatch Range mountains, visible all around, might take one’s breath away. Those views are just icing on the cake for this Utah city of 115,000 people. With a booming tech sector, ample outdoor activities, a major university and highly rated public schools, it's has become one of the fastest growing in the state. “It's very family centered. There’s a lot of tech jobs, and a lot of young people. And there’s so much outdoor recreation. You can bike and hike all the way from the Provo Canyon to Utah Lake,” says Realtor Denise Martin of Realtypath, who has worked in area for more than 25 years.
Downtown Provo residents savor their proximity to nature.
Sidewalks may be lined with well-maintained lawns and landscaping in Lakeview.
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Humble beginnings sprout into a high-powered present
The city got its start when Etienne Provost, a fur trader from Canada, established a trading post in the area in the 1820s, and pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints staked a permanent settlement here in the 1840s. It was nicknamed the “Garden City” in the mid-19th century because of its wide network of fruit orchards and gardens. The establishment of what’s now Brigham Young University in 1875 helped spur early growth in the city as well. In the 1970s, companies like WordPerfect and software company Novell helped put it on the map as a regional tech hub. Today, the tech industry is so robust that it carries the nickname the “Silicon Slopes.”
Provo saw rapidly rising housing prices at the very beginning of the decade, though that has curtailed a bit. Homes here sell for an average of $601,000, well above the national average of about $492,000. Buyers can find quite a bit of new construction in the city, including single-family houses, townhomes and condos, but can also pick from an inventory that dates back to the late 19th century — and just about everything in between. “Prices are still going up. They leveled off a little bit last year, but the demand is still very high, and the housing inventory is low,” Martin says.
Two-story homes are found throughout the Downtown Provo neighborhood.
A Lakeview Luxury home boast spacious living areas, luxurious amenities & upscale finishes.
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Whether on the water or on the trail, outdoor fun is easy to come by
Provo is near the well-regarded ski and snowboard slopes at the 5,000-acre Sundance Mountain Resort in the Wasatch Mountains. The resort is situated around Mount Timpanogos, the second-highest summit in the Wasatch Range at 11,752 feet. It offers more than 17 miles of hiking trails, past waterfalls and, in the summer, patches of wildflowers. Winter sports are a major attraction — the city gets more than 30 inches of snow per year on average.
Those looking for something more adventurous can take a walk up to Buckley’s Mine, which is now abandoned and is accessible by hiking from the city’s Rock Canyon Trailhead. Cyclers can take advantage of paved paths like the mile-and-a-half South Provo Trail, which offers a mix of hills and flat terrain. Utah Lake is open to all manners of boating, from motored options to paddle boating. The 308-acre Utah Lake State Park has boat launches, docks and slip rentals as well.
The city is also home to the Peaks Ice Arena, which hosted some hockey competitions in the 2002 Winter Olympics. The facility is expected to play a similar role when nearby Salt Lake City hosts the games again in 2034.
The Downtown Provo neighborhood offers easy access to fly fishing on the Provo River.
Exchange Park, located in the Rivergrove neighborhood, provides great bike trails.
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Historic Downtown Provo
Downtown Provo offers a range of dining options, with everything from Native American and Hawaiian cuisine to Vietnamese and Peruvian fare. The downtown district is thoroughly walkable, with many meandering up and down historic Center Street, where buildings from the city’s founding era still stand.
Independent shopping destinations include Pioneer Book, the largest used bookshop in Utah County, open since 1980. Nearby Covey Center for the Arts hosts everything from the ballet to symphony performances. The BYU campus has its share of attractions, too, including the Museum of Art, which is among the biggest and most popular in the region.
Provo residents can come together each year through traditions like America's Freedom Festival, which includes a massive Fourth of July fireworks show at BYU’s LaVell Edwards Stadium. It’s considered the largest stadium fireworks show in the country.
There are many shopping options in the Downtown Provo neighborhood.
Rugged Grounds Coffee is located in the Downtown Provo neighborhood.
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Cougars have big footprint in Provo
BYU is not just one of the biggest establishments in Provo, but also among the biggest in the state. The university, which is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the fifth-largest employer in Utah. The school's nearly 35,000 students make it one of the largest private universities in the nation.
Kids in Provo attend highly rated public schools. The Provo City School District boasts a B-plus overall grade on Niche. The district offers dual-language immersion programs at many of its elementary schools.
Dixon Middle School is located nearby the Grandview South neighborhood.
Provo High School serves the Rivergrove neighborhood.
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Getting around by car, train and airplane
Provo’s public transportation is under the jurisdiction of the Utah Transit Authority, which includes more than 400 buses taking more than 120 routes. UTA also has a commuter rail service, dubbed FrontRunner, which has a stop in Provo and can take passengers up to Salt Lake City in a trip of just over an hour. Air travelers have the Provo Airport in their backyard, the second-busiest in the state.
Crime rate falls below state and national averages
The rate of violent crime in Provo is below the state and national average, according to FBI data. Numbers provided by the Utah Department of Public Safety show a year-over-year drop in 2023 for several crimes, including breaking and entering, motor vehicle theft and simple assault.
Provo expects continued population growth
The city’s population is expected to grow by about 38,000 by 2040, according to Provo’s 2023 General Plan, which is meant to help guide the city over the next 10 to 20 years. It’s one of the fastest growing mid-sized cities in the western United States.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
