Moving to Orem, Utah

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, NOAA, USGS, the Utah State Tax Commission, and the City of Orem. Prices move, so ask me for current numbers.

Orem sits in the middle of Utah Valley. Utah Lake is to the west, and Mount Timpanogos rises to the east. About 95,210 people live here, by the 2025 Census estimate. It covers about 18.6 square miles of land, or about 5,100 people per square mile.

The name and the early years

Before it was a city, the area was called the Provo Bench. It was a place of fruit orchards and farms. Homes were built along the old territorial road, which is State Street today, and along other main roads. There was no town grid.

Orem became a town in 1919, and the reason was water. The area has little natural water. Residents did not expect Provo to pay for a water system, so they formed their own town. One of its first acts was a $110,000 bond to build the system. The town took its name from Walter C. Orem, the owner of the interurban railroad that ran between Salt Lake City and Provo.

The SCERA, a local arts nonprofit, started in 1933. The arts topic tells that story.

The steel mill next door

In the early 1940s the federal government built Geneva Steel on the shore of Utah Lake. The mill stood in what is now Vineyard, not in Orem. It closed in the early 2000s. Cleanup of the site, under state supervision, is still going on in parts of it, and much of the ground has been rebuilt as Vineyard.

The mall and the software years

Farms along State Street and University Parkway gave way to shopping centers. University Mall opened in 1973. WordPerfect, the word processing software company, was headquartered in Orem. The old mall has since been remade as University Place, and the new construction topic tells that story.

A city a little smaller than it was

1. 1990The Utah History Encyclopedia says Orem had more than 67,000 people.
2. 2020The Census counted 98,129 people.
3. 2025The Census estimate is 95,214 people, down about 2,900 or 3% from 2020.

Orem is not growing. Lehi passed it by 99 people in the 2025 estimates, so Orem is now about seventh. There is little open land left. In 2025 the planning commission talked about “redevelopment and reinvestment in already built properties.” Adding land to the city, called annexation, has “only a few options.”

The city is rewriting its general plan, with work in 2025 and 2026. On December 9, 2025 the council adopted a plan for the area around the Orem FrontRunner station.

The lay of the land

City Hall is at about 4,780 feet. Homes run from about 4,500 feet by Geneva Road and the lake to about 5,000 feet and a little more on the northeast foothills. The land does not climb in one even slope from the lake to the mountain.

The middle of the city is a flat shelf. State Street and City Hall sit on it. West of about 800 West, the ground drops about 200 feet toward Utah Valley University, the FrontRunner station and Geneva Road. The foothills in the northeast rise above the shelf. The neighborhoods topic walks through each side of town.

Lindon is about 7 minutes away, and Vineyard about 9. Provo is about 10 minutes south, and Salt Lake City is about 40 minutes north.

Want the street level view? Orem on The Local has guides to the city. Weighing the whole state? Start with my relocating to Utah guide. I did the homework here, and a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground.

Sources: the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 count, 2025 estimate), USGS elevations, the Utah History Encyclopedia, the City of Orem About page, Woodbury Corporation and Orem planning commission minutes.

Orem has four true seasons. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold and snowy. Spring is cool and changeable, and fall is warm early and crisp late. The weather numbers come from the Pleasant Grove station. It sits about 5 miles north-northwest of City Hall, inside Pleasant Grove, and about 90 feet lower.

Month by month

These are the normal highs and lows for each month. The swing from day to night is big in every season. A normal July day runs from about 93°F down to about 64°F.

• JanuaryHigh 41°F, low 24°F
• FebruaryHigh 47°F, low 28°F
• MarchHigh 58°F, low 35°F
• AprilHigh 64°F, low 40°F
• MayHigh 75°F, low 48°F
• JuneHigh 85°F, low 56°F
• JulyHigh 93°F, low 64°F
• AugustHigh 91°F, low 62°F
• SeptemberHigh 82°F, low 53°F
• OctoberHigh 68°F, low 42°F
• NovemberHigh 53°F, low 32°F
• DecemberHigh 41°F, low 25°F

Source: NOAA climate normals, 1991 to 2020, Pleasant Grove station. Months are rounded to the nearest degree.

About 16 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a year. Spring is the wettest season. May is the wettest month, with about 2 inches. July is the driest, with about 0.6.

Frost dates matter if you garden. The last spring freeze is usually around April 17, and the first fall freeze around October 25. That leaves about 188 days between them.

Nights are cold in winter. About 123 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. About 14 days a year stay below freezing all day. Nights of 0°F or colder are rare, fewer than one a year.

For the day to day side, see Orem on The Local.

Orem gets about 41 inches of snow in a normal year at the weather station. That is more than Lehi and a little less than Provo. Most of it falls from November through March.

January is the snowiest month, with about 11.5 inches. December follows with about 10. February brings about 8, and March and November about 4 each. April adds about 3. October and May average less than an inch. No snow falls from June through September.

About 14 days a year bring an inch or more of new snow. About 14 days stay below freezing all day, so what falls can stick around. Winters here are real winters.

For the bigger picture on snow and water in Utah, read my guide on Utah water and snowpack.

Summers are hot and dry, but the nights cool off. A normal July afternoon reaches about 93°F. A normal July night drops to about 64°F.

About 55 days a year reach 90°F or hotter. Days at 100°F or hotter are rare, about 3 a year. June is milder, with highs near 85°F. August is close to July, near 91°F.

Provo has its own station, about 4 miles south and lower. It runs about 2 degrees hotter in July, at 95°F.

Summer can also bring poor air. The air quality topic below has the details.

No weather station keeps wind records at the mouth of Provo Canyon. That is where the Provo River leaves the mountains, on the east side of town. No other source gives a wind figure for Orem, so this topic gives none. I would rather say so than guess.

Judge wind one home at a time. Shelter changes from street to street, and the cards below show what I would check.

Yes, Orem sits in Utah Valley, and Utah Valley gets winter inversions. An inversion is when cold air sinks into a valley and gets trapped under a lid of warmer air. On calm winter days, haze builds in that trapped air. The county runs a car emissions program to help cut it.

Summer brings a different problem. Ozone is a gas that forms on hot, sunny days, and it brings some poor air days in summer.

What the EPA says

Utah County is in the Southern Wasatch Front area for the 2015 ozone standard. EPA lists the area as Marginal, so it does not yet meet that standard. For fine particles, called PM2.5, EPA ruled in 2025 that the Provo area met the federal standard for the 2006 daily limit. That took effect on December 19, 2025.

Here is what I would do. Check the air each day on the county air quality page or the state’s air quality site, the way you check the weather. If air matters to you, visit during a gray winter stretch and a hot summer afternoon before you buy.

Car emissions tests are part of the same story. The first 90 days topic covers the test.

Sources: EPA Green Book (current as of September 30, 2026), the EPA news release on PM2.5, and the Utah County Air Quality Bureau.

Housing is the biggest cost in Orem. The glance box at the top of this page shows the latest typical home value, from the U.S. Census. That number is the middle of what owners say their homes are worth. It is not a sale price, so judge any home against recent sales nearby.

The city sends one bill for water, sewer, storm water and garbage. Power and gas come from other companies. The utilities topic explains how to sign up, and why yards here run on drinking water.

The city's average bills

These are the city's own averages for a typical home. They are separate figures for different amounts of use, so do not add them into one bill.

Want a side-by-side with a nearby town? Provo is next door. Lindon and Pleasant Grove are close too. Ask me and I will run the numbers for the towns you are weighing.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2020 to 2024), the Utah State Tax Commission, and the City of Orem (its fiscal year 2027 budget and utility pages). Costs change, so ask me for current numbers.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Three taxes matter most when you move here: sales tax, state income tax and property tax.

What is on an Orem tax bill

A levy is the tax rate that one group sets. The main Orem tax area lists seven groups. Five of them levied a property tax in 2025. They are Alpine School District, Orem City, Utah County, the Orem Metropolitan Water District and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. A behavioral health district and an animal shelter district are listed too, but they levied no tax.

Added up, the 2025 levies come to about 0.80% of a home's taxable value. Taxable value is the part of the value that gets taxed. For a primary home, that part is 55%. So the bill works out to about 0.44% of market value, a little below the county average of 0.49%.

The school district's levy is the biggest part of the bill. The city's levy is a small part. In the city's own comparison of 19 Utah cities, Orem's city property tax ranks 17th, near the low end.

Two small tax areas add city redevelopment areas. A few parcels on the Provo line pay Provo City School District instead of Alpine. Look up the tax area for any parcel before you budget.

The city's 2026 increase

Orem raised its own property tax rate for 2026. The council approved the increase 5 to 2 after a public hearing on August 27, 2026. Utah calls this a Truth in Taxation hearing.

The city rate went from 0.000590 to 0.000631. The 0.000590 figure is the certified rate, which falls when home values rise. The city says the change brings in about $450,000 more a year, an increase of about 7%. That money goes into a public safety fund, and it pays for two new police officers.

At the hearing, the council heard that Orem was once "the king of sales tax" and that this is no longer the case. City sales tax collections rose 0.3% in 2023, fell 1% in 2024 and rose 3.1% in 2025.

The schools will change the bill again. The Timpanogos School District takes over Orem's public schools on July 1, 2027, and it will set its own levy. No rate exists yet. The schools topic explains the change.

The primary home exemption

Utah gives a tax break to the home you live in. A primary home is taxed on 55% of its market value. The county assessor asks new owners to declare a home as primary or secondary. Check your tax notice for the primary home line to see that the break is applied.

The emissions test

Utah County requires an emissions test to register most cars. The first 90 days topic walks through the test and the steps to register.

Sources: the Utah State Tax Commission (2025 levies and the 2026 sales tax table), the City of Orem (its 2026 tax notice, impact schedule and budget comparison of 19 cities), the Daily Herald (August 28, 2026), and S.B. 60 (2026). Questions about your own bill go to the county assessor.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

The glance box at the top of this page shows the latest typical home value for Orem, from the U.S. Census. That number is the middle of what owners say their homes are worth, from Census surveys over five years. It is not a sale price. Prices shift through the year, so judge any home against recent sales of homes like it.

The Census counts about 32,835 homes in the city. About half, 51%, are detached houses. About 12% are townhomes or other attached homes, and another 12% sit in buildings of two to four units. About 23% are in buildings of five or more units. About 2% are mobile homes. The median home has 6.1 rooms.

About 58% of homes are lived in by their owners, and 42% are rented. In Utah County as a whole, 68% are owner-occupied.

How old the homes are

The median home was built in 1989. Most homes date from the 1970s to the 1990s. The 1970s were the biggest decade, with about 21% of all homes. About 56% were built from 1970 to 1999. About 16% were built before 1970, and about 16% since 2010.

Little open land is left, so most homes for sale already exist. The next topic, new construction, shows how few new ones are being built. Older homes mean older roofs, furnaces and sewer lines. The home checks topic lists what to ask.

Lot sizes

A zone is the city's rule for what can be built on a lot. The zone name sets the smallest lot. R8 means a lot of at least 8,000 square feet. R8 covers the most ground by far. The table lists the main ones, with each zone's share of the city's zoned land. The shares are rounded.

Large lots are the smaller group. A September 2026 city staff report counted about 5,800 residential parcels of 11,000 square feet or more. It counted 14,510 smaller ones. Most of the large lots are in the R8 zone. Others are in the R6 and R7.5 zones. Read the zone on the parcel before you count on a lot size.

Basement and backyard apartments

The city keeps a public map of legal accessory apartments. An accessory apartment is a second, smaller home inside a house, such as a basement apartment. The city allows them only in owner-occupied detached houses. They are not allowed in the R5 zone or in planned residential developments, called PRDs. If a home you like has a basement apartment, check that it is on the city map.

Backyard homes are new in 2026. The new construction topic has the rules by lot size. You can also browse basement homes and ADU and casita homes in Orem.

Ask me how fast homes like the one you want are selling right now. A number from last season can mislead.

Shop by price

Shop by kind of home

Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2020 to 2024, the City of Orem zoning map and its September 22, 2026 council packet, and the city's accessory apartment map and ordinance. Prices shift through the year, so ask me for the latest Orem numbers.

Orem is one city, and the city sorts its 22 neighborhoods into nine districts. This list follows those nine, from the north end to the south end. The overview explains the lay of the land: a flat shelf in the middle, lower ground to the west, and foothills to the northeast.

• Heatheridge, Northridge and WindsorThe north end, by LindonAbout 4,750 to 5,100 feetHeatheridge climbs highest, on the northeast side. Northridge sits in the middle of the north end. Timpanogos High is in Windsor. The Murdock Canal Trail starts on this side of the city.
• Aspen and TimpviewThe northwestAbout 4,560 to 4,770 feetTimpanogos Regional Hospital sits in Timpview. The ground here is lower than on the east side.
• Canyon View, Orchard and CascadeThe east side, under the mountainAbout 4,790 to 4,970 feetPalisade Park is here. Above these neighborhoods the hillside climbs past 5,000 feet toward the mouth of Provo Canyon. The Wasatch fault, old landslides and the Provo River floodway are all on this side, as the home checks topic explains.
• Orem North and Sharon ParkThe middle of the cityAbout 4,770 to 4,810 feetCity Hall, the library and City Center Park are here, on the flat shelf along State Street.
• Geneva Heights, Suncrest and Orem ParkThe west side, toward Geneva RoadAbout 4,770 falling to 4,550 feetThe ground drops from the east edge of these neighborhoods to Geneva Road. Orem Community Hospital is in Suncrest, and Mountain View High is in Orem Park.
• Orem, Sharon and HillcrestSouth-centralAbout 4,760 feet at the SCERAOrem High and the SCERA are here. University Place and Costco are in Hillcrest. University Place is a shopping and housing district inside Hillcrest, not a neighborhood of its own. The Provo River floodway runs along Hillcrest's east edge, where the ground dips to about 4,650 feet.
• Stonewood and LakeridgeSouth of Center Street, between State Street and I-15About 4,730 to 4,760 feetThese neighborhoods sit at about the same height as the middle of the city.
• Sunset Heights East and WestThe southwest, by the freeway and the lakeAbout 4,510 to 4,600 feetThis is the lowest ground in Orem. UVU, the Orem Central FrontRunner station, Lakeside Park and Sleepy Ridge are here. Utah Lake's floodplain reaches the southwest corner at Sleepy Ridge.
• Lakeview and Cherry HillThe south end, by ProvoAbout 4,510 to 4,740 feetLakeview is lower, to the southwest, and Nielsen's Grove is in it. Cherry Hill sits against the Provo line at about 4,735 feet.

Here is how the two sides of the city differ. The east side buys views of the mountain and closeness to the trails. It also brings steeper lots, and slope and drainage questions that you should settle lot by lot. The west side and the middle are flatter. They sit closer to FrontRunner and UVU.

Some plats have recorded rules called CC&Rs. If a home has them, ask for the recorded CC&Rs and read them before your deadline. Which school a home goes to depends on its exact address. Check with the district, because the boundaries may change with the split in July 2027.

Want the story on a certain block? Tell me what you are after. I will get it through the partner agent on the ground. My Orem guides on The Local cover the parks, the SCERA and more.

Areas come from the City of Orem's neighborhood and zoning maps. Elevations come from the U.S. Geological Survey and are rounded. Which school a home goes to depends on its exact address, so check with the school district.

New building in Orem has slowed. The last big wave was apartments in 2021 and 2022. Since 2023 almost every new home has been a single house on a leftover lot. The biggest rebuilding project is University Place, which turns an old mall into a district.

The Census counts the homes that cities permit. A permit is the city's approval to start building. Orem permitted about 900 new homes from 2020 to 2025. The table shows the years.

University Place

University Mall opened in 1973 on University Parkway. Woodbury Corporation developed it, still owns it and leads the rebuilding. In 2015 the company announced a major renovation, and in 2016 the first of five office buildings was finished. The site covers about 120 acres. A 2024 company release called the work "a $500 million revitalization."

The district now holds shops, restaurants, a movie theater and a Courtyard hotel. It has three apartment buildings, called The Aston, The Devon and The Exton. The Orchard is its outdoor green. The shopping topic covers the stores, and the entertainment topic covers The Orchard.

It was built in phases, so ask what stage a building is in before you plan around it. The University Place guide on The Local tells more of the story.

Other projects and backyard homes

Farm Haven is a planned housing project on the west side, at 1875 South Geneva Road. In July 2026 the city council heard a request to rezone about 2.9 acres and to change an approved cottage plan to Westerly Way, a plan for 40 twin homes. To rezone is to change the zone of a piece of land.

Backyard homes are a new kind of home. A 2026 state law required cities to allow detached homes in the yards of larger lots. Orem adopted its rules on September 22, 2026. They apply to single-family lots of 11,000 square feet or more, but not in PRD zones, and the table shows the steps.

A backyard home can never be bigger than half the size of the house's ground floor. The owner must live on the property. A big lot next door can now add one.

A caution before you search. National new-home sites lump in homes from Vineyard, Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain. Those are not Orem. If a site shows dozens of new communities "in Orem," it is using a wide search radius. Check that the address is inside Orem.

Before you plan around a project, line up these checks.

1. Orem or a neighbor. Confirm the address is inside Orem city limits.
2. For sale or for rent. Townhome and apartment projects can be either.
3. The land next door. Ask what the next parcel is zoned for.
4. Phase and builder. Ask which phase is open, who builds it, and what else they have built.
5. A public infrastructure district. Ask whether the lot sits in one. It can add a line to the tax notice.
6. The school. Ask the school district which schools serve the address.

Builders often cover the buyer agent fee, and your agent puts that in writing before you sign. Buying new works differently from buying a resale home, so read how it works before you tour.

Sources: the U.S. Census Bureau's building permits survey for Orem (2020 to 2025), Woodbury Corporation and University Place (2024 release), and City of Orem council and planning records (2025 and 2026). A project in the records is not a home for sale. Plans change, so ask me for the latest status.

Every town has its own list of things to check. These are the questions I would ask about any home in Orem. A map or a test can answer each one for a single address, so check them one home at a time.

The house itself

More than half of Orem's homes date from 1970 to 1999. On an older home, check the age of the roof, the furnace, the water heater and the sewer line. A home inspector can tell you the condition of each one.

If a home has a basement apartment, look it up on the city's legal apartment map. The housing market topic explains the rule that the owner must live there.

Water, and the zone next door

Orem has no second water system for yards. Yards run on drinking water, and the utilities topic tells that story. Ask how the yard is watered. Ask whether the sprinklers have a backflow device and when it was last tested. A backflow device keeps yard water from flowing back into the drinking water.

Read the zone next door, above all on State Street, University Parkway and Geneva Road. The city's zoning map shows what can be built beside a lot.

Far-west lots

The old Geneva Steel mill stood next door in Vineyard, not in Orem. The overview tells the story. On lots near the far west edge, I would check the property's records and disclosures. I would do the same for any lot near old industrial ground. It is routine, not a warning about Orem housing.

Ask me about any of these on a home you like, and I will tell you what the record shows. Your agent on the ground can set up the radon test and the inspection.

More on inspections

This is general information, not legal, engineering, or insurance advice. Sources: the Utah Geological Survey, FEMA, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, and the City of Orem. Have a licensed inspector look at any home before you buy.

Sort out the financing before you start the search. The best first step is to get pre-approved. That means a lender checks your finances and tells you how much you can borrow. It shows what you can spend, and it makes your offer stronger.

Homes here are not all alike. An older house, an as-is property and a home with a documented renovation can each follow a different loan and appraisal path. Knowing early which one you are writing on changes how the offer should read.

On the loan side I stay on your file myself. If I am your lender, I can tell you early if a home could be hard to get a loan on. The loan guides on this site explain each loan type in plain English.

One loan type does not apply here. USDA loans are for rural homes, and the USDA map shows every Orem point tested as inside the ineligible area. That map result covers only the city itself. Conventional, FHA and VA loans are the ones to look at.

How my dual role works. I am licensed in both real estate and lending. On any one purchase I take one role. Every role is disclosed, and you are always free to choose your own agent and your own lender. In Orem, a partner agent I trust does the work on the ground. The full explanation is on How I Work. This section is general information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.

Orem has jobs of its own, and Provo, Lehi and Salt Lake City are within driving range. The average trip to work is 20.1 minutes (Census, 2020 to 2024). The county average is 22.6 minutes. About 4 workers in 10 get to work in under 15 minutes. About 1 in 10 spend 45 minutes or more.

How people get to work

About 67 workers in 100 drive alone, and about 11 in 100 carpool. About 17 in 100 work from home. About 2 in 100 ride transit. These numbers count people who live in Orem, wherever the job is.

Employers in town

Each year the city lists its principal employers. It counts the people who work at Orem sites. Here is the list for the 2025 fiscal year, from the most people to the fewest. Together these ten employers hold about 15 in 100 of the jobs in the city.

Utah Valley University counts 6,123 faculty and staff, full and part time, for 2025. The city counts people a different way, so its number for the university is lower. Schools, a university, a hospital, big stores and a few private companies make up the list.

Jobs in the next towns

Provo is about 10 minutes south, and Lehi is about 15 minutes north. Salt Lake City is about 40 minutes north. Utah County as a whole had about 302,200 jobs in March 2026, and the average weekly wage was $1,288 (BLS). Remote work depends on the address, because internet service changes from street to street. The internet topic shows how to check. My guide for remote workers in Utah covers what to ask before you move.

Sources: Census ACS 2020 to 2024, the City of Orem annual financial report for 2025, UVU’s Key Indicators page, and BLS County Employment and Wages (first quarter 2026). Drive times are map estimates.

Yes. Orem has two hospitals inside the city. Timpanogos Regional Hospital is at 750 West 800 North, about 5 minutes from City Hall. Intermountain Orem Community Hospital is at 331 North 400 West, about 4 minutes from City Hall and about a mile south of Timpanogos Regional.

Trauma centers are ranked from Level I, the most complete, to Level V. The state list rates Timpanogos Regional as Level III and Utah Valley Hospital as Level II, the county’s highest.

Orem Community Hospital has a one-mile paved walking path on its campus. For everyday care, Intermountain’s Central Orem Clinic is at 505 West 400 North. Confirm which clinics and urgent care sit closest to your address when you set up care, and check hours before you go.

On military orders? My military PCS guide covers VA loans and timing the move.

Sources: the Utah DHHS licensed facility list, the Utah trauma center list (May 2025), and the hospitals’ own pages. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall.

Alpine School District runs every public school in Orem through June 30, 2027. On July 1, 2027, the new Timpanogos School District becomes the district for the public schools in Lindon, Pleasant Grove, Orem and Vineyard. That is about 30 schools and about 23,000 students.

Voters approved two new districts in November 2024 (Propositions 11 and 14). Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove and Vineyard then formed Timpanogos by an agreement in December 2024. The district’s board was elected in November 2025. Confirm the school for an address with the district, because boundaries may change with the split.

Schools inside Orem

Orem has three high schools, three junior highs and twelve elementary schools. Here are the schools and their enrollment on October 1, 2025. In Alpine, elementary school is kindergarten to grade 6, junior high is grades 7 to 9, and high school is grades 10 to 12.

Counts come from the Utah State Board of Education, October 1, 2025. The list matches state school locations to the Orem city line. East Shore Online, a grade 9 to 12 online school, is also on the list.

Charter and special schools

Three charter schools are in Orem. Utah County Academy of Science teaches grades 9 to 12. Noah Webster Academy teaches kindergarten to grade 6, and Lumen Scholar Institute teaches kindergarten to grade 12. A charter school is public and sets its own enrollment steps, so ask each school how to apply. The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind run a school at 424 South 350 East. A few small private schools are in the city too.

I do not rate schools, and I would be wary of anyone who says which one is best. Check boundaries and programs yourself, with what matters to you in mind. The links below go to the district and to independent sites.

Ratings and boundaries come from independent third parties and the districts, not from me.

Yes, in a plain sense: a very large university sits inside the city. Utah Valley University (UVU) is on the west side of Orem, about 7 minutes from City Hall. UVU says it is the largest public university in the state of Utah. Brigham Young University (BYU) is in Provo, about 11 minutes away.

UVU counted 48,670 students in fall 2025. That includes 18,163 high school students taking UVU classes, and 1,151 graduate students. The jobs topic has UVU’s staff count and the city’s employer list.

One bus line, UVX, links UVU and BYU. The transit topic has the details. Class times load the roads near campus, as the traffic topic explains.

Mountainland Technical College has an Orem campus at 1410 West 1250 South. It teaches career and technical programs. Check which programs that campus offers before you plan around it.

Times are map estimates in normal traffic, not to the campus door. Rush hour and parking change them.

Most Orem workers drive, and the main roads are easy to learn. I-15 runs through the west side of the city. Four exits serve Orem. Exit 269 is University Parkway, and Exit 271 is Center Street. Exit 272 is 800 North, and Exit 273 is 1600 North, on the Lindon line.

State Street is US-89, and it runs north and south through the middle of the city. Geneva Road is State Route 114, on the west side. University Parkway (State Route 265) is the main road to UVU and University Place. The 800 North road (State Route 52) runs east to US-189 at the mouth of Provo Canyon.

From City Hall

• Timpanogos Regional Hospital~5 min
• Utah Valley University~7 min
• Orem FrontRunner~9 min
• Bridal Veil Falls~12 min
• Sundance~18 min
• Timpanogos Cave~21 min

Traffic in town

Rush hour and UVU class times load University Parkway and I-15. Test your own route: drive it at the hours you would drive it before you buy. The jobs topic has the commute numbers.

UDOT’s 2026 construction list names no project in Orem. Construction plans change, so check UDOT before a big move.

Sources: Census ACS 2020 to 2024, UDOT’s 2026 construction list, and a router drive table. Drive times are map estimates in normal traffic.

Orem has a FrontRunner train station and a bus line called UVX. Both stop at Orem Central Station, at 1350 West 900 South, about 9 minutes from City Hall. Even so, about 2 in 100 Orem workers ride transit. Most trips still need a car.

The UVX fare is $2.50. On a FAREPAY card, the fare is capped at $5 a day and $20 a week. UDOT is doing road work near Provo Central, so UVX stops and detours may change. Ask your school about UTA’s pass program, because terms change.

Other UTA bus routes meet UVX stops, including routes 805, 806, 807, 821, 822, 831, 850 and 862. Route 850 runs on State Street. UTA On Demand, the app-based ride service, runs a West Provo and Orem zone.

Check the schedule before you ride. Routes and times change.

Sources: the UTA FrontRunner (Route 750) fall 2026 schedule and the UTA UVX (Route 830X) schedule and fare pages. Check rideuta.com before you ride.

Orem has no airport of its own. Provo Airport (PVU) is the close one for commercial flights, about 9 miles and 15 minutes away. Its website lists Allegiant, American and Breeze. Check which cities each airline flies to from Provo before you plan around it.

Salt Lake City International (SLC) is the full-service airport. It is about 47 miles and 53 minutes from City Hall.

• Provo (PVU)~9 mi · ~15 min
• Salt Lake City (SLC)~47 mi · ~53 min

These are drive times to the airport, not to the terminal door. Rush hour and winter storms change the Salt Lake City run the most, so leave extra time.

Sources: the Provo Airport website and a router drive table. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall in normal traffic.

Orem sits in the middle of Utah Valley, between Utah Lake and Mount Timpanogos. Lindon is the next town north, and Vineyard is to the west. Provo is next door to the south. Each is a short drive, and Provo is about 10 minutes away.

Lindon

~3 mi · ~7 min

Vineyard

~4 mi · ~9 min

Provo

~5 mi · ~10 min

Pleasant Grove

~5 mi · ~10 min

American Fork

~9 mi · ~13 min

Lehi

~12 mi · ~15 min

Heber City

~26 mi · ~30 min

Salt Lake City

~40 mi · ~40 min

Here are more drives people ask about, all from City Hall.

These are map estimates in normal conditions, not official figures. Add time for snow and rush hour, and check your own route. Canyon roads can close in winter.

The national parks are long drives. The national parks topic has the times. More towns and day trips are in the nearby topic.

Want any other pair of towns? Look up any Utah drive between 138 towns.

The City of Orem handles water, sewer and garbage on one utility account. You can sign up at my.orem.gov or call 801-229-7000. The city’s Help Center takes calls and texts at that number. Power comes from Rocky Mountain Power, and natural gas comes from Enbridge Gas Utah. Internet is separate.

Water and the yard

Orem has no secondary water. Secondary water is a separate, untreated line for lawns and gardens, and many Utah County cities have one. The city’s water plan says the savings other cities get from secondary meters are not available to Orem. So your sprinklers run on treated city water.

A 2016 state law makes the price per gallon rise as you use more. From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, water costs $0.93, $1.17, $1.39 or $1.64 per 1,000 gallons. A base charge is added. On a three-quarter inch meter, the price steps up at 11,000, 34,000 and 65,000 gallons a month. A big lawn pays the higher prices.

The city puts its average home water bill at $57.74 a month, figured at 28,000 gallons. Your bill will differ with your lot and your yard. Ask whether the sprinklers have a backflow device and when it was last tested. The home checks topic covers it.

Orem’s water comes from nine wells, two springs, and treated water from the Provo River and from Deer Creek and Jordanelle reservoirs.

Sewer

The city’s own plant, by Utah Lake, treats Orem’s sewer and Lindon’s too. Its Water Reuse Facility opened on March 10, 2026. It cleans wastewater further and sends treated water to turf at Lakeside Park and Sleepy Ridge Golf Course, not to homes. The cost of living topic lists the city’s average sewer, storm water and garbage bills.

Garbage

Garbage pickup is weekly, and recycling is every other week, on the same day. To haul your own load, the North Pointe landfill is at 2000 West 200 South in Lindon. Orem residents get a reduced rate with proof of residency. The city also offers an optional water and sewer line warranty program.

Police, fire and the city

Orem has its own police department. Metro Emergency Communications dispatches for Orem, Provo and Lindon. The Orem Fire Department has served the city since 1947, and it also serves Vineyard and Lindon. The North Utah Valley Animal Shelter is at 801-785-3442. Public works is at 801-229-7500. Call 811 (Blue Stakes) before you dig.

For general information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Tax rates and home prices change. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

UTOPIA Fiber reaches every address in Orem. Orem helped found UTOPIA in 2004, and the city says the network was finished in January 2023. The UTOPIA phone is 801-613-3880.

Other companies report service too. At the six spots checked across the city, the state broadband map shows Xfinity cable at all six. It shows Quantum Fiber at four, and Beehive and SenaWave at some. CenturyLink fiber and Wasatch Broadband show at some spots, and fixed wireless and satellite are listed too. The map shows no Google Fiber in Orem.

I list who reports service, not speeds or prices. That is what the companies report, not a promise for a given house. Check an address on the state broadband map. For cell service, look at each carrier’s own coverage map for the address.

Sources: the City of Orem UTOPIA page and the Utah Broadband Center provider data (edited October 1, 2026). Plans and companies change, so check before you sign.

Moving day is only the start. Here is the short list for your first 90 days in Orem, in a sensible order.

1. Turn on the utilitiesSign up for city water, sewer and garbage at my.orem.gov or 801-229-7000. Then set up Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge Gas Utah, and pick an internet company. Do this a week before you move in.
2. Get your Utah driver licenseThe Driver License office is in Orem, at 759 North 1370 West. The fee to transfer an out-of-state license is $52 for ages 21 and up, and $39 for 20 and under.
3. Register your carUtah gives you 60 days after you make a permanent home here. The DMV office is at 150 East Center Street in Provo. Pass the emissions test first.
4. Get an emissions testUtah County requires one for most cars. See the box below.
5. Declare your homeTell the Utah County Assessor whether the home is your primary home or a second home. The office is at 100 East Center Street in Provo.
6. Register to voteDo it online at vote.utah.gov, or in person with ID. Orem city elections are held by mail in odd-numbered years.
7. Sign up for schoolConfirm the school for your address with the district, then register. The district changes on July 1, 2027.
8. Take care of petsThe North Utah Valley Animal Shelter is at 801-785-3442.

The emissions test

Utah County is one of five Utah counties that require an emissions test. Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and Cache are the others. A new gas car is exempt for its first two years. A gas car six model years old or newer is tested every two years. An older gas car is tested every year. Even model years test in even years, and odd model years in odd years.

Diesel rules differ, so check the county page. Testing stations set their own prices, and they must post them. The Utah County Air Quality Bureau is at 3255 North Main Street in Spanish Fork, and the phone is 801-851-7600.

Rules and office hours change. Check each office before you go.

Orem is a full grocery town. Every big Utah grocer is within about 7 minutes of City Hall. The Smith’s and the Target are about 2 minutes away. Harmons, Trader Joe’s and Sprouts are no more than 6 minutes away. The nearest other Harmons stores are in Lehi and Draper.

Times are map estimates in normal traffic. The store list was checked in October 2026. Hours change, so check before you go.

University Place

University Place is the city’s main shopping district, at 575 East University Parkway, about 4 minutes from City Hall. It says it has over 150 shops. Its directory lists Dillard’s, RC Willey, Costco, Trader Joe’s and a LEGO Store that opened on May 9, 2025. Check its hours, because its own pages do not agree on Sundays. The new construction topic tells how the old mall became this district.

What is farther away

Some stores are not in Orem. This table shows the nearest ones and the drive from City Hall.

The restaurants topic has the places to eat and where food clusters.

Sources: store pages, University Place’s own site, the farmers market’s page, OpenStreetMap, and a router drive table (October 2026). Hours change, so check before you go.

Orem has the mountain on its east edge and the lake on its southwest corner. Mount Timpanogos is the tall peak above town. The mouth of Provo Canyon sits at the city's east edge, where the Provo River enters town, and the canyon road leads to waterfalls, a river trail and a ski area. Most of what follows is a short drive from City Hall.

Mount Timpanogos

The Forest Service gives the summit as about 11,750 feet. Two main trails climb toward it. The Aspen Grove trail runs about 6.9 miles to Emerald Lake. The Timpooneke trail runs about 7.5 miles to the same lake. Both join a path to the top. Aspen Grove is about 22 minutes from City Hall, and Timpooneke is about 34.

No fires are allowed in the Timpanogos Wilderness. Dogs must be on a leash. Timpooneke charges a day-use fee of $10 for three days, $20 for seven days, or $60 for a season. On summer and fall weekends and holidays, Timpooneke also needs a timed entry permit. Check the Forest Service page for the current rules before you drive up.

Provo Canyon

Mt. Timpanogos Park is owned by the city and sits inside the canyon, about 9 minutes from City Hall. It has 12 acres, a dog park and bike skills trails for beginners through advanced riders. Bridal Veil Falls is about 12 minutes away. It became a state monument in 2022, and the land belongs to Utah County. Vivian Park is about 13 minutes away.

The Provo River Parkway is a paved trail of about 15 miles. It runs from Utah Lake State Park up the canyon to Vivian Park. Sundance Mountain Resort is also up this canyon, about 18 minutes from City Hall.

The Murdock Canal Trail

The city describes the Murdock Canal Trail as a 17-mile paved path for biking or running, with open views of Mount Timpanogos. It starts on Orem's northeast side. The Murdock Canal Trail guide has the full story.

Timpanogos Cave

Timpanogos Cave National Monument is about 21 minutes away, up American Fork Canyon. It has no entrance fee, but every visitor needs a ticket for a cave tour. Tickets are sold on recreation.gov up to 30 days ahead. Tours usually run from late May to early October. The caves sit at the top of a strenuous trail of about a mile and a half. Map apps sometimes send drivers over canyon roads that close in winter, so use the park's own directions.

Utah Lake

Orem touches Utah Lake only at its southwest corner, and Vineyard lies between most of the city and the shore. Orem has no public boat launch or beach. The Lindon Marina is about 11 minutes away. Utah Lake State Park in Provo is about 16 minutes away and costs $20 a vehicle for the day. A shoreline trail runs by the Lindon Marina.

Algae can bloom on the lake. When the state posts a Warning, its advice is: do not swim, boating is OK, and be cautious eating fish. Check the live status before you go.

Sources: the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the State of Utah and the City of Orem. Drive times are map estimates from City Hall. Fees, permits and seasons change, so check each site.

No national park is close. They lie to the south, to the east or across the Nevada line, and each is a long day or an overnight trip. Timpanogos Cave National Monument is the nearest park unit, about 21 minutes away. The outdoor recreation topic covers it.

Zion has more than one entrance. Use the drive tool for the one you plan to use.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. Check each park's own site for hours, fees and closures.

Sundance is the closest ski area, about 18 minutes from City Hall. It sits up Provo Canyon. The Cottonwood canyon resorts and Park City are about 50 minutes to an hour away. The Cottonwood resorts are reached from the Salt Lake side, and Park City through Heber City.

Winter weather can add time to any of these drives. The Utah Department of Transportation posts live road status, the traction law and ski bus news on its Cottonwood Canyons page. Each resort posts its own opening dates every fall.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. Check road conditions before you go.

Orem has one golf course. The Links at Sleepy Ridge is a links-style course by the lake, at 730 S Sleepy Ridge Drive. Its site says it was built to bring a piece of Scotland to Utah Valley. It runs along the eastern shore of Utah Lake, with wetlands through the course. It has a three-story clubhouse and a cafe that is open daily. It is about 8 minutes from City Hall.

The course site lists public tee times and rates. Cascade Golf Course is gone. Palisade Park now stands on its land.

Check each course for current rates, hours and tee times.

Course details come from each course and the City of Orem. Check each course for current prices, hours and conditions.

Food in Orem sits in four clusters. Center Street and State Street by City Hall hold an Indian restaurant, a Thai restaurant and a bakery-cafe. South State Street, from 900 to 1500 South, has Japanese, Vietnamese, ramen and steakhouse choices. University Place and University Parkway hold most of the chains. North State Street, near 800 North, has Mexican and Thai food and coffee.

Six places with a record you can check

• Bakery-cafeVillage Baker97 W Center StBread, sandwiches and pizza, baked fresh since 1994. Closed Sunday. About 2 minutes from City Hall.
• KolachesThe Kolache Place556 S State StCzech-Texan pastries and breakfast, served until they sell out. About 2 minutes.
• IndianKohinoor75 S State StLunch and dinner on weekdays, and open from noon on Saturday. About 2 minutes.
• JapaneseYamato Japanese Restaurant1074 S State StOpen daily, with a lunch and a dinner shift. About 4 minutes.
• Brazilian grillTucanos Brazilian GrillUniversity PlaceA Brazilian grill at University Place. About 4 minutes.
• Ice creamLeatherby's Family Creamery304 E University PkwyIce cream, plus a restaurant menu. About 6 minutes.

Texas Roadhouse is on South State Street, and Via 313, a Detroit-style pizza place, is on University Parkway. Dutch Bros has a coffee stand on North State Street. Taste of Orem, held every September, gathers more than 20 restaurants in one place. The events topic has the month. Groceries and stores are in the shopping topic.

Each place was checked on its own site in October 2026. Hours change, and small places come and go. This is not a ranking, and no one paid to be listed.

The city lists 20 parks, and a few stand out. Most of the rest is a mix of pools, a shopping and movie district, and one stained-glass wall at the university. The outdoor recreation topic covers the mountain and the canyon.

City parks

Nielsen's Grove is about 9 minutes from City Hall. The city calls it the oldest park in Utah. Jorgen Nielsen, a Danish immigrant, started it in 1880. The park has 21 acres, a pond, a two-mile walking path and 24,000 tulips in spring. The pond is usually filled from about May 1 to October 1.

City Center Park has 23.1 acres, six ball fields and an all-abilities playground. The City Center Stage is outdoors, and you bring your own blanket or lawn chair. SCERA Park has 25 acres, a nine-hole disc golf course, a pool and the Shell outdoor theater. Lakeside Park has 55 acres of ball fields. Hillcrest Park has 12 pickleball courts.

Pools and splash pads

Two parks have city splash pads, Palisade Park and Hillcrest Park. They run from Memorial Day to Labor Day, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The SCERA Pool is run by the city and usually opens on Memorial Day weekend and closes on Labor Day. The Orem Family Fitness Center has a 50-meter lap pool and a leisure pool. It is open Monday to Saturday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and closed on Sunday.

University Place and Roots of Knowledge

University Place has The Orchard, a green with summer movies, seasonal festivals and winter lights. It also has a Cinemark theater and Rush Funplex. The new construction topic tells how the site was rebuilt. Roots of Knowledge is a stained-glass wall at Utah Valley University with more than 40,000 pieces. It is free to see.

Details come from the City of Orem and Utah Valley University. Hours and seasons change, so check before you go.

The SCERA is the center of Orem's arts. It is a nonprofit, founded in 1933, and it runs an indoor theater, an outdoor theater and a museum. Utah Valley University adds a performing arts center, and a new theater is in Pleasant Grove.

At the Shell, live shows start at 8 p.m. and movies start at dusk. Pets, coolers and glass are not allowed. Summer season tickets usually go on sale in early April. The museum's collection covers Geneva Steel, a World War II prisoner of war camp, and a 1940s Orem model with a working railroad.

The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts at UVU is about 6 minutes away and hosts a professional series and school events. The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in Pleasant Grove is about 11 minutes away. It is the new home of the Hale Center Theater that stood in Orem until 2024, and it opened in January 2025.

Details come from SCERA, Utah Valley University and The Ruth. Shows and hours change, so check before you go.

OremFest is the big event, and it falls in early to mid June. The city runs events most months. Dates move each year, so the months below say "usually".

OremFest

OremFest is the city's own festival, held at City Center Park. It has a carnival, a car show, fireworks and a Grand Parade at night. The city calls it one of the only night parades in Utah. Many events are free, and the carnival sells tickets. Plan for crowds and parking near City Center Park that week.

Summer and fall

The Colonial Heritage Festival comes in early July at SCERA Park. The Timpanogos Folk Festival (late June) and Aloha Fest (late July) both play at the City Center Stage. Wednesday concerts run there from July to mid-September. Taste of Orem is every September. The Utah Latin Festival follows in late September. The Orem Farmers Market runs on Wednesday evenings from May to October at City Center Park, and the shopping topic has more.

Lights On

Lights On is held the Monday after Thanksgiving at City Center Park. The city says it has more than 500,000 lights. Orem also holds Memorial Day and Veterans Day services at the Orem City Cemetery.

The year in Orem

• JanuaryThe SCERA indoor season continues, and ski season is on at Sundance.
• FebruaryThe SCERA indoor season and ski season.
• MarchThe SCERA indoor season. No city event is listed.
• AprilSCERA Shell season tickets go on sale.
• MayThe farmers market starts. The SCERA Pool and splash pads open at Memorial Day. A Memorial Day service. Timpanogos Cave tours start late in the month.
• JuneOremFest, early to mid June. The SCERA Shell summer season opens. The Timpanogos Folk Festival, late in the month.
• JulyThe Colonial Heritage Festival at SCERA Park. Wednesday concerts at City Center Stage. Aloha Fest, late in the month.
• AugustWednesday concerts and the farmers market continue. The SCERA Shell season winds down.
• SeptemberTaste of Orem and the Utah Latin Festival. The pool and splash pads close at Labor Day. The SCERA indoor season opens.
• OctoberThe farmers market has its last month. Timpanogos Cave tours end early in the month.
• NovemberA Veterans Day service on the 11th. Lights On, the Monday after Thanksgiving.
• DecemberA holiday musical at the SCERA Center. Ski season.

These are the usual months, taken from city and SCERA calendars. Dates move each year, so check the city calendar before you plan a trip.

Orem sits in the middle of Utah Valley, with Lindon and Pleasant Grove to the north and Provo to the south. Vineyard lies between Orem and the lake. Times are from City Hall.

Day trips

Bridal Veil Falls is about 12 minutes away, and Sundance is about 18. Timpanogos Cave is about 21. Utah Lake State Park is about 16. The Outdoor recreation, National parks and Ski topics above cover each trip. The Utah Valley weekends guide lists more.

Drive times are map estimates from City Hall, in normal traffic. They are close, not exact.