Living in Orem, Utah: The 2026 Guide

Is Orem, Utah a good place to live?

For many families, yes. Orem is a settled, central city with established neighborhoods, two hospitals, a large university, and quick access to both Provo and the Lehi tech corridor.

• Central: about 8 minutes to UVU, 12 to BYU, 13 to downtown Provo, and 20 to Lehi without traffic.
• Two hospitals in town: Timpanogos Regional Hospital and Intermountain Orem Community Hospital.
• Lower taxes: the lowest 2026 property tax rate of the Utah County cities in our guides.
• Established, not growing: Orem's population was 98,089 in 2020 and an estimated 95,214 in 2025. Neighborhoods are built out and mature, and that is also why the school district is looking at consolidating schools.

The tradeoffs: Orem reported 44.24 offenses per 1,000 residents in 2024, above the Utah County rate of 30.81 though below the statewide rate of 49.44, and much of that was retail theft around its shopping areas. Most homes also water their yards with treated city water, since Orem has no citywide secondary water system.

What school district is Orem in?

Alpine School District for now, and the new Timpanogos School District starting July 1, 2027. After voters split the Alpine district, Orem, Lindon, Pleasant Grove, and Vineyard formed the Timpanogos School District, which will serve about 30 schools and about 23,300 students.

What buyers should know right now: the new district's board is studying closing four to six elementary schools and one junior high, because enrollment is projected to fall about 14% by 2030. The board expects to vote in mid-December 2026, and any changes would take effect for the 2027–2028 school year.

• Elementary schools under study: Aspen, Bonneville, Foothill, Lindon, Northridge, Orchard, Orem, Parkside, Rocky Mountain, and Windsor.
• Junior high schools under study: Canyon View, Oak Canyon, and Orem Junior High.
• Cascade and Cherry Hill are being studied only for their dual-language programs, not for closure.

If a specific school matters to you, follow the district's boundary study page before you buy, and ask us to check the home's current and likely future school assignments.

Can you build an ADU or basement apartment in Orem?

Yes, and the rules just got broader. On September 22, 2026, the Orem City Council adopted rules that allow detached backyard units for the first time, on lots of at least 11,000 square feet where single-family homes are allowed. In practice, that means the larger-lot neighborhoods.

• Apartments inside the home, like a basement apartment, have long been allowed with a permit.
• The owner has to live on the property.
• The city publishes a list of approved accessory apartments, 856 of them at last count. Before you buy a home because of its apartment, check that it is on the city's list.

The final text of the September 2026 detached-unit rules was not yet posted in the online city code when we checked. Confirm sizes and setbacks with Orem's planning department. Source: Orem accessory apartments.

What are property taxes in Orem, Utah?

Orem's 2026 total property tax rate is 0.008118, the lowest of the Utah County cities in our guides. Most of the difference is the school levy: Alpine School District's rate is lower than Nebo's in the south county. The City Council did approve a city tax increase in August 2026 to fund additional police officers, and the rate above includes it.

Utah taxes a primary home on only 55% of its market value, because of the state's 45% residential exemption.

That is about $437 a year less than the same home in Spanish Fork. Second homes and rentals are taxed on full value. School district changes in 2027 could change the school portion of the rate.

Who provides power, water, and internet in Orem?

• Power: Rocky Mountain Power. Unlike Provo, Springville, and Spanish Fork, Orem does not run its own electric company.
• Natural gas: Enbridge Gas.
• Water, sewer, storm water, and garbage: Orem City. Garbage is $18.86 a month, and water usage starts at 93 cents per 1,000 gallons.
• Secondary water: Orem has no citywide secondary water system, so most lawns are watered with treated city water.
• Fiber internet: UTOPIA Fiber has been available across the city since January 2023, with service sold through several internet providers.

How much do homes cost in Orem?

Orem home prices rose from a median of $329,000 in 2019 to $525,600 in 2022, dipped to $502,950 in 2023, reached $557,400 in 2025, and are at $550,000 so far in 2026. Over the last 12 months (October 2025 through September 2026), the median single-family home sold for $550,000, or $230 per square foot, and only 5.6% of sales were $1 million or more.

Median sold price of single-family homes in Orem by year. *2026 is January through September. Based on UtahRealEstate.com sales data, pulled October 15, 2026.

What your budget buys in Orem

Orem is almost entirely a resale market: only 8 of the 413 single-family homes sold in the last 12 months were built in 2025 or later. Older resale homes sold for a median of $545,000, took a median of 42 days to sell, and closed at about 99% of their list price. Orem also has an active townhome and condo market: 162 townhomes and condos sold over the same 12 months at a median of $377,000, with townhomes at about $439,500 and condos at about $281,500. As of October 15, 2026, 126 single-family homes were for sale in Orem, with a median list price of about $632,450. Building lots of an acre or less sold for a median of $320,000 (about a quarter of an acre) over the last two years, across 27 sales, and only 3 parcels over an acre sold.

What are the neighborhoods in Orem?

Orem has an official neighborhood program: 21 neighborhoods in nine districts, each with its own adopted neighborhood plan. Most share a name with a nearby school.

What are the zoning and lot size rules in Orem?

Orem's single-family zones are named for their minimum lot size, from the Orem City Code:

Look up a parcel on the city's interactive map.

What is Orem known for?

• "Family City USA," Orem's long-time nickname.
• Utah Valley University, the largest public university in Utah, with 48,670 students in fall 2025.
• The SCERA Center for the Arts, founded in 1933, and the outdoor SCERA Shell.
• Oremfest, the city's summer celebration, formerly called Summerfest.
• The Orem Utah Temple, dedicated in January 2024.
• University Place, the 112-acre shopping and mixed-use center, now open on Sundays.