RANK #740 / 1001 NAT · POP 705,400
1YR FORECAST: -0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Utah County, Utah, is often defined by its dramatic natural scenery, with the towering Wasatch Mountains to the east and Utah Lake, the state's largest freshwater lake, to the west. Provo, the county seat, is approximately 35 miles south of Salt Lake City. Commuting to Salt Lake City is possible via I-15 or the FrontRunner commuter rail. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking the Y Trail in Provo, mountain biking at Corner Canyon, fishing at Utah Lake State Park, and skiing at Sundance Mountain Resort. Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon is another notable natural landmark.
Life in Utah County is characterized by a family-oriented atmosphere and a strong sense of community. The public school system is above average, with institutions like Utah County Academy of Science and Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy ranking highly. The economy is expanding, driven by growth in technology, often referred to as "Silicon Slopes," and ongoing development in commercial and residential sectors. This growth attracts both young professionals and families, contributing to a consistent demand for housing.
Utah County is one of 78 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.0% runs above the profile's typical -0.8%.
See all 78 Western Premium Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 19.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
QTS Data Center Campus
QTS
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Various New Residential Communities
Multiple Builders (e.g., David Weekley Homes, Meritage Homes, Richmond American Homes, EDGEhomes)
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Meta Data Center
Meta
|
$100M | Operating |
|
Provo Power Plant Upgrade
Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA)
|
$50M | Completed |
|
Buc-ee's Travel Center
Buc-ee's
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 25/100, Utah County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $100,671 combined with job growth of +1.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Utah County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $538,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.19 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,541/month on average.
Utah County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.2% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.9% clip. Home values shifted +2.0% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.78% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Utah County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.