As an alumnus of the University of Utah and a lifetime resident of Salt Lake City, I love my hometown like no other. But…as I started the research for this article, I quickly found that another Utah city is consistently ranked above our capital city, receiving accolades from many national news sources, for many reasons. So, while I won’t be packing my bags and heading to Utah County, you might take a closer look at what Provo has to offer.
- Outside Magazine ranked Provo second in the nation as the “Greatest Place To Live In America.”
Downtown Provo/Facebook The magazine cited Provo’s proximity to outdoor recreation, such as hiking trails, lakes and rivers as one of the main reasons for its ranking. Other factors included Provo residents’ healthy eating habits and number of bike lanes and green spaces. Read the article here.
- NerdWallet ranked Provo #2 in the country for work-life balance.
Downtown Provo/Facebook Residents of Provo only work an average of 30.9 hours per week, and have only an 18 minute commute to work. Of course, BYU students have a large impact on that number, since they’re conceivably working part-time (if at all) while attending college. Still, with a bookstore as cool-looking as Pioneer Book, there’s plenty of opportunity to blend recreation, relaxation and work in Provo. See NerdWallet’s rankings here.
- Forbes rated Provo #2 for Business and Careers in 2016.
Downtown Provo/Facebook The city has occupied a space on Forbes’ list of Best Places for Business and Careers for years - in 2016 it claimed the number two spot (right behind Denver). See the whole list here.
- This city has the ninth highest cycling rate in the country!
Downtown Provo/Facebook The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Provo ranks ninth amongst mid-sized cities for cycling. A large number of bike lanes and bike paths certainly helps. Provo ranked higher Salt Lake City, which came in number 11.
- Center Street features many charming, historic buildings.
Downtown Provo/Facebook Is there anything better than shopping/dining/being entertained in businesses occupying gorgeous, historic buildings?
- Provo was ranked #1 as the fastest -growing-on-the-rise startup hub in the nation by Sparefoot.
Downtown Provo/Facebook The company looked at cities with populations of less than 1 million people, and a growth rate of at least one percent between 2012 and 2013. Take a look at their list here.
- Provo has the second-lowest unemployment rate in the U.S.
Ken Lund/flickr According to the U.S. Census, the unemployment rate for Provo was just 3.9 percent as of June 2016 (Omaha, Nebraska is the lowest, with 3.5 percent).
- Provo is the most affordable city in the country for renters.
Josh Bancroft/flickr According to the website SmartAsset, Provo is the number one most affordable city for renters - welcome news for BYU students and young families (and BYU students with young families!).
- This city is eighth in the U.S. for the number of households with broadband Internet.
kun530/flickr According to this report from the Brookings Institution, 132,000 of the approx. 154,567 households in the Provo metro area have broadband Internet subscriptions.
- All in all, Provo is a great place to live…from its beautiful surroundings…
Provo City/Facebook
- …to its great shopping…
Provo City/Facebook
- …to its wonderful recreation opportunities…
Provo City/Facebook
- …and the fact that its the perfect place to raise a family…
Provo City/Facebook There are many reasons why Provo is one of the best cities in Utah.
I’m sure readers have a lot to say about this – what are your thoughts? Do you live in Provo? If not, would you enjoy living there? I can’t wait to see your comments!
Downtown Provo/Facebook
The magazine cited Provo’s proximity to outdoor recreation, such as hiking trails, lakes and rivers as one of the main reasons for its ranking. Other factors included Provo residents’ healthy eating habits and number of bike lanes and green spaces. Read the article here.
Residents of Provo only work an average of 30.9 hours per week, and have only an 18 minute commute to work. Of course, BYU students have a large impact on that number, since they’re conceivably working part-time (if at all) while attending college. Still, with a bookstore as cool-looking as Pioneer Book, there’s plenty of opportunity to blend recreation, relaxation and work in Provo. See NerdWallet’s rankings here.
The city has occupied a space on Forbes’ list of Best Places for Business and Careers for years - in 2016 it claimed the number two spot (right behind Denver). See the whole list here.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Provo ranks ninth amongst mid-sized cities for cycling. A large number of bike lanes and bike paths certainly helps. Provo ranked higher Salt Lake City, which came in number 11.
Is there anything better than shopping/dining/being entertained in businesses occupying gorgeous, historic buildings?
The company looked at cities with populations of less than 1 million people, and a growth rate of at least one percent between 2012 and 2013. Take a look at their list here.
Ken Lund/flickr
According to the U.S. Census, the unemployment rate for Provo was just 3.9 percent as of June 2016 (Omaha, Nebraska is the lowest, with 3.5 percent).
Josh Bancroft/flickr
According to the website SmartAsset, Provo is the number one most affordable city for renters - welcome news for BYU students and young families (and BYU students with young families!).
kun530/flickr
According to this report from the Brookings Institution, 132,000 of the approx. 154,567 households in the Provo metro area have broadband Internet subscriptions.
Provo City/Facebook
There are many reasons why Provo is one of the best cities in Utah.
Let’s not forget that Utah has many charming small towns. Check out these 15 pretty towns where life is still slow-paced.
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