Orem Real Estate

City overview

Orem pairs Utah Valley University's more than 43,000 undergraduates — one of the nation's few open-enrollment universities — with a State Street retail corridor and direct FrontRunner and UVX bus rapid transit access, distinct from neighboring Provo's own university and downtown identity.

At a glance

Orem was settled in 1877, in an area previously known as Sharon or Provo Bench, and incorporated on May 5, 1919, taking its name from Walter C. Orem, president of the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad, chosen partly to attract investment and help local farmers ship produce. The city sits at an average elevation of 4,767 feet, bordered by Utah Lake to the west and Mount Timpanogos and the Wasatch Range to the east. Pricing varies by proximity to Utah Valley University, State Street, and the lake-adjacent west side — ask for a current comparative market analysis for your specific neighborhood.

Is this city a good fit for you?

Orem fits buyers who want proximity to Utah Valley University — an open-enrollment institution with more than 43,000 undergraduates as of late 2022 — along with direct FrontRunner rail and UVX bus rapid transit access. It's a good fit for buyers who want Provo-adjacent convenience with Orem's own distinct retail corridor along State Street.

Home prices by property type

Homes near Utah Valley University and the FrontRunner/UVX transit corridor typically carry a premium for commute and rental-demand convenience. State Street itself is a commercial corridor rather than a residential one, with surrounding neighborhoods pricing relative to their distance from it and from the university. No reliable, non-stale source for a specific median price or price-per-square-foot by product type was available for this page — get a property-specific comparative market analysis.

New construction versus resale

Orem is a well-established city with limited large-scale vacant land remaining, so new construction here is more infill-driven than in Utah County's west-side growth cities. Resale sellers generally compete against other existing homes rather than large-scale new-subdivision incentives.

Commute & transportation

Utah Valley University's primary campus is located in Orem; as of late 2022, the university had more than 43,000 undergraduates and operates as one of the country's few Open Enrollment Universities, accepting all applicants who meet basic criteria. State Street (US Highway 89) runs northwest-southeast through the middle of the city as its main commercial corridor. The Orem FrontRunner station provides regional rail access, alongside UVX bus rapid transit and regular bus service.

Lifestyle & amenities

Orem's State Street corridor provides a wide variety of retail and commercial options directly in the city. The city's location between Utah Lake and Mount Timpanogos gives residents both lake-adjacent recreation and direct mountain access within a short drive.

Investor & landlord considerations

Rental demand in Orem is shaped significantly by Utah Valley University's more than 43,000 undergraduates, supporting a substantial student-rental market distinct from Provo's own BYU-driven rental demand. No reliable, dated, citywide rent or vacancy figure was available for this page; current rent levels and vacancy should come from current listing data.

Advantages & tradeoffs

Orem's State Street corridor gives the city real day-to-day retail convenience that some purely residential Utah County cities lack, though it also means traffic and commercial density along that specific corridor. Buyers should weigh proximity to Utah Valley University against homes farther from campus that may offer more space or a quieter setting.

How it compares to nearby cities

Compared to Provo just south, Orem carries more of the area's retail and commercial corridor along State Street, while Provo has more historic character and its own BYU-driven identity. Compared to Pleasant Grove or Lehi to the north, Orem is more established and less new-construction-driven, with its identity anchored by Utah Valley University rather than a technology-employer base.