Provo is at the south end of a long complex of cities, towns and suburbs extending in both directions from Salt Lake City. Home to Brigham Young University, with 32,000 students, Provo has a strong college-town feel. Orem, just north, is a suburban family community. Provo and Orem are clean and relatively modern in look and feel but traditional in values and culture. There is some industry and commercial development in the immediate area, mostly high tech and service firms.

There is plenty to do in Provo with more options available in the cities along the Wasatch front to the north. The high population and job growth rate combined with a limited geography threaten the city’s pleasant atmosphere, and growth and sprawl continue to be an issue. For now, the area is clean and crime is low. Robert Redford’s Sundance resort to the east up Provo Canyon adds tourist traffic to the area. Cost of living and housing are moderate by national and regional standards, but have been on the rise.

The area is located in a narrow plain between Lake Bonneville and the front range of the Wasatch. The immediate area is built up with grassland and a few trees to the west. Toward Heber City to the east is steep terrain and dense coniferous alpine forests. Similar to Salt Lake City to the north, the climate is a mountain-influenced semiarid continental type. Summers have hot, dry weather but low humidity and occasional cooling breezes from the mountains. Winters are mostly dry and cold with occasional light rain and infrequent (but sometimes heavy) snow. Because of the altitude and dry air, diurnal temperature changes are dramatic. Summer thunderstorms occur, but they’re usually not severe. The valley location can cause air stagnation and quality issues especially in summer. First freeze is mid-October, last is late April.