The nation’s capital for young homebuyers is a thriving valley in central Utah, according to new data.
The Provo-Orem metropolitan area—south of Salt Lake City along the Utah Lake, had the lowest median age for homebuyers in the country in 2024, at 27, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The trend is driven by high birth rates, plenty of young families, and a market dominated by first-time renters, young professionals, and growing households.
Metros with a younger age profile often experience stronger rental demand, more household formation, and long-term demand for starter homes, NAR said.
That’s a good thing in a national housing market marked by pessimism from young aspiring homebuyers.
Becca Summers, president elect of the Utah Central Association of Realtors, bought her first home in Provo when she was 20.
Today she says young buyers, often single or dual-income couples, come to the area looking to invest.
“It’s not as expensive as further north, so a lot can afford to buy in the Provo or Orem area,” says Summers. “But there are a lot of universities as well, so that brings them to Utah in general, and a lot like the area.”
Aspiring homebuyers succeed—even if the market is pricey
Provo and Orem aren’t cheap by any means.
Data from the Utah Central Association of Realtors shows the median price for a home in the city grew from $277,850 in 2019 to $467,231 in 2025. Orem’s median price grew from $310,500 in 2019 to $498,850 in 2025.
The total number of homes sold in Provo topped out at 1,185 in 2021, but dropped to 769 in 2025.
Orem saw 1,083 in 2021 and just 630 homes sold last year.
Summers acknowledges the area is pricey. Affordability challenges aren’t unique to Provo-Orem, and she’s found aspiring homebuyers still succeed if they’re prepared.
She suggests buyers sit down with an agent to talk about their plans “sooner than they think they’re ready.”
Oftentimes they don’t know about programs available to them.
Or, buyers aren’t versed in things like mortgage insurance or down payment options.
Provo’s top priority
In a video posted Monday, Provo Mayor Marsha Judkins said home access and affordability is the city’s No. 1 priority in 2026.
Judkins, a 40-year resident of Provo, said the city prioritizes owner-occupied housing in new development.
“While cities cannot and should not control every factor, we will work to build strong partnerships, protect local control over zoning decisions, remove unnecessary barriers, and pursue creative and sustainable solutions,” Judkins said.
Summers said banks and financial institutions contribute to the area’s success.
Local lenders offer no-money-down programs and loans with longer amortization schedules.
Utah also offers builder incentives, especially a first-time buyer incentive that offers as much as $20,000 to help purchase a home up to $450,000.
The state is also considering ways to make it easier to build starter homes.
“It’s a group effort in our government, and lenders, and buyers,” Summers said.
