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Provo–Orem stands out as the youngest metro area in the country, with a median age of just 27 in 2024. This isn’t by accident. Large universities, a strong concentration of young families, and high birth rates (about 16 births per 1,000 people) all contribute to a population that is much younger than the national level. The result is a housing market that is driven less by downsizing or aging in place, and more by first-time renters, young professionals, and growing households.

That age profile has real implications for housing demand. Younger metros tend to see stronger rental demand, more household formation, and steady long-term demand for starter homes as renters eventually transition into ownership. In markets like Provo–Orem, demographics alone help explain why housing demand remains solid and why housing needs continue to grow.

National averages help set a useful benchmark, but local demographics explain why housing markets behave the way they do. One of the clearest examples of that is age. Age is one of the main factors driving local housing market dynamics today and in the years ahead, and no metro reflects this better than Provo–Orem, Utah.

Throughout February, NAR Research will be highlighting one market per day that stands out demographically, from the youngest metros to the oldest, and everything in between. Because when it comes to housing, who lives in a market often matters just as much as how many homes are for sale.