Best College Towns

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

#10. Provo

Provo is best known for Brigham Young University, which is the largest employer in town (with 4,000 employees), and also cranks out a highly-educated workforce. Capitalizing on this, as well as the family-friendliness of the town, Provo has become a booming place for business. Chief among the growing industries is tech—so much so that the entire region has been called “Silicon Slopes.” This is also why we named it, in partnership with Entrepreneur, one of the 50 Best Cities For Your Startup.

Too far from Salt Lake City to be called a suburb, Provo has the feel of a college town, combined with an incredible arts scene and a lovely dose of small town charm. In short, it’s pretty unique, and one of many reasons why it’s been twice named one of the 100 Best Places to Live.


Provo: One of the 10 Most Affordable Cities in the U.S. 2016


The area isn’t just about future growth either—it’s also about now. Community events, like the annual Gingerbread House Festival, are perfect reflections of the heart of its residents. And since SLC is such a short drive away, locals and students both have ready access to all the professional sports and entertainment found there.

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