Provo, UT vs Orem, UT
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Provo, UT and Orem, UT spend within 0.4% of each other per resident — $7,873 versus $7,841 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Provo, UT holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 85/100 (grade A) against 55/100 (grade C) for Orem, UT — a 30-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Orem, UT reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Provo, UT carries $632 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Provo, UT at $964 per resident and in Orem, UT at $752.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Provo, UT at 18% of total revenue, whereas Orem, UT relies most on other revenue at 2101%.
Summary
Provo spends 0.4% more per capita than Orem ($32/person difference). Provo, UT has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 85/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $201 |
| Sales Tax | $716 | $351 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $509 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,902 | $137 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,503 | $1,690 |
| Other | $1,669 | $2,873 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $149 | $134 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $0 |
| Education | $49 | $56 |
| Public Welfare | $209 | $469 |
| Health | $295 | $376 |
| Hospitals | $193 | $148 |
| Parks & Recreation | $964 | $752 |
| Housing | $1,450 | $1,776 |
| Sewerage | $275 | $101 |
| Utilities | $550 | $1,081 |
| Other | $3,738 | $2,949 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.