May move to orem from So Cal. (Provo, St. George: fit in, apartment)

[SD1904]

Hi , I am a 19 year old male looking to leave expensive california. I am looking for a nice town, that has low crime and just an all around nice neighborhood. I am single and was wondering what area would be sufficient for me , looking to rent an apartment for 800 or less a month. im looking to move by august. thanks for all your help. Ill ask more q's later.

[dreameyes]

Well from the little you said you're looking for Orem seems like it would be a good fit for you.

[SD1904]

so whats orem like? (weather, malls, sports, parks). where are the bad parts of town? is provo close enough to commute to orem for work easily?

[eggalegga]

I grew up in Orem. Lived there for 21 years. Provo and Orem are connected, so a commute to either city is minor. I wouldn't live south of Center street in Provo. I don't know of any describable bad areas of Orem. There areas I'm sure, I'm just not sure where they are.

Plenty of parks if you mean city parks.

Orem zip codes are 84057, 84097 and 84058 if you'd like to search online for their weather history.

University Mall in Orem or Provo Towne Centre in Provo are the two malls there. They are both pretty good size with a lot of shopping options.

Closest major airport is in Salt Lake....approximately 45 minutes north of Orem.

Would you want to interact with college students since you're 19? You'd probably find some type of organized sports clubs if you frequent bulletin boards of UVSC (soon to be UVU on July1st) or BYU.

If you're not LDS I wouldn't recommend Orem or Provo. I am not LDS and really didn't fit in with the community. Orem is a very, very, VERY family oriented, "kids first" type of area. You might feel like an outsider if you're not married with children....even though you're only 19.

[chazcrew]

I was thinking the same thing as eggalegga. If you're not LDS, you'll find socializing in Orem a bit difficult. There are TONS of people your age (because of two universities in Provo/Orem) but the vast majority of the students are LDS. However, you can find your niche, you might just find it strange at first.

It's hard to tell where Provo ends and Orem begins, and you can probably get from any spot in one to any spot in the other within a half hour or less. There aren't any professional sports in the area, but SLC has the Jazz. There are some less-desirable parts of Orem, but they're just pockets here and there, so it's hard to say there's a specific area to avoid. In general, the west side of Orem south of 800 N is a little scary, although as you get farther south you get into nice houses again.

[illinoisboy]

Wasn't Orem rated the safest city in America once?

EDIT-oh, never mind, it was one of the safest (#12 out of 370 cities rated) That's still pretty good, though!

[dogmatixx]

Originally Posted by SD1904

Hi , I am a 19 year old male looking to leave expensive california.

The cost of living anywhere in Utah would be an improvement, but I should warn you that the Orem/Provo area is the most socially conservative area in the country. Seriously, it's like living inside Rush Limbaugh's mouth. If you think Fox News is too liberal, Orem's the place for you. If not, I would definitely recommend Salt Lake, Park City, or St. George, where there are a lot more people who've moved in from everywhere, and are more moderate.

Of course, if you already have a job in that area, and you must live there, it is very nice, with low cost of living, lots to do (except nightlife), good access to recreation, beautiful mountains, etc. As the other person mentioned, if you're not LDS (Mormon) you may have a hard time with the dating scene. If you are, then you're in LDS dating heaven.

[WanderingMountaingoat]

You mentioned you want to pay less than 800 a month. Really that is two or three times more than you would be paying. I rented a house right in front of liberty park and had the whole floor to myself with an upstairs and downstars apartment neighbours for 375 a month. Really being single unless you want to live alone you shouldn't pay more than 300 to 400 a month. Having said that your not going to make anywhere as much money as you do in Cally. The cost of living is much less so the hourly rate you make matches it, as it is with all places. If you like the outdoors this is a really good place to be, that is why I like it.

I also forgot to mention I used to work in Law Enforcement with an area that coverd Park City, Salt Lake and north Utah valley (Oremish). Anyway the crime rate in Orem and Provo is extremly low and that is I feel because of the similar beliefs and mind sets of everyone that lives there not just the LDS people but every one in the valley, ie if you bring a crime element anywhere in the valley the locals aren't going to be tolerant of it at all which keeps the crime rate down. I hope I worded that right but I am sure you get what I am trying to say.