Living in Pleasant Grove, Utah: Downtown, Battle Creek and Strawberry Days
Pleasant Grove, under Mount Timpanogos
Pleasant Grove is one of the old towns of Utah Valley, with a downtown that predates statehood, a June festival built around a strawberry crop, and trailheads at the top of town that climb toward Mount Timpanogos. Battle Creek Falls is about half a mile from a city trailhead. Cook Family Park, a 25 acre city park, opened in 2025. You also get a city that has been filling in for decades, a busy State Street being widened, and a housing stock that runs from pioneer era blocks to apartments near the freeway.
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What will test you: road construction on US 89, traffic around The Grove and the I-15 interchange, and a wide range of housing ages, so the inspection matters more here than in a city built mostly in one decade. If you are buying, which part of Pleasant Grove you pick changes almost everything. If you are selling, buyers will compare your home with homes of a similar age and setting, not just the citywide number.
Here's how I'd think about it if I were you.
Then: a short history
Settlers arrived on September 13, 1850. The city's history says the first name was Battlecreek, after a March 5, 1849 skirmish between settlers and Timpanogos people near the mouth of the canyon. The name Pleasant Grove came from a grove of trees, and the city incorporated on January 19, 1855, with Henson Walker as its first mayor.
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Farming carried the town for its first century. The general plan describes sugar beets, orchard fruit and, most famously, strawberries. The strawberry crop led to Strawberry Days, which started in the early 1920s and which the city calls "the longest continuing community celebration in Utah." The old schoolhouse is now a pioneer museum.
World War II changed the math. The general plan notes that when Geneva Steel was built to the southwest, many farming families took higher paying jobs there and small acreage farming faded. Since then, farms have steadily turned into neighborhoods.
You do not need the history to buy here. It does explain why the streets near downtown look nothing like the ones near the freeway.
Now: growth and what the numbers say
Census facts for this guide (Census QuickFacts / ACS 2020 to 2024 / PEP V2025):
Population, Census April 1, 2020: 37,726.
Population, Census April 1, 2010: 33,509.
Population estimate, July 1, 2025: 37,773 (about +0.1 percent from the 2020 estimates base).
ACS households: 11,329.
ACS mean travel time to work: 21.7 minutes.
ACS owner occupied housing unit rate: 66.0 percent.
ACS median gross rent: $1,689.
Land area (2020): 9.18 square miles; population per square mile (2020): 4,111.4.
Housing age (ACS B25034): about 47.5 percent of homes were built in 2000 or later and about 25.4 percent before 1980. Median year built: 1999.
Housing type (ACS B25024): about 59.6 percent of housing units are single family detached, with a meaningful share of attached homes and apartment buildings, including about 1,123 units in buildings of 10 to 19 units.
Prices: keep the Census estimate and closed sales separate forever. the ACS median value of owner occupied housing units in Pleasant Grove is $491,000. That is what owners estimate their homes are worth over a five year survey window, not what sold last month. For actual closed sales, read the monthly Market Report or call me for comps on a specific address.
What the numbers say in plain English: Pleasant Grove has more housing variety than the bench cities to the north. About a quarter of its homes are older than 1980, about half are newer than 2000, and roughly a third of households rent. Population has held about flat since 2020.
Next: how Pleasant Grove is still growing
Pleasant Grove is close to finished on raw land, and its plan focuses on what changes inside the city.
The Pleasant Grove General Plan, adopted by the City Council on May 16, 2023, says the city is nearly built out and little vacant or agricultural land remains.
The plan's 2022 land use inventory counts 565 acres, about 9.85 percent of the city, as agricultural, vacant or undeveloped, and expects much of it to develop soon as single family homes or commercial uses.
The plan expects the population to reach close to 50,000 by 2050, about 30 percent above its count at the time.
Higher intensity uses are concentrated in specific places. The plan counts nearly 300 acres of multifamily housing along State Street or in The Grove, the district around the I-15 Pleasant Grove Boulevard interchange, which includes commercial, business park and interchange subdistricts.
The plan says a few open areas in the eastern foothills should stay open space because of steep terrain and their location next to public wildlands.
The plan shows a planned bus rapid transit route on North County Boulevard and calls for linking mixed use areas in The Grove to future stations. It does not set a construction date.
The next decade of change in Pleasant Grove is more likely to show up downtown, along 200 South and State Street, in The Grove and on the remaining parcels than in brand new edge subdivisions.
What I'd do: before you buy near State Street, The Grove or downtown, read the current planning agendas for the blocks around you. Plans are plans, not shovels.
Investing in itself
These are sourced projects and plans, not promises that every one is finished.
Downtown Master PlanThe City Council's September 1, 2026 agenda included a public hearing and vote on Ordinance 2026-025 to adopt the Pleasant Grove Downtown Master Plan. It builds on the general plan's focus on Historic Main Street, a retrofit of 200 South as a walkable corridor with an on street trail, and a possible form based code. Check the city for the adopted version.
US 89 (State Street) wideningUDOT is widening State Street to seven lanes from 220 South in Pleasant Grove to 500 East in American Fork. Phase 1, including the 500 East and Pleasant Grove Boulevard intersections and the stretch from 1650 West to 1300 West, was completed in 2025. Phase 2, from 1650 West in Pleasant Grove to 600 East in American Fork, is in design through 2026, with construction anticipated in 2027.
Cook Family ParkOpened in 2025 at 724 North 600 West on 25 acres, with a large playground, bike pump track, skate area, futsal and basketball courts, multi use fields, a large pavilion and a 10,000 square foot splash pad.
800 North reconstructionThe same September 2026 agenda included the 800 North Area Waterline, Drainage and Roadway Reconstruction Project.
Tradeoffs to check in person
These are field tests, not avoid lists. None of them tell you where you should buy.
State Street constructionUDOT anticipates Phase 2 construction of the US 89 widening in 2027, with dates still to be set. If you buy near State Street, expect closures and detours, and drive it at rush hour now to see the before picture.
The Grove and the interchangeThe Grove concentrates commercial, business park and higher density uses around the I-15 Pleasant Grove Boulevard interchange, and the interchange has completed an environmental review, with construction timing not set in the sources reviewed. Visit at the busiest hour of a weekday and again on Saturday.
Housing ageabout a quarter of the housing stock predates 1980. Older homes near downtown can be full of character and full of surprises. Budget for a thorough inspection, including sewer line, electrical and roof.
Foothill edgesthe eastern foothills border public wildlands, and Utah's HB 48 wildland urban interface law took effect January 1, 2026. If an address is inside the state's high risk boundary, a flat fee of $20 to $100 per taxable structure applies for 2026 and 2027, and insurers must use the state boundary. Check the exact address on the Utah Wildfire Risk portal and the FEMA flood map.
Trailhead trafficthe Forest Service says Battle Creek Trail gets a high level of use. If you buy near the 200 South trailhead, visit on a sunny Saturday morning.
Festival weekthe Strawberry Days parade runs from Pleasant Grove High School along Main Street to Center Street, and the festival fills much of mid June. If you buy near the route, live through one before you decide how you feel about it.
How Pleasant Grove compares
These guides compare northern Utah County cities with the same facts for each place: history, how the city works today, and what is already approved or funded for growth. They are here to help you choose a place that fits your life. They are not rankings, and they are not advice to buy or avoid any neighborhood. School boundaries, flood zones, and HOA rules change. Always verify with the city, the district, and your own walkthrough.
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None of this is a ranking. Drive each city at rush hour and walk the blocks you'd actually buy on.
American ForkThen feel: another 1850 settlement with a historic Main Street and a long running summer festival, Steel Days. Now access: I-15, Pioneer Crossing and its own FrontRunner station at 782 W. 200 S.; ACS mean travel time 23.3 minutes versus 21.7 in Pleasant Grove. The two cities share the US 89 widening project. Next land story: small annexations plus infill, station area planning and focus areas under its 2026 general plan. Read the American Fork guide (/neighborhoods/american-fork-ut/).
Cedar HillsThen feel: a 1977 town built on a former turkey ranch, mostly developed from the 1990s through the 2000s. Now access: North County Boulevard toward SR 92; ACS mean travel time 22.3 minutes. Next land story: its land use element says the city is nearly built out, with very little land remaining. Read the Cedar Hills guide (/neighborhoods/cedar-hills-ut/).
Side by side pages (for example American Fork vs Pleasant Grove) can reuse these fields later. Until then, tour the cities yourself. Which fits depends on your commute, your budget and the house itself.
Neighborhoods and areas
Pleasant Grove is several different places sharing one name. These areas use names from the city's general plan, trail pages and park pages.
Downtown and Historic Main Street
The original small block pioneer town, with City Hall at 70 S 100 East and the Strawberry Days parade route.
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The new Downtown Master Plan and 200 South corridor work focus here. Older homes and real character. Inspect carefully and ask what is proposed nearby.
The 200 South corridor
The general plan calls 200 South one of its most important corridors, linking the east side, downtown and The Grove, with an on street trail proposed for much of it.
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Great connectivity. Watch for construction and change as plans move forward.
State Street (US 89)
Per the general plan, much of the city's multifamily housing sits along State Street or in The Grove, and most commercial and light industrial land is along and southwest of State Street.
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UDOT's widening continues. Convenient for errands and the freeway. Noise and construction come with it.
The Grove
The district around the I-15 Pleasant Grove Boulevard interchange, with commercial, business park and interchange subdistricts and higher density housing.
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Fastest freeway access in town. Also the busiest traffic.
The east bench and foothills
Near the Battle Creek trailhead at 1700 East 200 South and the Grove Creek trailhead at 1600 East 500 North.
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Trails and canyon views out the door. Check wildfire maps and trailhead parking patterns.
The north side and Cook Family Park
Cook Family Park sits at 724 North 600 West, and the 800 North reconstruction project is on the city's list.
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New park amenities nearby. Ask about construction schedules on your street.
Want to see what's for sale? Start with Search homes for Pleasant Grove, then call me before you fall for one.
Housing mix
Pleasant Grove has a wide housing range: older homes near downtown, mid century and 1970s neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, townhomes and apartment buildings near State Street and The Grove. About 60 percent of housing units are single family detached, about half the stock was built in 2000 or later, and about a quarter was built before 1980.
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The practical rule: the older the home, the more your inspection and repair budget matter. The closer to State Street or The Grove, the more you need to know about what is planned next door. For townhomes and condos, read the HOA documents, budget and reserve study before you are under contract.
If you are shopping new builds on the remaining parcels, read my New Construction Guide before you walk into a model home. The friendly person at the sales desk works for the builder, not you. Many builders want your agent registered on your first visit, so bring me, or at least name me, before you sign in.
If you are buying here for the first time, my Buying page walks through the whole process in order, preapproval to keys.
Commute and access
This section maps the main areas of Pleasant Grove so you can compare them yourself. Read it twice.
I-15 at Pleasant Grove Boulevard
The city's freeway interchange, at exit 275, with The Grove district around it.
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An environmental review for interchange improvements is complete; construction timing is not set in the sources reviewed.
US 89 (State Street)
The main commercial road through town, being widened to seven lanes by UDOT, with Phase 2 construction anticipated in 2027.
North County Boulevard
The state route running north toward Cedar Hills, Highland and SR 92.
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The general plan shows a planned bus rapid transit route here, without a construction date.
200 South and Main Street
The local east west and north south spines through downtown, both central to the city's downtown plans.
Train
There is no FrontRunner station in Pleasant Grove.
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The nearest is in American Fork at 782 W. 200 S.
How long will your commute be? It depends on your side of town, your office and when you leave. ACS mean travel time to work for Pleasant Grove workers is 21.7 minutes (ACS 2020 to 2024), across all workplaces. What I'd do: drive your real route at rush hour, both directions, on a weekday, before you write an offer. Tuesday around 5:15 tells you more than any listing ever will.
Everyday life: trails, parks and downtown
Battle Creek Trail and Battle Creek Falls
From the trailhead at 1700 East 200 South, it is about half a mile to Battle Creek Falls, 1.3 miles to the Curly Springs junction and 2.2 miles to the Great Western Trail, per the city.
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The Forest Service lists the trail as open to hikers, horses and mountain bikes, with narrow, exposed tread near the falls and some poison ivy and stinging nettle.
The G Trail
From the same trailhead, a steep climb of about 0.95 miles to the G on the mountainside, with views across the valley.
Grove Creek Trail
From 1600 East 500 North, about 0.8 miles to the switchbacks and 3.3 miles to Timpooneke Road, per the city.
Valley Vista Trail system
About 6.5 miles of multi use loops, with access at 906 East 1100 North and 1600 East 500 North.
Murdock Canal Trail
The paved 17 mile regional trail from Orem to Lehi, with access at 906 East 1100 North.
Cook Family Park
25 acres at 724 North 600 West, with a Viking ship splash pad, pump track, skate area, courts and fields.
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No dogs in this park, and it is open dawn to 10 p.m.
Downtown
Historic Main Street, the pioneer museum in the old schoolhouse and the Strawberry Days parade route.
Signature events and local traditions
Strawberry DaysPleasant Grove's June celebration, which the city calls the longest continuing community celebration in Utah. The festival fills much of mid June. In 2026 the parade ran Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. from Pleasant Grove High School at 700 E 200 S along Main Street to Center Street. Check strawberrydays.org for next year's schedule, including the rodeo and other events.
City calendarUse the city's events calendar for concerts, park events and recreation the month you move.
Schools
Pleasant Grove's public schools are currently part of Alpine School District. On July 1, 2027, they move to the new Timpanogos School District, which covers Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove and Vineyard. Note that this is a different new district from the one serving American Fork, Cedar Hills, Highland and Alpine.
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Boundaries shift, and a listing or an online map can be out of date. Check your specific address with the district, not a listing, before you buy. Boundaries change. Use your district's address lookup; we do not rate schools.
Official sources
Alpine boundary and transportation tools: start at https://www.alpineschools.org/page/transportation/ and confirm the current lookup link before you rely on it.
Pleasant Grove market snapshot
Two different price stories exist for any city. This page shows only the first one for now.
Census (what owners estimate their homes are worth):
Market numbers coming. Example layout only.
- Median value of owner occupied housing units
- $491,000 (ACS 2020 to 2024).
- Median gross rent
- $1,689 (ACS 2020 to 2024).
- Owner occupied rate
- 66.0 percent (ACS 2020 to 2024).
Closed sales (what actually sold): monthly closed sale figures for Pleasant Grove are not on this page yet.
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Ask me for recent nearby sales that match the age and type of home you care about.
A citywide number is a starting point, not your number.
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A 1950s home near Main Street, a townhome near The Grove and a newer home on the east bench are different markets. For the latest by city, read the monthly Market Report. If you own here, the real question is what your home would sell for, and my Home Value page is where I answer that with actual nearby sales, not a robot's guess. When you're ready to list, my Selling page lays out the whole plan.
Frequently asked about Pleasant Grove
Is Pleasant Grove built out?
Nearly. The 2023 general plan says Pleasant Grove is nearly built out, with 565 acres of agricultural, vacant or undeveloped land counted in 2022, much of it expected to develop soon. Future change is focused on downtown, 200 South, State Street, The Grove and those remaining parcels.
How do I get to Battle Creek Falls?
Start at the Battle Creek trailhead at 1700 East 200 South. The city lists the falls at about half a mile up the trail. It is a popular, steep trail with narrow sections near the falls, so wear real shoes and go early on weekends.
When is Strawberry Days?
Mid June. In 2026 the parade was Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. Check strawberrydays.org for next year's full schedule.
Which school district is Pleasant Grove in?
Pleasant Grove is in Alpine School District for the 2026 to 2027 school year. On July 1, 2027, Pleasant Grove schools move to the new Timpanogos School District. Confirm your address with the district before you buy. We do not rate schools.
How does Pleasant Grove compare to American Fork?
See How Pleasant Grove compares above. Short version: both are 1850 towns with historic main streets and big summer festivals, and both share the US 89 widening. American Fork has a FrontRunner station and Pioneer Crossing; Pleasant Grove has the Pleasant Grove Boulevard interchange, The Grove and trailheads at the top of town. ACS mean commutes are 21.7 minutes in Pleasant Grove and 23.3 in American Fork. None of this is a ranking. Drive both at rush hour and walk the blocks you'd actually buy on.
Is there a FrontRunner station in Pleasant Grove?
No. The nearest station is in American Fork at 782 W. 200 S. The general plan shows a planned bus rapid transit route on North County Boulevard, without a construction date.
Getting set up in Pleasant Grove
Moving in? These are the official pages for the accounts you'll open in your first week. Start with the city, since water, sewer and trash usually go on one city bill.
UTOPIA Fiber (the city is a UTOPIA partner city; check your address)
Alpine School District (serves the city through June 30, 2027)
Timpanogos School District (serves the city from July 1, 2027)
Links checked October 6, 2026. Internet service varies by street, so check your exact address with each provider before you move. We do not rank providers.
Nearby guides
Looking at Pleasant Grove's neighbors too? Read the guides for American Fork and Cedar Hills, plus Highland and Alpine up the bench.
Next step
In Pleasant Grove the side of town and the age of the house change the whole story, and I'll tell you the hard parts before you sign anything. Whether you are buying your first place here or selling the one you've outgrown, call me at (801) 403-4185 or email [email protected] and we'll start with an honest conversation. Search homes when you want to see what is active right now.
Franco Preston, REALTOR®, Utah license 13266410, brokered by Olympus Real Estate, license 14126754, 2656 W Reagan Park Ln, Bluffdale, UT 84065.
Fair housing note
Fair housing: Olympus Real Estate and Franco Preston offer services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or any other class protected by federal, state, or local law. This page describes cities and published data. It does not recommend or discourage any neighborhood based on who lives there. Market figures are U.S. Census QuickFacts and American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) estimates and Census PEP V2025 population estimates. Plans and projects are summarized from public documents as of October 2026 and can change. Confirm schools, taxes, flood zones, HOAs, and property condition independently before you decide.
Sources
Show all 14 sources
- https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/highlandcityutah,alpinecityutah,cedarhillscityutah,pleasantgrovecityutah/PST045224 (fetched October 6, 2026 as CSV): Census 2020 and 2010 counts; PEP V2025 estimate and change; ACS households, mean travel time, owner occupied rate, median owner occupied value, median gross rent; land area and density.
- https://data.census.gov/api/access/data/table?id=ACSDT5Y2024.B25034&g=040XX00US49$1600000 and the matching B25035 and B25024 tables (fetched October 6, 2026): year built shares, median year built, units in structure for Pleasant Grove, ACS 2020 to 2024.
- https://www.pgcityutah.gov/community/history/index.php (fetched): September 13, 1850 settlement; Battlecreek name and March 5, 1849 skirmish; grove of trees; January 19, 1855 incorporation; first mayor; Strawberry Days as the longest continuing community celebration in Utah; pioneer museum.
- https://www.pgcityutah.gov/Documents/Departments/Planning%20Zoning/General/pg_general_plan_with_appendix.pdf (fetched): adopted May 16, 2023; nearly built out; 565 acres vacant or agricultural (2022); multifamily, commercial and light industrial acreage; 2050 population; Geneva Steel era; downtown, 200 South and form based code; The Grove subdistricts; planned BRT; eastern foothill open space.
- https://strawberrydays.org (fetched, parade page): 2026 parade date, time and route.
- https://www.utah.gov/pmn/sitemap/notice/1104909.html (fetched): September 1, 2026 City Council agenda with Ordinance 2026-025 Downtown Master Plan hearing and the 800 North reconstruction project.
- https://udotinput.utah.gov/afpgimprovements (fetched): US 89 widening limits, Phase 1 completion in 2025, Phase 2 design and anticipated 2027 construction.
- https://www.pgcityutah.gov/departments/parks_trails/facilities/cook_family_park.php (fetched): Cook Family Park address, size, amenities, rules and hours.
- https://www.pgcityutah.gov/departments/parks_trails/trails.php (fetched): trailhead addresses and distances for Battle Creek, G Trail, Grove Creek, Murdock and Valley Vista trails.
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/uinta-wasatch-cache/recreation/trails/battle-creek-trail-050 (fetched; page updated April 10, 2026): trail length, allowed uses, high use, exposed tread near the falls, poison ivy and nettle, exit 275 directions.
- permits.performance.gov project listing for the I-15 Pleasant Grove Boulevard interchange (search result excerpt): environmental review completed May 16, 2024.
- https://www.alpineschools.org/ (fetched): Alpine School District split and the Timpanogos School District serving Lindon, Orem, Pleasant Grove and Vineyard from July 1, 2027. Lookup pages: https://www.alpineschools.org/page/transportation/ and https://www.alpineschools.org/page/boundary-changes
- https://ffsl.utah.gov/ (HB 48 pages, fetched), https://wildfirerisk.utah.gov and https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home: WUI law, fees, address lookups and flood maps.
- https://www.rideuta.com/rider-info/station-addresses (fetched): American Fork FrontRunner station address.