Known as the Beehive State, Utah has a strong sense of community. Even its nickname represents the values of its people: industry, self-reliance, thrift, stability, and perseverance. Utahns take their independence and hard work seriously, and they often consider themselves lucky to live in their state.
Utah is home to a vast desert landscape, but there’s still plenty of activities to go around. For example, you can find seven national monuments, six national forests, and five national parks within its borders. With all kinds of sights to see, there’s plenty of reason to spend your time outside. Plus, the state hosts numerous festivals every year.
Utah has the fourth-fastest growth rate in the United States. Over 3 million people call the state home so far, and more than 50,000 move to Utah every year. Despite these facts, Utah has a relatively sparse population; no city is overpacked with neighbors.
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So you can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to live in Utah, but you’re not entirely convinced yet?
You’ve come to the right place! Here, we’ve put together a bite-sized guide to the most significant factors that people should consider before moving to another state.
Read on to discover important information about the state of Utah, and decide for yourself whether it’s the best place for you to move. You, too, can live a life elevated!
Like with any state, Utah life comes with advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Cons
Utah has a uniform tax rate for all income levels:
In Utah, the median home value is just under $300,000. Houses currently listed on the market average to about $350,000. Depending on your credit history and other factors, you can expect to pay about $1,425 per month for the mortgage.
Lately, the value of homes has increased as much as 10 percent. Experts claim values will continue to rise in the coming year.
If you’re looking to rent instead, you can expect to find a one-bedroom in Salt Lake City for $994 per month. For a two-bedroom, the rent is closer to $1,150 per month. Of course, the rates go down in smaller cities, even for larger units.
Utah’s cost is a little higher than the national average, but Utahns have it a little better.
According to a study, $100 spent in Utah on goods and services would not cover the average $103.09 price tag for the same services in other states. Effectively, Utahns are 3 percent richer than the face value of their salaries.
Of course, it’s all relative. In Salt Lake City, you can expect to spend about $6,800 per month for housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities. In Cedar City, you can save a few hundred on the same expenses.
Although Utah’s terrain is mostly an arid desert with scorching summers, regional climates vary with the change in terrain. Thanks to its many mountains, Utah features over 11,000 feet in elevation change.
Naturally, the weather can get a little extreme. Certain parts of the state can reach up to 115 degrees in the summer, and the mountains can get snowy in the winter. In fact, every year, the state receives about 43 inches rainfall! Fortunately, it’s all beautiful snow that doesn’t get trampled and grey.
On average, the state experiences about 240 days of sunshine. Compare that to the rest of the country, which experiences an average of 205 days of sun, and you can see why Utahns fall in love with their homes even before they get there.
Utah has a strong economy and a low unemployment rate on a steady decline for the last 10 years. The minimum wage also matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Remember that the dollar stretches a little farther in Utah than in similar states.
If you’re looking to move to Utah and wonder whether your industry has a spot there, you’re probably in luck. The fastest-growing jobs include web developer, miner, software developer, operations analyst, veterinarian technician, and interpreter/translator. The highest-paying careers match that of the rest of the country: physician, surgeon, general practitioner, CEO, petroleum engineer, and law teacher.
Thanks to a generally low population and lots of roads to travel down, there’s little-to-no traffic cluttering the streets in Utah. The most-used major interstate highways include 15, 70, 80, 80N, 84, 215, and 415.
Public transportation options in Utah include:
In Utah, there’s something for everyone!
Food and Drink
Nature/Parks
Landmarks
There is no shortage of education opportunities available to Utahns. The state ranks sixth in higher education in the country and ranks #22 in K-12 school. It also ranked #10 in overall state education in a ranking by US News and World Report.
The top colleges in Utah include:
Utah also proudly hosts several top-ranking public school districts:
To become a resident of Utah, you must:
Additionally, you must be a citizen of the United States, have permanent US resident status, have legal immigrant status, or have refuge or asylum status to become a Utahn.
See Also: Moving To St. George UT – Relocation Guide for 2022
Once you qualify for Utah residency, you’ll need to get an ID.
If you want to drive in Utah, you need to have a valid driver’s license in Utah. There isn’t a grace period.
To get your license from Utah, you must:
You have 60 days to transfer your registration and title from out of state.
Additionally, your vehicle might need an inspection for safety reasons. You will also have to write down your vehicle identification number. If you don’t know this information, a DMV employee or licensed dealer can help with this.
Once you have a Utah ID, you can register to vote. To quality, you must be:
To register, you can complete the application in person, submit it by mail, or you can use the online system. Utah allows you early voting and no-excuse voting alike.
In Utah, felons who complete their prison sentence also have the right to vote again.
With all of the great things the state has to offer, moving to Utah might just be the best thing to ever happen to you.
A recent study placed the state #2 on a ranked list of happiest states in the country.
So what makes Utah such a great place to live? Much of it has to do with how many great cities it has to choose from.
Population: 19,000
Average Home Value: $586,000
Located just south of Salt Lake City, Highland is the number one place to live in Utah County. Nearly all the residents here own their homes, and the public schools rank highly in the state. Highland’s community is also quite young, with an average age of 23 years.
Highland is home to several public schools, like Cherry Hill Elementary, Cedar Ridge Elementary, Long Peak High, American Fork High, Timberline Middle School, Ridgeline School, and Westfield Elementary.
There’s also plenty of fun sights and outdoor activity options in Highland. Here, you can go to Provo Canyon, American Fork Canyon, Lone Peak, the Alpine Loop, and Thanksgiving Point.
Population: 51,100
Average Home Value: $235,000
Located in Cache County, Logan is a lively city with a median age of 24 years. More than half of the residents own their own homes. Several others attend Utah State University, where students can learn from renowned engineering, education, and agricultural professors.
Quality education goes beyond the college level, too. Top public schools include Wilson School, Ellis School, Logan High, Hillcrest Elementary, and Bear River Charter School.
There’s a multitude of outdoor recreation options here, ranging from family-oriented to college sports. In Logan, you can hike, camp, rock climb, mountain bike, ski, and much more.
Population: 97,800
Average Home Value: $325,000
Orem is well-known among Utahns as the state’s family city, and for a good reason: It’s easily one of the best places you can raise a family in the state. The city is rich in diversity, which is unfortunately not true for other parts of Utah. A little over half of the residents own their homes.
You can get to Orem by driving 45 minutes south from Salt Lake City, and the scenic drive is breathtaking. The cost of living is reasonable, and there are many outdoor activities for youths and adults alike.
Population: 117,300
Average Home Value: $320,000
Provo is Utah’s third-largest city. As the home to Brigham Young University, Provo is a lively college town with a technology industry presence. About 60 percent of residents own their homes, and the public schools in the city rank highly in the state.
Provo is safe, kind, and friendly, and there’s plenty to do. In addition to food trucks, diverse restaurants, and close proximity to the mountains, Provo offers regular city events, swing dancing, farmer’s markets, and excellent public transportation.
In addition to Brigham Young, Provo houses several colleges. These include Acadia School of Aesthetics, Paul Mitchell the School, AmeriTech College, and Aveda Institute.
Population: 200,500
Average Home Value: $396,900
The most well-known city in Utah, Salt Lake City is the largest in the state. Utah’s capital city rests along the Wasatch Mountains, making it a natural home to top ski resorts. There are also five national parks for residents to enjoy all year round.
The city has a reasonable cost of living and a diverse population. It’s packed with young professionals, half of whom rent their homes. Residents can enjoy art galleries, world-class museums, religious sites, good public transit, and historical buildings.
The top public schools in Salt Lake City include West High School, Hawthorne Elementary, Indian Hills School, Ensign School, and the Salt Lake Arts Academy. Young professionals often get their training from local universities, like the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College, LDS Business College, Westminster College, and Fortis College.
Population: 31,800
Average Home Value: $240,000
Another college town, Cedar City has a surprisingly affordable cost of living. The Iron County city is home to many homeowners, and there are plenty of above-average public schools.
Cedar City is a warmer city compared to its northern neighbors. The weather is perfect for regular visits to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Kanarraville Falls while living a high-quality life all year round. Overall, the city is family-friendly and safe, hosting several events for families like the Utah Shakespeare Festival, the Neil Simon Festival, and the Utah Summer Games.
Are you looking to raise a family in Cedar City? The top schools in the region include Fiddlers Canyon School, Three Peaks School, SUU Success Academy, Iron Springs School, and Enoch School. If you’re looking for colleges, there is Southwest Technical College, Evans Hairstyling College, and Southern Utah University.
Population: 4,700
Average Home Value: $260,500
Kanab is a small town with a population of under 5,000. The majority of residents own their homes, and they’ve moved to Kanab to retire and live out their best years. Kanab is actually well-known across the state as an excellent place for Utahns to retire thanks to its lower cost of living. It is not a very diverse population. It has a high Mormon concentration, and it’s considered a conservative city.
The city is also an ideal tourist destination thanks to its proximity to several national parks. From here, you can reach Zion National Park, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon National Park, and even the northern rim of the Grand Canyon. Kanab itself has beautiful weather, stunning scenery, natural peace and quiet, and lots of nature to enjoy.
Public schools in the city include Kanab Preschool, Kanab Elementary, Kanab Middle School, and Kanab High.
Population: 84,400
Average Home Value: $245,000
St. George, Utah is one of the fastest-growing urban regions in America. In fact, it was even voted as the number one city in the state. It has a diverse population of families, retirees, and singles, all drawn to the eclectic city and its wide range of amenities. More than 60 percent of the residents own their homes, and each of the public schools has a high ranking.
Thanks to Dixie State University and its students, parts of St. George has that familiar college town atmosphere. The sun shines nearly every day of the year, so residents and tourists can enjoy the outdoors. There’s plenty to offer out there: 65 miles of urban trails, several national parks, and wide-open spaces.
Living in Utah can benefit you with a high quality of life, a straightforward tax system, an upgraded job and housing market. Also, a recent study says Utah is the second-highest happiest state in the US, so moving to Utah can be your best decision ever.
As compared to other states of the US, it is expensive to live in Utah. If you consider living in Salt Lake County, you’ll need more than $85,000 per year to live comfortably.
Salt Lake County and Kaysville are the best areas to live in Utah. You can also consider Provo, Sandy, Highland, Cedar City, Heber City, for living in Utah.
It is recommended to avoid Utah County for the ones who are not Mormon. South Jordan, Sandy, and parts of Murray in Salt Lake County are the best places to live in for a non-Mormon.
Pleasant Grove, Taylorsville, West Jordan, North Salt Lake, Bountiful, Herriman, Layton are the cheapest cities to live in Utah considering the average rent prices.
Conclusion
Now you have all the information you need to decide if moving to Utah is the right choice.
In Utah, you can enjoy life every day in one of the biggest natural playgrounds in America. Here, you can enjoy several festivals around the year; you can enjoy all kinds of outdoor sports, take inspiring photos of national parks, climb red rock formations, attend independent film festivals, and enjoy stargazing at night in a place where the light doesn’t pollute.
All in all, there’s plenty to love about Utah, whether you’re a college student, a young professional, a retiree, or looking to raise a family. Come and see it for yourself!
See also: Best Moving Companies in Utah
Alex Sherr is the founder of My Long Distance Movers, a blog that provides moving information and resources for people who are relocating. He has more than two decades of experience in the moving and relocation industry, and he is passionate about helping people relocate smoothly and efficiently. When he's not writing or blogging, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.
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