Are you moving to Utah? Utah, known as The Beehive State, is a great place to live for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy outdoor activities and being surrounded by nature. If you’re thinking of moving to Utah, you’ll find a high quality of life, low crime, and stunning landscapes. Winter sports are huge in Utah, including skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.
Utah is home to many museums and performance venues and has an active live music scene. Several craft breweries, including Bohemian, Red Rock, and Squatters, make their home in Utah. Some of the top festivals in Utah are the Days of ’47 Parade, America’s Freedom Festival, and Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove. Utah has the fastest-growing population in the country. Over half of all Utahns are Mormons, making it the only state where a majority of the population belongs to a single church.
Ancient Puebloans, Navajos, and Utes lived in Utah for thousands of years. The Spanish arrived in the mid-16th century, and Utah later became a Mexican territory, although most of the settlers there were from the United States. Mormons fleeing persecution arrived in Utah via the Mormon Trail in the mid-1800s. Utah was annexed by the U.S. after the Mexican–American War, and it became a state in 1896. Here’s what to know before moving to Utah!
Is Utah a Good Place to Live?
Yes, Utah is a good place to live and retire. With a great job market, booming state economy, and access to nature and outdoor recreation opportunities, moving to Utah is a great choice and among the best places to live in the US. Utah has a highly diversified economy. Transportation, education, information technology and research, mining, and tourism are some of the top industries in the state. Utah is one of the highest-ranked states for healthcare, governance, education, and infrastructure.
The scenery in Utah is unmatched anywhere in the world. Utah is home to five incredible national parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Arches. In addition, the state has 22 million acres of public lands to explore which make up almost 42% of the state. Utah State Parks manages 43 parks and several undeveloped areas totaling over 95,000 acres of land and more than 1,000,000 acres of water.
What Is Utah Known for?
Utah is known for its large families and The Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. Moving to a new life in Utah is very family-friendly. The state is also known for skiing and winter sports, scenic national parks, iconic red rock landscapes, and the Sundance Film Festival. Utah is also known for its signature fry sauce at every restaurant and funeral potatoes.
Where Is Utah?
Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It shares a common border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico as one of the Four Corner States. It also borders Wyoming to the northeast, Idaho to the north, and Nevada to the west.
What are the Regions of Utah?
Utah’s three geological regions are the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. The Wasatch Front is in the north-central part of the state. The Salt Lake City metro area is located there and is home to about two-thirds of the population.
Transportation in Utah
If you decide you’re moving to Utah, you’ll want to know how to get around. The good news is that there are many good transportation options.
Does Utah Have a Good Interstate Highway System?
Interstate Highways I-80, I-15, I-70, and I-84 traverse the state. Other major roadways in Utah are U.S. Routes 6, 50, 93, 95, and 395.
Does Utah Have Good Public Transportation?
Yes, Interstate passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak’s daily California Zephyr train. The train runs between Chicago’s Union Station to Emeryville, CA. Stops in Utah are at Green River, Helper, Provo, and the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub making it easy to move around while moving to Utah.
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) services the Wasatch Front region. UTA’s light rail system, TRAX, serves the greater Salt Lake City area. TRAX has 42.5 miles of line and 50 stations that serve about 43,800 riders per weekday. FrontRunner, a UTA commuter rail line, runs between Ogden and Provo via Salt Lake City. It serves 16 stations and has a ridership of 3.7 million each year.
The UTA’s bus system, consisting of more than 100 routes and 6,200 stops, covers the Salt Lake Valley west to Grantsville and east to Park City. The cities of Cedar City, Logan, Park City, and St. George are served by local bus operators. In the winter, the UTA and several private bus companies operate shuttle routes to Utah’s ski resorts.
What Major Airports are in Utah?
Salt Lake City International Airport is the only international airport in Utah, serving as a hub for Delta Air Lines. The airport is #1-ranked for on-time departures and has the fewest cancellations among U.S. airports.
How Many People Live in Utah?
Utah has a population of 3,271,616, and it is the thirtieth most populous state. The Utah population has increased 16% since 2010. The population density in Utah is 36.53 per square mile. Utah’s largest city is Salt Lake City, with a population of 199,723.
The Salt Lake Metro area has 1,257,936 residents. About two-thirds of Utah’s population lives in the Salt Lake City–Ogden–Provo area, which has a population of 2,746,164. The beehive state is growing quickly, and many are moving to Utah!
Utah Race & Ethnicity
- White alone 89.8%
- Black or African American alone 1.6%
- American Indian and Native Alaskan alone 1.6%
- Asian alone 2.9%
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 1.2%
- Two or more race 3.0%
- Hispanic 16.0%
- White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, 75.7%
Utah demographics
- Population density: 36.35 per square mile
- Median age: 31.4
- Sex ratio: 50.7% males, 49.3% females
- Median household income: $91,750
- Educational attainment: 93.3% high school degree or higher, 36.9% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: 8.6%
- Veteran population: 113,093
What Famous People Are From Utah?
Notable people from Utah include actress Maude Adams, hotel chain founder J. Willard Marriott, singers Donny and Marie Osmond, actress Roseanne Barr, actor James Woods, actor/director Robert Redford, NFL quarterback Steve Young, boxer Jack Dempsey, professional golfer Johnny Miller, and actor Wilford Brimley
What Are the Largest Cities in Utah?
Utah’s population is concentrated in two areas, the Wasatch Front in the north-central part of the state, with over 2.7 million residents, and Washington County in southwestern Utah, with more than 200,000 residents. If you’re moving to Utah, you’ll want to be in one of these areas. Here are the 10 largest cities in the state:
- Salt Lake City 199,723
- West Valley City 140,230
- West Jordan 116,961
- Provo 115,162
- Orem 98,129
- Sandy 96,904
- St. George 95,342
- Ogden 87,321
- Layton 81,773
- South Jordan 77,487
Cities in Utah Map
Moving to Utah? Check out this map below:
What Are the Best Places to Live in Utah?
When looking for the best place to live, Utah has diverse options to choose from, depending on what you’re looking for. Living in Salt Lake City Utah has all the big city amenities. Living in Park City Utah is great for outdoor enthusiasts, Sandy is perfect for families, and St. George has good weather all year. Living in Ogden Utah is good for those wanting more affordable living. Living in Provo Utah is good for families and college students.
What Is the Happiest City in Utah?
Salt Lake City ranks as the happiest city in Utah and one of the world’s happiest cities. Of the top 250 global cities on the list from the Institute for Quality of Life, Salt Lake City was one of only 10 cities located in the U.S.
Where Is the Most Scenic Place to live in Utah?
Smithfield, located in northern Utah, is surrounded by mountains and nestled in the beautiful Cache Valley, one of the most picturesque places in Utah.
What Are the Best Cities in Utah?
The best cities in Utah include living in Lehi, Provo, Salt Lake City, Provo, and South Jordan.
Where Are the Best Places to Raise a Family in Utah?
When looking for a place to raise a family in the beehive state, things to look for include great schools, a safe city with a low crime rate, an affordable cost of living, family amenities, and good parks and playgrounds. Three of the best places to raise a family in Utah are Draper, Farmington, and Highland.
Where Are the Best Places to Live in Utah for Retirees?
Living in Utah is considered good for retirees due to its high quality of life, safety, retirement communities, recreational activities, and great healthcare options. Some of the best cities for retirees in Utah include Park City, Nephi, Price, Salt Lake City, and Providence. Park City has a booming craft beer industry, something many retirees may like. Park City is also home to the Sundance Film Festival.
What Is the Cost of Living in Utah?
The average cost of living in Utah is more expensive than the national average.
Is Living in Utah Expensive?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. The index is set to 100 in the base period of 1982 – 1984, so a current index level of 200 would suggest that prices have increased 100 percent since that time.
Prices in the West Region have increased by 2.4% over the last 12 months. Food prices advanced 3.0%, and energy prices declined 6.5%. The index for all items less food and energy rose 3.1% over the year.
How much is the cost of living in Utah? Utah’s cost of living index is slightly over 100 or just over the national average. Housing is 4% higher than the national average, while utilities are 7% lower. Groceries are around 2% lower than in the rest of the country, and healthcare costs are 10% lower in Utah compared to the national average.
Here are some cost of living percentages for Utah cities compared to the state average, including the cost of living in St George Utah:
- Salt Lake City 9% higher
- St. George 8% higher
- Provo 3% higher
- Nephi 15% lower
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average expenditure for a Utah resident is $42,653 per year. Per doxoINSIGHTS, the cost of living in Utah per month is $2,290 and includes utilities, cable & phone, mobile phone, and other essential expenses. Utah household bills are slightly higher than the national average.
The Living Wage Calculator provides living wage estimates for individuals and households with one or two working adults and zero to three children while living in Utah. In Utah households with two working adults and two children, the living wage is estimated at $26.26 per hour.
Living in Utah has a flat state income tax of 4.95% and doesn’t tax retirement or other Social Security benefits. The state has some of the highest average property and sales tax rates in the country. The Utah state sales tax rate is 4.7%. Depending on where you live, the total tax rate can be as high as 8.7%. In Salt Lake City, the sales tax is 7.75%.
Provo’s sales tax is 7.45%, and while living in St. George, the sales tax is 6.75%. Property in Utah is taxed at 2.08% of a home’s assessed value, and real estate taxes vary depending on where you live and can be either a low cost or high cost.
Is Utah cheaper than California?
Living in Utah is cheaper than California. California has a cost of living index of 149.9, compared to living in Utah COLI, being just over 100. The median cost of a new home in Salt Lake City is $565,021, while a new home in Los Angeles will cost you $902,000.
Where Is the Cheapest Place to Live in Utah?
One of the smaller cities with the lowest cost of living in Utah is Vernal. Vernal has a cost of living 8% lower than the state average. Housing in Vernal is 15% cheaper than the Utah average.
What Is the Cost of Living in Utah Vs Texas?
The cost of living in Utah is 1.5% more expensive than Texas.
Utah Housing Market
The median home value in Utah is $535,500. Home values have declined 0.42% over the past year. Cities with the highest median home values in Utah include Draper, with a median home price of $876,250, and Sandy, where home prices average $875,000. Ogden is one of the most affordable places to live in Utah. The median home price in Ogden is $375,000.
What Is the Average Rent in Utah?
The average rent for a 917-square-foot apartment in Utah is $1,597. By comparison, rents in California average $2,587/mo., in Florida $1,955/mo., and in Michigan $1,346/mo.
The most affordable rental prices in Utah are in Ogden ($1,293/month), Tremonton ($1,322/month), and Brigham ($1,368/month). The most expensive cities in Utah for renters are Farmington ($1,795/month), Provo ($1,828/month), and Woods Cross ($2,254/month). Salt Lake City is the most popular city for renters, where the average rent is $1,611/month.
What Is the Weather Like in Utah?
Living in Utah has a dry, semi-arid to desert climate. Most of the lowland areas receive less than 12 inches of precipitation per year. The Great Salt Lake Desert is the driest area of the state, with less than 5 inches. Snowfall varies throughout the state. The far southern valleys only get about 3 inches per year, while Salt Lake City sees about 60 inches.
The Wasatch Range can receive up to 500 inches per year, making it excellent for skiing. The temperature varies greatly in Utah, from extreme cold temperatures in winter to very hot summers. Average high temperatures in winter range from around 30°F at higher elevations to about 55°F in the southern valley. At the height of summer, highs reach from 85 to 100°F. Monsoon season spans from mid-July through mid-September, especially in southern and eastern Utah.
Does Utah Have All 4 Seasons?
Yes. Spring is typically the wettest season, with warming temperatures and snow in the mountains. Summer is hot and dry with lots of sunshine. Fall transitions to cooler weather and vibrant colors in the canyons. Winter is cold and snowy.
How Much Snow Does Utah Get?
Utah averages 43 inches of snow per year.
Things to Do in Utah
Utah is home to natural scenic attractions, mountains, valleys, monuments, and parks. There are five national parks in Utah. It’s a nature paradise with the mountains. Here are some of the best things to do in the state:
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is made of stunning rock formations, colors, and textures. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive rock fins, and giant balanced rocks.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park includes Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to 2,640 feet deep. The park is home to numerous trees, 289 species of birds, 75 mammals, and 32 reptiles. Zion National Park is truly one of the best national parks in the state.
Temple Square
A five-block area surrounding the massive, 253,000-square-foot Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in downtown Salt Lake City.
Dead Horse Point State Park
A huge desert landscape of canyons, high desert woodland, and miles of trails. The night skies are filled with thousands of stars.
Deer Valley Resort
One of the top ski resorts in North America and one of the venues for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Deer Valley has 21 chairlifts and accommodates 50,470 skiers per hour.
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
A world-class aquarium and home to more than 4,000 aquatic animals. The aquarium features a 300,000-gallon shark habitat with a 40-foot tunnel that guests can walk through and see sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and more up close.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo
A 42-acre zoo and one of the largest in the Intermountain West. The zoo houses over 800 animals, representing 250 species.
Utah Olympic Park
The facility develops the next generation of winter Olympic athletes. It features Nordic ski jumps, the Alf Engen Ski Museum, an alpine slide, zip lines, and a bobsled track used during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Natural History Museum of Utah
Contains more than 1.65 million objects that emphasize the natural history of Utah. The collection features one million objects related to anthropology.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its iconic red rock pillars called hoodoos, the park is home to dozens of species of mammals and birds and natural amphitheaters.
Utah Sports Teams
Utah’s major professional sports teams are the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Real Salt Lake of MLS. Real Salt Lake is the only Utah major league sports team to have won a national championship, having won the MLS Cup in 2009. The Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League, the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, and minor league hockey’s Utah Grizzlies also call Utah home.
Utah has seven universities that compete in Division I of the NCAA, including Brigham Young, the University of Utah, and Utah State. Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, one of the most successful Winter Olympics in history. Several professional golf tournaments, such as the Uniting Fore Care Classic and Utah Championship, are held in Utah.
What NHL Team Is Moving to Utah?
Many Utah residents are thrilled to know that the Arizona Coyotes, a professional NHL team, is moving to Utah for the 2025 season. Right now, they don’t have a name. The placeholder name for the team is the “Utah Hockey Club.”
Is Utah Safe?
Utah has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the country, although Salt Lake City has the highest rate of rape compared to all other cities of similar size. Utah’s violent crime rate is 242 per 100,000 annually, according to the FBI uniform crime data report. That is 37% lower than the national average. Utah ranks #40 among states for violent crime. The property crime rate in the state is 1,895 per 100,000, which is 3% below the national average.
Utah ranks #22 nationally for property crime. The cities in Utah with the highest violent crime rates are Salt Lake City (978 per 100,000), Moab (741), and Ogden (555). The safest cities in Utah are Salem (19), Smithfield (21), and Lone Peak (23).
Utah Economy
Utah’s booming economy encompasses mining, tourism, finance, agriculture, petroleum, and more. Utah has a robust job market and the lowest unemployment rate in the US. The GDP in 2023 was around $225.46 billion and increased from the previous year. Utah’s economy ranks 29th in size in the U.S.
Utah has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, below the national average of 3.7%. Utah’s largest employers are Intermountain Healthcare, the State of Utah, the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Wal-Mart, and Hill Air Force Base. All these companies employ 15,000+ workers.
What Is the Largest Employer in Utah?
Intermountain Healthcare is the largest employer in Utah, with 33 hospitals and nearly 4,000 beds.
How Many Fortune 500 Companies Are Headquartered in Utah?
Utah doesn’t have any Fortune 500 companies, but four corporations in the state are Fortune 1000 companies: Zions Bancorp (677), PACS Group (869), SkyWest (903), and Extra Space Storage (969).
What Is the Average Income in Utah?
The annual mean wage in Utah is $61,070 across all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median income for all occupations across all metropolitan areas in the United States is around $65,470. In the Salt Lake City area, the annual mean wage is $31.67 per hour or $65,873 annually.
What Is the Average Teacher Salary in Utah?
The mean annual wage for all secondary teachers living in Utah is $70,050.
What Is the Median Household Income in Utah?
The median household income in Utah is $91.750.
Education in Utah
U.S. News & World Report ranked Utah second in the nation for education. Utah has 42 public school districts that enroll 672,662 students. Three of the top-rated school districts in Utah are the Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science in Layton, the Success Academy in Cedar City, and the Park City School District in Park City. Utah has about 166 private schools. Some of the best private schools include Waterford School in Sandy, Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City, and Juan Diego Catholic High School in Draper.
Some of the major colleges and universities in Utah are Brigham Young University in Provo, the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and Utah State University in Logan. There is also Westminster University, a smaller school in Salt Lake. You have plenty of schools to choose from while living in Utah.
What Are the Largest Universities in Utah?
The largest schools in Utah are Western Governors University, enrolling 156,935 students, Utah Valley University, enrolling 43,099, and the University of Utah, enrolling 34,734.
How Many Colleges and Universities are in Utah?
The state has nearly 90 public and private institutions that range from small liberal arts colleges to large research universities.
How Many School Districts Are in Utah?
Utah has 42 public school districts.
Facts About Utah
- Utah is one of 27 landlocked US states.
- Utah is slightly larger than Great Britain.
- People from Utah are called Utahns and Utahans.
- 55% of the people in Utah are Mormons.
- The Rocky Mountain elk is the state animal of Utah.
- Utah has the youngest population in the nation, with 33% of residents under 18 and the mean age being 31.3.
- Only California (9) and Alaska (8) have more national parks than Utah.
- Utah is the only state in the US with parts of a national forest in each of its counties.
- The notorious Western outlaw, Butch Cassidy, was born in Beaver, Utah.
- The first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was opened in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952.
Pros and Cons of Living in Utah
Here are the living in Utah pros and cons:
Pros:
- Living in Utah comes with stunning scenery.
- Living in Utah comes with tons of outdoor opportunities.
- You’ll experience all four seasons while living in Utah.
- A thriving job market exists while living in Utah.
- Living in Utah comes with an excellent public transportation system.
- Utah is a hub for winter sports.
What Are the Disadvantages of Living in Utah?
- The Utah population is not diverse.
- Living in Utah comes with very dry weather, prompting wildfires in the summer.
- High housing costs come with living in Utah.
- Restrictive alcohol laws exist while living in Utah.
Wasatch Moving Can Help You With Moving to Utah
Why are people moving to Utah? Utah has a great job economy, is very family-friendly, and it has a beautiful landscape! If you’re moving to one of the cities in Utah, you’ll need the best Utah movers to help you get there. Give Wasatch Moving a call at 801-335-5603 or fill out our form for a free quote.
