8 Best Places to Live in Utah in 2024
Home to a very skilled workforce, Utah truly is the Beehive State, where locals cooperate to live a balanced, quality life. Utah boasts five national parks, over 40 state parks, and a diversity of landscapes, including red rocks and desert in the south and lakes and rivers throughout. With the Rockies at the doorstep and a business-friendly environment within, working hard and playing hard are integral parts of local culture.
Park City is home to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival, a vibrant celebration of movie-watching in the mountains in conjunction with skiing! Small, affluent towns like Snyderville thrive through agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, while the state also attracts industry giants, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop.
Farmington
Farmington, the small city in Davis County and its county seat, is home to 25,000 and growing at a rate of 4.08% annually, a 13.33% increase since the most recent census in 2020. With a median age of around 30 years, the younger city has an average household income of $143,043 and a poverty rate of 4.7%.
With major industries in construction, health care, and social assistance, as well as educational services and retail, Farmington is the dream place to live for those who've had trouble finding a well-paying job before. Despite a higher cost of living in Farmington than the Utah average, the fairly large suburb feels empty of crowds and uncongested by traffic—a great place to raise a family with friendly neighbors and job opportunities around every corner for the newcomers. Also worth mentioning is its extreme pet-friendliness, including many parks, designated areas, and establishments that welcome both two- and four-legged friends.
Logan
Hidden deep within the mountains of northern Utah, Logan is a mid-sized city with a population of 54,680. It is renowned as one of the state's youngest, with a median age of 23.8 years old, as well as the many parks in the area. Logan is a perfect place for families, with lower crime rates and a lower cost of living than the Utah average. This city is full of opportunities, making it perfect to settle and raise kids, start a career, and live a quality life as one of the "kids," thanks to the youthful vibe. Despite its rather off-beaten-path location, the old-school comforts like mom-and-dad shops, drive-ins, antique stores, and family-owned businesses feel like a hug.
The city in the Northern Utah Valley charms with its picture-perfect natural setting for boundless outdoor exploration and recreation. Logan boasts a 2.2 percent unemployment rate, less than the nation's average, with Utah State University as its biggest employer. Logan has a median home value of around $419,000. It's also worth mentioning that the ice cream here is the best in the state, which, together with nature on a hot summer day, definitely keeps the locals out and about, explaining Logan's popularity among college students and young families alike.
Ogden
Ogden is a picturesque city of 86,825 in Weber County, and its county seat is slowly growing, and no wonder. Offering a mix of big-city amenities, it is a popular choice for many, with a median age in Ogden of 33 years and an influx of young millennials, thanks to the perfect blend of bustle and peace in the mid-sized city. The new wave of young professionals enjoys the lively downtown area with local theater, funky dive bars, and live music. Ogden has an average household income of $66,226, a poverty rate of 12.1%, and an average home value of $373,791.
Ogden, one of the top places to live in the state, scores particularly high for its diversity and low cost of living, with access to unique experiences and fun attractions year-round. Filled with music, art, and nightlife places, the cost of living in Ogden is projected to rise, which means there is no better time than now to make a move, particularly due to the next point. The development in this part of the state, Northern Utah, is so rapid that not only is it attracting newcomers to Ogden, but its effects extend to the overall exposure and popularity of the state in general!
Orem
Orem, the bustling city in the northern part of the state, has a population of 91,430, with a median age of 26.8 years. Despite a 9.82% poverty rate, living here has many advantages, like the $77,568 average annual income and Utah Valley University (UVU), which is an increasingly popular choice among state-wide students. Part of the Provo-Orem metropolitan area just south of Salt Lake City, the city is also just a short drive from the famous Brigham Young University. These major educational institutions attract students, professors, and administration jobs alike, with youthful attractions and great nightlife. Given the very convenient location near the stunning Wasatch Mountains and the relevant outdoor activities outside of the cultural scene in town, Orem is a very family-friendly city.
Utah Valley University is one of the major employers in the city, with job openings also attracting research and support services. The other prominent players in the economy include numerous software development companies, IT firms, and tech start-ups as part of the state's technology corridor, which covers Orem and the area around it, also known as the “Silicon Slopes.” After work, residents enjoy a vibrant arts and culture scene and a wealth of local coffee shops, restaurants, and craft breweries, which make Orem not just one of the best places to live in Utah but among the Top 25 Best Places to Live Out West. Few would say no to living in a beautiful place with opportunities to access nature in a heartbeat for hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and camping.
Park City
Home to 8,347, the small town of Park City is renowned for modern urban amenities and world-class winter recreation with epic mountain views. Perhaps the most expensive place to live in the state, with a median home value of $1,516,385, only 1.3% lower than last year, Park City does have leverage worthy of the price. The idyllic location offers access for commuters to Salt Lake City’s booming tech scene. Being the top tourist spot in the state, it also lends to a vibrant culture and attractions that make work-life balance easy. A "bit of a destination" for outdoor enthusiasts, it is not uncommon that the city instills a sense of jealousy among visitors wishing to live year-round in what feels like a mountain vacationland.
Home to some of the best ski resorts and biking trails, as well as one of the top school systems in the state, it is even possible to find housing on the lower end of the expensive spectrum. But locals, with a median age of 41.6 years, don't fret, boasting an average income of $238,648 and a poverty rate of 7.44%. Park City attracts education- and tech-focused professionals for a balanced way of life with resources, trails, and entertainment within reach. As a host to the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival in January after the holidays, the place is overrun in winter in conjunction with skiing. Known for its fierce inclusivity, locals enjoy the autumn off-shoulder seasons and welcome newcomers with care and excitement.
Provo
While not the cheapest place to live in the state, this city, in Utah County and its county seat, with a population of 110,763, is a more affordable alternative to the nearby Salt Lake City. Offering a household income of $57,943, its median age is 23.6, making it the third-largest city in the Beehive State and one of the youngest. Home to the world-famous Brigham Young University, this iconic research university is one of the largest private religious universities in the country, so city life pretty much revolves around the school, with culture and economy both centered on students. Despite a high poverty rate of 24.89%, Provo, one of the best college towns in the country, provides job opportunities in all spheres of education, from professors to research, administration, and even student employment opportunities at the school.
With a median home price of $450,663 and the cost of living only about 4% higher than the national average, utilities and health care often cost less than at comparable places in the state, so you can save up on energy bills and groceries to spend on "wants." The city also offers a surprising number of technology jobs, being in an area with a growing reputation as the “Silicon Slopes.” Outdoor recreation abounds and is unparalleled, where you will never be bored with something for every level. Just a quick hike away, one of the country's finest, the Bridal Veil Falls, is a fun day out clambering about or enjoying a misty picnic at the base. Don't miss the Provo River Parkway Trail for walking, biking, and jogging, and the simply stunning views of the canyon, river, and mountains along the Provo Canyon Scenic Byway.
Salt Lake City
Offering a typical home value of $528,221, no change from last year, the stable capital city of Utah is a cultural haven. SLC could just be the best place to live based on its size and status in the state, particularly if you are after a non-sedentary lifestyle, culture, and access to a diverse job market. The historic city is full of old architecture alongside a flourishing foodie and craft scene, with a growing hipster vibe attractive to the creatives and a thriving LGBTQ+ community. With a median age of 32.5 years and a growing population nearing 212,000, SLC is one of the nation's best capitals for activities and well-being, with fresh air from the Rockies. Offering modern urban amenities and world-class winter recreation less than an hour outside the limits, the city is also home to the University of Utah campus.
The average household income in Salt Lake City is $72,357, and while the poverty rate is higher (14%), the valley, in the embrace of epic mountain views at 4,327 feet elevation, defines quality life with the right environment for inspiration, achievement, and future plans. According to local reviews, Utah's capital is manageable in size through beautiful neighborhoods of curving, tree-lined streets with stately homes and conveniences at each corner, like grocery stores, cafes, and a bustling nightlife. The popular neighborhoods include Federal Heights and Sugar House, with thousands of iconic brick bungalow homes, perfect for families. For history, look no further than The Avenues, a pedestrian-friendly place to wander along lovely preserved Victorians from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The modern Olympus Cove offers epic views of the Wasatch Mountains and the Salt Lake Valley.
Snyderville
Snyderville, the city in Summit County, Utah, may very well be one of the most beautiful places to move to in the state, with a small town population of 5,730. Offering all the serenity to bask in an affluent life against the views, its average household income is $135,132. The rural area thrives in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting, with a poverty rate of 5.48%. Needless to say, quality life is hard-earned, including at Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd., a large employer in town.
The median age in Snyderville is 44.6 years, with straight-up outstanding schools from elementary levels to a range of high schools that all perform above the national standard with ease. This makes Snyderville an attractive place for families to live in a naturally clean environment while being close to Salt Lake City.
Utah, full of natural wonders, was the fastest-growing state in the nation between 2010 and 2020, largely due to out-of-state migration. For lower home prices, look at Ogden, a picturesque city despite the recent high development in the area, which makes Utah a desirable place to live and visit.
Orem and Provo are in the area with a growing reputation as the “Silicon Slopes,” while the latter is also home to the famous Brigham Young University and offers a quick hike to one of the state's finest spectacles, the Bridal Veil Falls. The bustling capital, Salt Lake City, offers culture and access to a diverse job market for the non-sedentary lifestyle you desire.
