If you’re considering a move to Utah, check out my video on the pros and cons of living in Utah. As someone who moved to Utah in 2002, here is my list of pros and cons of living in Utah after being raised in California and having no roots in Utah. I live in the Salt Lake City, Utah area so my video is directed mainly for Salt Lake City metro area. I go into more detail in my video so be sure you watch that.
Pros of Living in Utah:
- Utah is a friendly state. It’s not unusual for people to step in and help others out, even if they don’t know them. If you’re out for a hike or on a walk, people say hi, wave or say good morning to you. Going to the grocery store? Don’t be surprised if you strike up a conversation with someone.
- Utah is a safe state to live in. While there are obviously still crimes that occur here, in general it’s a safe place to live. After living in Utah for a while, you may be surprised how much you take that for granted. I know people that leave the door unlocked from the garage into the house still to this day.
- Lot’s of outdoor activities. Not only does Utah have the most National Parks of any state but we have tons of open space to do things outside. Hiking, mountain biking, boating, skiing, camping, hunting, sand dunes, and more. Seriously, the only thing that I can’t do here compared to California is there is no ocean (obviously) but I honestly do more outdoor activities now living in Utah than I ever did living in California.
- Utah has four seasons! And even though Utah is known for having the greatest snow on earth, it doesn’t really stick around like you see on the East coast. In fact, it’s not unusual for the snow to be melted off the roads in the afternoons. Utah is considered high desert so we have warm summers, low humidity, beautiful Fall colors, and you can hit the slopes all winter.
- Salt Lake International Airport is a travel hub. Many people don’t realize that Utah is an international connection city for a major airline. Prior to coronavirus, you could catch a non-stop flight to London, Paris, Amsterdam, and more. With the airline industry in turmoil at the time of this video, it’s hard to say how they will be impacted however it probably still won’t be hard to find a flight throughout the United States.
- Cost of living (not housing) is relatively low when compared to other states in the West Coast or East Coast.
Cons of Living in Utah:
- Utah has a lot of really bad drivers. Like they’re seriously in a class of their own for bad driving in Utah. When my brother-in-law moved to Utah at the end of 2018 from San Diego, his car insurance rates actually went UP.
- Home Prices and Population are increasing. As more companies move to Utah, the population is growing which is putting Utah in a housing shortage. We’ve been in a sellers market now for years. Between June 1st and June 15th of 2020 the average sales price of homes is $436,000 according to Utahrealestate.com.
- Winter Inversion. Now, the photo I use in my video is not nearly as bad as it can be but winter inversion is something to deal with in the Salt Lake Metro area. The best way to describe the inversion is like smog or cloud cover.
- The liquor laws in Utah are different than you typically find anywhere else in the United States. If you want more specifics about liquor laws in Utah, check out my video 10 Things To Know About Moving To Utah where I go into more detail.
- If you’re coming from somewhere like New York or Boston than the mass transit system is no where near what you will be use to. The system is improving though. If you live in Utah, you will need your own vehicle. Not just for commuting to work or the stores but also to explore the beauty of Utah.
If you have questions about moving to Utah or anything real estate related, feel free to reach out to me anytime. I’m here to help!
