What started as a pioneer settlement has now grown into one of the most desirable cities in the western United States. Salt Lake City is one of, if not the best places to live in Utah. Due to recent events and changes in the remote work environment, crowds are flocking to the valley to take up permanent residence and it's also quickly becoming a hub for tech companies.
While there truly isn't a terrible place to live in the city, some areas are better than others when it comes to shopping, dining, architecture, views and a few other factors. Here are the best neighborhoods in Salt Lake City to give you an idea of what most residents enjoy about where they live.
Potentially the most desirable neighborhood in Salt Lake, The Avenues have a little bit of everything. It's nestled in the northeastern corner of the valley, offering great views of the city. Plus, its charming historic homes and family-owned restaurants create a quiet, quaint atmosphere.
Since it's just at the foot of the mountains, there are plenty of hiking trails literally at your doorstep. There are many parks and walkable areas, perfect for anyone wanting an active lifestyle or who has pets that like spending time outdoors.
Full of unique restaurants, bars and coffee shops, Sugarhouse is a lively neighborhood where you'll never be bored. With the University of Utah and Westminster close by, many students live in the area. However, there's also a mix of established families and young professionals in the area.
Sugarhouse is walk- and bike-friendly. Most major roads have bike lanes and wide sidewalks to keep them safe for bikers and pedestrians. Plus, everything you could ever need is within walking distance. Whether you're looking for groceries, boutiques or a cool cafe to spend the afternoon in, it's close by.
Capitol Hill, named for its location around the state capitol building, tends to attract many young professionals. It has plenty of parks for outdoor enjoyment and bars for indoor entertainment and mingling.
The homes and apartments in this neighborhood are mostly older buildings that have gone through renovations. While the buildings maintain their original charm, so you'll see that they have a clean, modernized touch. Capitol Hill also has some of the most incredible views of the city, overlooking the entire valley. Notably, it has views of downtown and Temple Square. This view is especially stunning during the winter holidays, the Fourth of July and the local Pioneer Day celebrations.
Salt Lake City's most active area is certainly Downtown. There are more restaurants, cafes, bars than anyone could probably visit in their lifetime. There's also great shopping—anything from small boutiques to large commercial shopping centers.
Many people both live and work downtown, often walking, biking or taking the UTA TRAX whenever they need to get somewhere. In fact, the downtown area has some of the best walk, bike and overall transit scores in the valley. Its walk, bike and transit scores are 87, 93 and 69, respectively. So owning a car is purely optional for residents here.
The coveted 9th and 9th neighborhood is a well-known shopping and eating hangout. Filled with boutiques and delicious restaurants, it has a very calm, leisurely feel to it. The relaxing vibe is partially created by the amazing art that is around every corner. The other great part of 9th and 9th is the fun people you can find behind every door.
Homes in this area seem a little on the small side, but they're both funky and chic. Pulling from the old architecture of original houses built in the early 1900s, the homes mix in newer stylings to stay modern.
Yalecrest initially attracts students who are attending school across the street — at the University of Utah. But once they finish their studies, they end up staying years after the fact. Its easily walkable streets are very safe. And the neighborhood has enough local stores and restaurants that owning a car isn't necessary for day-to-day life. Plus, it's near the UTA TRAX and bus lines in case you do need to travel further.
If you're a fan of Tudor-style architecture, Yalecrest is a visual treat. It's not a typical cookie-cutter suburb — it's full of unique homes of all designs, complete with brick and exposed wood beams.
The East Bench neighborhood is known for its unobstructed views stretching all the way over to the Great Salt Lake. The neighborhood is over the side of the eastern mountains lining the valley. While many of its residents are older and more established, there are also many younger families taking up residency.
East Bench is further away from the busy city, but it's still close to everything you could need. It's also only a 10-minute drive to downtown, where there's great entertainment and food. Residents are out of the constant city bustle but they still enjoy the city perks.
At the heart of downtown Salt Lake, Temple Square and the surrounding streets are surprisingly calm and kept very neat and tidy. Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints live and work in the area (depending on what you're after, this could be a pro or a con).
You'll find lots of church history museums, along with other church-owned properties. Such properties include a large tabernacle, a conference center, and, of course, the Salt Lake Temple. The area is very walkable and near lots of public transportation, including the UTA TRAX and FrontRunner.
Perhaps the best park in Salt Lake, Sugar House Park is not only big, but it's beautiful. It boasts beautiful views of the mountains, lots of trees, a pond and various sports courts.
The Sugar House Park neighborhood is also near a large shopping and dining center right off the freeway. Everything is at your fingertips and it makes owning a car unnecessary.
As its name suggests, the Westminster neighborhood surrounds Westminster College. It's no surprise that there are many students living in the area. However, students aren't the only ones enjoying the neighborhood.
Being so close to a shopping and dining hub, this neighborhood draws in the crowds. Here, you can enjoy good food and fun bars, many of which have classic bar games like pool and darts. You've also got a few parks nearby. Liberty Park is one of the best, there's always an event happening and you can catch live music, markets and festivals.
Right off the freeway at the mouth of Parley's Canyon, The Country Club is a classy neighborhood full of larger homes. By "larger homes," we mean in comparison to the other smaller historic homes typically found in Salt Lake.
This neighborhood encircles a large country club with a golf course. Many of its residents fall under the "well established" category of older folks who have done well for themselves. You won't find better-kept homes or yards anywhere in the valley and even strolling through the streets is a treat in and of itself.
Highland Park is a fun, eclectic area with a combination of shopping and dining like you've never seen before. Instead of boutiques and chain restaurants, you'll find the likes of stores selling plants, yard decor and secondhand books, along with classic Dutch and Greek cuisine.
It is truly a one-of-a-kind neighborhood that transports residents and visitors to different places and times. However, if that's not your cup of tea, you're right off the freeway and less than 15 minutes from downtown.
Sandwiched between downtown and the University of Utah, East Central is home to many young residents. Many of those living here are attending school or just starting out in their careers. Walking is a reasonable mode of transportation and you'll find not only everything you need to live nearby but the added benefits of concerts, live theater shows and museums.
Those living in East Central are in it for both work and play, and you'll find a good community of social beings there.
The mellow, tree-lined streets of Wasatch Hollow are home to a wide range of people of all ages and various backgrounds. This neighborhood has a close sense of community, where people live for a long time and watch out for each other.
There are plenty of parks for taking a walk or spending a nice afternoon. And the many coffee shops scattered throughout the streets provide a place to meet other locals, see art from up-and-coming artists and experience live music.
Like East Bench, Sunnyside East has amazing views across the valley to the Great Salt Lake. However, it is slightly more secluded. This neighborhood contains the Hogle Zoo and This Is The Place Heritage Park, where you can attend various events all year long, including holidays — such as Zoo Lights and a German-style Christmas market.
Because it's further from things, you'll likely need a car if you live here. But the proximity to multiple hiking trails and stunning views of both the mountains above and the city below are worth the trade-off.
Adjacent to the Bonneville Golf Course, Bonneville Hills is in a prime location near just about everything. It's only a few minutes from downtown, the University of Utah, the Hogle Zoo, This Is The Place Heritage Park, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping — you name it and it's within reasonable walking distance or a short drive.
Although it's reasonably close to the University of Utah, residents of the neighborhood include families and young professionals, with only a few students in the mix.
Central City is full of young professionals who bring a vibrant, artistic vibe with them. Here you'll find loads of indie coffee shops and cafes, many of which have extraordinary menus that cater to the residents of the neighborhood.
Because Central City is near downtown, there are many opportunities to experience live performances of all kinds, whether it's music or comedy, and there's lots of local art displayed in coffee shops, painted onto buildings and in galleries throughout the city.
With a good mix of young, old and everything in between, you'll meet people from all walks of life in Liberty Wells. It's also close to just about everything and has been seeing lots of improvements throughout the neighborhood, including new apartment buildings to provide housing for even more people in the area.
And although new buildings are popping up, there are still plenty of the old ones still standing, providing a good balance between vintage and modern architecture. Like many other neighborhoods in Salt Lake, Liberty Wells doesn't lack food, drink or good company.
Tucked in the eastern corner of Salt Lake, just inside the hills is the University of Utah and the University District. While many students live in this area, there are also residents who work at the University of Utah. Those working for the University include a wide range of careers, not just teaching — there's a hospital and various research centers connected to the university.
While you're slightly further away from most shopping and dining, it's just a few minutes down the road if you're ever in the mood for it.
Fairpark is one of the more culturally diverse neighborhoods in Salt Lake City and with that comes some of the best culturally diverse restaurants in the valley. It's home to one of the city's most well-known restaurants, the Red Iguana, which is typically packed most evenings, but well worth the wait!
Apart from the food, Fairpark is near the heart of the city, so entertainment and nightlife are never far, and it's near the freeway, giving access to anywhere else around Salt Lake, including ski resorts and hiking trails.
These are only a few of the many neighborhoods in Salt Lake City and each of them has its own unique combination of offerings to residents. It's important to choose a neighborhood that fits your personality and lifestyle, whether you're buying a home for the long term or renting an apartment for a shorter period. With so many great options, you can find apartments for rent in Salt Lake City in a neighborhood that suits you!
Morgen Henderson is a writer who grew up in Utah. She lived in the Dominican Republic for a year and a half, where she was involved in humanitarian service. Some of Morgen's work has appeared in State of Digital, The Next Scoop and TechPatio. In her free time, she loves to travel, bake, master DIY projects and improve her Spanish skills.