Many people are flocking to Utah, mostly due to its growing tech and business scene. There are so many great places to live, including Salt Lake City, you just need to find what's right for you.
While most of these are cities near Salt Lake, don't be afraid to branch out and see what the rest of the state has to offer.
Here's a small, quiet city that's becoming popular for young professionals and small families. While it's not large, it's growing very quickly and it's located right next to a few bigger cities with easy access to shopping, restaurants and other entertainment.
Vineyard is only 15 minutes south of Silicon Slopes (Utah's up-and-coming tech scene), making it the perfect location for anyone looking to work in the industry, whether you're wanting to get your foot in the door or have a decade of experience.
Fun fact: Vineyard only recently became an official city in 2016.
Like many other Utah cities, Herriman is very family-oriented and full of young families with lots of kids. Although it's still developing, it has grown rapidly since being named an official city in 1999. In fact, the number of high school students became too large for one high school in the area, so another has just opened to accommodate the growth.
While it's a city, many residents say Herriman still has a rural, country vibe where many people own horses and enjoy the outdoors.
Fun fact: Because of the many residents that own horses, there are horse crossings scattered throughout the city.
This is where all of the action happens. There's always something fun to do in Salt Lake City, whether it's a cultural event, concert series or you're just interested in visiting a cool museum.
Although it's the largest city in the state, there are plenty of parks in the area and mountains surrounding it, so residents can easily get their fill of nature. This makes it perfect for anyone and everyone.
Fun fact: Salt Lake City has the highest Jell-O consumption per capita in the world.
Orem has consistently been named one of the safest cities in Utah. It's especially great for college students and young families, holding 19 city parks to accommodate them. The city also hosts carnivals and other family-oriented activities throughout the year for its residents.
It's home to Utah Valley University and also lies near Brigham Young University, making Orem a hot location for college students to live.
Fun fact: Actress and dancer Julianne Hough was born in Orem.
Although known for its many retired residents and retirement communities, don't let Saint George fool you. Along with retired folks, there are many young families and college students.
Also famous for its beautiful red rocks, it's home to numerous hikes and stunning views, making it ideal for adventure seekers and nature lovers. With Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon only a couple of hours away, you'll get to see more than a few pretty sights.
The nightlife here isn't too exciting, but never fear — less than two hours in the car will get you to Las Vegas and about five will take you to Los Angeles.
Fun fact: High School Musical 2 was filmed at a country club in St. George.
Here you'll find the Salt Lake County fairgrounds, Oquirrh Lake and an equestrian park. Being located close to the becomingly-crowded Silicon Slopes, South Jordan has started to attract the attention of tech companies looking to start-up or expand.
It's a convenient location for commuters with both TRAX light rail stops and the FrontRunner rail that travels through major cities between Salt Lake and Provo.
Fun fact: Olympic short track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno formerly lived in South Jordan.
Slightly older than its neighbor to the south (and ironically located north of South Jordan instead of west), West Jordan was originally named after the Jordan River, which runs through the city. Its population is becoming younger and younger as older residents who originally built homes in the area during the 1980s are moving to retirement communities and young families are purchasing these homes.
As more families with children move into the area, the city has initiated efforts to spruce up city parks and community centers. This is making West Jordan a sought-after location for families with children of all ages.
Fun fact: Kennecott Copper Mine, the largest man-made excavation site, is located in West Jordan.
One of the best places for entertainment outside of Salt Lake, there are plenty of fun things to do in Sandy. Along with shopping and restaurants, you can catch an outdoor sports match or concert at Rio Tinto Stadium or attend conventions of all kinds at one of the convention centers.
Due to the many conventions and entertainment opportunities in the city, it's perfect for professionals of all ages looking to network and quickly progress in their careers.
Fun fact: Sandy is home to the stadium of Real Salt Lake, Utah's Major League Soccer team.
Ogden is known to be an opportune location for manufacturing as it's a large railway hub and has been since the beginning of its history. It's remained an example of the typical American West and was actually the first permanent European settlement in the state.
Due to its long history, the city is now home to numerous historic buildings and Weber State University.
Fun fact: Close to 50 movies and TV shows include scenes filmed in Ogden, including the pool scene in "The Sandlot."
This city is just outside of Salt Lake, but is less crowded and has a much lower price tag. For this reason, many young professionals that are just starting out in their careers call Murray home. Its central location provides easy access to the freeway and all of the other perks available to residents of Salt Lake.
Fun fact: "American Idol" star David Archuleta was attending Murray High School during his time on the show.
The rent information included in this article is based on August 2019 multifamily rental property inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein does not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
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.
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