Salt Lake City, Utah, may be best known for the headquarters of the Mormon church or the Western Hemisphere’s largest salt lake, but this mountain city has a great deal else to offer.
Affordable living
In terms of cost of living, Salt Lake City comes out ahead of many other major U.S. cities. Housing, food, health care, transportation, and utilities cost on average 17% less in the city. Of 125 metro areas, Salt Lake City was ranked the 24th best place to live by U.S. News & World Report.
The great outdoors
Of course, money doesn’t buy happiness. Luckily, if you love the great outdoors, you’ll likely have another reason to call Salt Lake City home. The region is home to five national parks and features some of the country’s best skiing and snowboarding opportunities. In all, there are more than 900 acres of public parks in or near the city. Several of the venues built for the 2002 Winter Olympics are still operational, including the bobsled track and the biathlon course. Mountain bikers enjoy the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, while skiers enjoy the nearby Wasatch Mountains. If a more relaxed experience is your goal, soak your feet in the Fifth Water Hot Springs.
Growing tech center
Another reason to consider relocating to Salt Lake City is the region’s growing tech presence, earning it the nickname “Silicon Slopes.” A growing list of companies, including EA Sports and Adobe, have set up shop in the region. If you’re interested in working in technology but don’t want the California cost of living, Salt Lake City could be a great alternative.
Young at heart
Time Magazine recently found that Salt Lake City had the youngest median age of any major U.S. city—just under 30 years old. As a result, the city is teeming with activities. From the Clark Planetarium to the Downtown Farmers Market to the annual Sundance Film Festival, Salt Lake has options covered for all ages.