Are you looking for somewhere new to live, and Salt Lake City, Utah is one of your options? Before you can fully commit to an area, it’s important that you complete your research, understanding as much as you can about it so that you can make an informed decision.
But, we know that research can be boring, time consuming, and generally not something that you want to do, so we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the pros and cons of living in Salt Lake City so that they are all in one place, and you don’t have to worry about scouring the internet looking for them.
So, before you start looking for Salt Lake City rentals or properties to buy, have a look at these pros and cons, then see what you think.
Pro – Fantastic Outdoor Recreation
Arguably one of the best things about living in Salt Lake City are all of the outdoor recreation opportunities. Surrounded by mountains, you get the opportunity to experience some breathtaking views if you can reach the top, or even just the stunning views of the mountains themselves.
It is essentially a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with plenty of outdoor activities to take part in. As such, if you love going on outdoor adventures year round, this is the perfect place for you to live as you can head into the mountains, take up hiking on one of the many hiking trails, head to one of the national parks, or even visit the Great Salt Lake to walk around.
Con – Generally Poor Air Quality
For those of you who have concerns about air quality where you live, Salt Lake City may not be the place for you. It generally has bad air quality, which is a well known fact about the area. What causes this is the geography of the area, which causes winter temperature inversions, trapping pollution such as emissions from vehicles and smoke in the valley.
Ultimately, this leads to poor air quality across the entire area, which is a concern for many. This is especially true for those who have respiratory issues, as poor air quality can lead to a number of respiratory issues, or worsen existing ones.
Pro – Relatively Affordable Cost Compared To Other Places
Even though there are currently rising housing costs in the area, which is something we’re going to talk about a little further down, Salt Lake City is still relatively affordable compared to most other major cities in the US. This is especially true of areas on the West Coast such as Denver, and even other areas like New York and Los Angeles.
As such, if you’re looking for a more affordable option for your home, this could be a good one. The Salt Lake City area offers plenty to do and see for the price you pay, making it one of the biggest Salt Lake City pros.
Con – Limited Nightlife
If you are someone who wants to live somewhere where there is an extremely active nightlife scene, we can’t say that this is true of Salt Lake City. However, having said that, there are a lot of bars and restaurants that residents often frequent to have a good time. It’s true though that these bars do tend to close early compared to other cities of the same size, and most places throughout the US.
There are a lot of local favorites, but they don’t stay open late into the night like you would expect to see from a metropolitan area, and there aren’t many other late night entertainment options either. This is partially due to the local alcohol rules, and again the presence of a large religious group of people.
Pro – Incredible Cultural Scene
While there are some people who would argue that there isn’t much of a cultural scene in Salt Lake City as it may not be as diverse as other areas, we think that there is an incredible cultural scene here. There are plenty of local restaurants that locals and tourists can visit, serving delicious foods that get super busy during peak hours.
More than this, Salt Lake City has an extremely thriving art scene, with the Utah arts festival being an extremely popular event. There are also music festivals held throughout the year, Utah museum and others, as well as plenty of local businesses to choose from. As such, we would say that Salt Lake City has an incredible cultural scene, and if this is important to you in an area for you to live in, this is a great option.
We highly recommend that you do your own research into everything on offer here, so that you can fully understand the scope that you will experience.
Con – Weather Extremes
Definitely on the downside are the weather extremes in Salt Lake City. The average summer here is hot and dry, with average July temperatures of around 90 degrees F. But, this can easily reach into the high 90’s, and even the early 100’s/ As such, hot summers are something that you’re going to have to power through. We understand that there are a lot of areas that have hot summers, but due to the climate in Utah, it can feel extremely dry and suffocating at times.
On the other end of the scale, winters can be extremely cold and snowy which can take a lot of time to adjust to for those who are not used to this. As well as the cold weather, the city is extremely highly elevated at around 4,000ft, which can also take a lot of getting used to, as it changes the weather that you experience. For example, in Salt Lake City, harsh winds are more common than in cities that sit at a lower elevation, so if this is not something you can handle, this may not be the place for you.
Pro – Thriving Job Market
Salt Lake City has a constantly growing job market, meaning that there are more job opportunities in this area than there are in other places around the US. This is definitely one of the best things that Salt Lake City offers in a time of economic uncertainty, with many people not being able to get a job no matter how much experience they have behind them, or how good they are at their job.
Some of the areas in which there are growing opportunities are:
- Tech
- Healthcare
- Finance
- Hospitality
As well as more. This is not an extensive list, and the chances are that your industry is also expanding here.
As such, one of the Salt Lake City pros is the thriving job market that is allowing people to diversify their career, and see lower unemployment numbers than many other major cities and metropolitan areas in the US.
Con – Traffic Is Terrible
If you’re a car driver, then this is bad news for you because the roads of Salt Lake City are absolutely rammed. This is true for neighborhoods such as Park City, Liberty Park, and pretty much everywhere else.
Due to the rapid growth of the area, the streets are strained, with traffic everywhere on a regular basis. This means that if you need to commute to work, chances are it’s going to take longer than you think to get there, and if you do move, you should allow yourself extra time to get to where you’re going.
As standard, the worst time to try and travel by car in this area is during rush hour, as everyone is either going to or coming home from work, making the roads more saturated than during the day.
The only good news is that it encourages people to use public transport, reducing the overall emissions in the area as much as possible. While this still isn’t great, it’s a small silver lining.
Pro – Efficient Public Transport
We do have to say that the public transport options in Salt Lake City are incredible, meaning that it’s a simple option for those who don’t want to drive around in the poor traffic. With the TRAX light trail, buses, and FrontRunner commuter trains, there is always going to be some way for you to get to where you want to go.
Many people end up getting rid of their car entirely, and decide to rely on the public transport instead of trying to get onto the road. Or, they have their vehicle for special occasions or when it’s really needed.
On top of this, it’s not massively expensive either. Salt Lake City has put a lot of effort into creating affordable public transport with free fare zones in some areas, and smaller fares compared to other larger cities.
Con – Rising Housing Costs
The housing market is rising, and therefore so is the cost of renting or purchasing a property at the moment. This is an issue for many as affordability can now start becoming a bit of an issue. While it’s still cheaper in Salt Lake City than in many other major cities, it’s still costing more than it used to to live in the same area.
A large portion of Salt Lake City residents are young professionals, and students, which means that rising house costs could signal a huge issue for them, as well as anyone in this position who is looking to move into the area. As such, you may find your housing options limited based on your budget, especially the closer that you get to the downtown area.
Pro – Family Centered
The final pro that we’re going to be looking at is the fact that it’s an extremely family centered place. This is due to a number of different reasons, one of which is that there are a lot of young families across Salt Lake City in the varying neighborhoods, as well as the strong latter day saints presence in the area. However, there are also a lot of non-mormons here, so don’t feel as though you’d be moving to an exclusively religious area, as this is not the case.
For families who are looking for somewhere with a warm vibe for them, where there are excellent schools, beautiful parks, and a really strong sense of community, this Salt Lake City is a fantastic choice. If you want to live somewhere where you could ask any of the residents for a cup of sugar and they would all be offering you one, that’s what you will find right here.
There you have it then. These are some of the pros and cons to living in Salt Lake City, so hopefully you have found them helpful, and they can go some way to helping you make your decision as to whether this could be the place for you. As you can see, there are many Salt Lake City pros to consider, it’s just up to you to weigh them against the cons.
So, if you’re ready to search rental listings in Salt Lake City, get started with us right now.
FAQs
Is Salt Lake City a good place to live overall?
Generally, we would say yes. If you’re looking for a slower paced life with a tight knit community feel, then it’s a fantastic option for you.
Is Salt Lake City good for young professionals?
Yes, it’s a pretty good choice for young professionals who are looking to have a thriving career, especially seeing as their economy is thriving and their job market is expanding. However, if a thriving nightlife is important for you, then maybe consider another option.
What Makes Salt Lake City Appealing For Families?
With plenty of green spaces, outdoor recreation, parks, good schools, and a strong sense of community, Salt Lake City is a fantastic place for families to settle long term.
