Living almost anywhere in Utah will provide you with beautiful views, plenty of outdoor recreation and a welcoming, family-friendly environment.
The best places to live in Utah are scattered across the Beehive State. Each has its own unique offerings to residents, whether it be proximity to hiking trails or mild weather.
From the chilly mountain town of Logan to the warm, sunny red cliffs of St. George, here are some of the best places to live in Utah:
- Population: 34,764
- Average age: N/A
- Median household income: $48,346
- Average commute time: 14.0
- Walk score: 35
- Studio average rent: N/A
- One-bedroom average rent: N/A
- Two-bedroom average rent: $650
If you’re looking for a small-town vibe with the most perks of an urban setting, Cedar City is your place. While it is, in fact, a city, it doesn’t completely feel like it. You’ve got plenty of grocery stores and restaurants, but you’ve also got many residents that own horses and a few farms on the outer parts of town. Southern Utah University brings in a younger population of college students here.
Cedar City is halfway between Salt Lake and Las Vegas, leaving you with about a three-hour drive to reach either. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable places to live, where you can find a two-bedroom apartment for about $650 — which is less than a studio will run you in most other cities.
- Population: 49,331
- Average age: 32
- Median household income: $41,833
- Average commute time: 18.8 minutes
- Walk score: 51
- Studio average rent: N/A
- One-bedroom average rent: $405
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,124
Nestled in the mountains of northern Utah, you’ll find the quaint city of Logan. It’s home to many mom-and-pop shops, antique stores and one-of-a-kind restaurants — including Aggie Ice Cream, which is known to have some of the best ice creams in the state.
Logan is full of young families and college students, making it a safe place to live, while still being lively. You’ll see friendly people out all the time — even in the winter when there’s lots of snow.
- Population: 85,508
- Average age: 37.4
- Median household income: $50,061
- Average commute time: 25.6 minutes
- Walk score: 48
- Studio average rent: $771
- One-bedroom average rent: $988
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,127
Ogden may not seem like the most exciting city initially, but there are lots of hidden gemstones that make it one of the best places to live. Rent prices are really affordable and it has a pretty stable economy, which can likely be attributed to the many government jobs offered in the area (including the IRS).
Ogden is also very close to a multitude of outdoor activities, like ski resorts, hot springs and parks. It’s also the home of Weber State University, which is a smaller university that brings some students to the city but doesn’t overtake the city into becoming a “college town.”
- Population: 96,820
- Average age: 34
- Median household income: $64,590
- Average commute time: 22.7 minutes
- Walk score: 49
- Studio average rent: $1,007
- One-bedroom average rent: $1,113
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,328
Utah Valley University is one of the main attractions in Orem. Many people go there for the university, but end up staying because it’s an easy place to live.
It’s affordable and offers a full suburban experience, with tons of shopping, restaurants and other activities, like arcades, family fun centers and parks galore.
- Population: 8,251
- Average age: 42.6
- Median household income: $111,000
- Average commute time: 27.2 minutes
- Walk score: 40
- Studio average rent: N/A
- One-bedroom average rent: N/A
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,282
While it’s not the most densely-populated city on the list, you’ll still find loads of people in Park City at any given time. It’s more of a ski town and many residents are seasonal, with plenty of other visitors throughout the year to keep things going and to make life interesting.
You’ll find many beautiful cabins and condos, along with a cute main street full of restaurants and art galleries. Utah Olympic Park, the site of a handful of competitions in the 2002 Winter Games, is still a major year-round attraction. And every January, Park City turns a little Hollywood with the famous Sundance Film Festival.
While it’s a little on the expensive side to live in Park City, it is worth it for the green pine forest views and the free public transportation that can quickly get you almost anywhere in the city.
- Population: 115,764
- Average age: 31
- Median household income: $48,888
- Average commute time: 22.4 minutes
- Walk score: 56
- Studio average rent: $845
- One-bedroom average rent: $928
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,495
As yet another college town in Utah, Provo is most well-known for Brigham Young University. Because BYU is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, many of the city’s residents are members of the church and have a heavy focus on family life.
You’ll find many young newly-weds and small families that are just starting out in Provo. It was even named the youngest city in America with the median age being just 25.
- Population: N/A
- Average age: N/A
- Median household income: N/A
- Average commute time: N/A
- Walk score: 32
- Studio average rent: N/A
- One-bedroom average rent: $1,035
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,363
With its mild climate and access to golf courses, St. George is commonly thought of as a retirement town, at least in the winter when many older residents want to trade the cold of northern Utah for the warmth of the south.
But that doesn’t mean that only seniors live there. Dixie State University brings in a younger population.
St. George is a growing city that’s the perfect location for anyone that’s a fan of Las Vegas, but doesn’t want to live there — it’s less than 2 hours away from the famous Strip.
- Population: 194,153
- Average age: 38.8
- Median household income: $60,676
- Average commute time: 24.1 minutes
- Walk score: 67
- Studio average rent: $1,281
- One-bedroom average rent: $1,055
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,752
Not only is Salt Lake City one of the best places to live in Utah, but it’s also one of the best places to live in the country. The city features everything you could want from an urban area, but with all the perks of the outdoors, too! Restaurants, culture, plenty of jobs and public transportation (including the FrontRunner and TRAX that will get you almost anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley). And it’s all within 30 minutes of many hiking trails and ski resorts.
You can enjoy major league sports, like the Utah Jazz and Real Salt Lake, as well as college sports with the University of Utah teams. Or if you’re more into the music scene, you’ll find free summer concerts at various parks throughout the city.
There’s a reason SLC was named one of the best places to live for millennials. You’ll always find something to do and see, so you’ll never be bored living here.
- Population: 112,109
- Average age: 35.4
- Median household income: $80,955
- Average commute time: 28.9 minutes
- Walk score: 35.4
- Studio average rent: $933
- One-bedroom average rent: $1,057
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,374
West Jordan is one of the larger cities in the state and it’s still growing. While it’s mostly suburbs, there’s great shopping at Jordan Landing and it’s close to everything else in the valley from Downtown Salt Lake to IKEA and Thanksgiving Point, all of which are only about 20 minutes away.
It has lots of parks, schools and family-centered activities going on, whether it be a grand Fourth of July celebration at the park or a corn maze in the fall.
- Population: 135,102
- Average age: 35.3
- Median household income: $66,342
- Average commute time: 27 minutes
- Walk score: 51
- Studio average rent: $745
- One-bedroom average rent: $1,002
- Two-bedroom average rent: $1,288
You’ll find one of the most popular entertainment venues in the state in West Valley City. USANA Amphitheater is often used for summer concerts and events, bringing in some of the biggest names in music and entertainment.
If you’d rather enjoy indoor sports, the Maverick Center will give you what you’re looking for, whether that be an indoor concert, basketball games or ice hockey.
It’s a diverse, up-and-coming city that’s seeing a lot of growth and revival. West Valley City is close to downtown and the Salt Lake City International Airport, making it perfect for anyone that loves to travel or frequently has guests visiting from out-of-town.
It’s got the best of everything if you consider that it’s only 15 minutes away from the big city, yet you can live there for much, much less. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest cities for renters in the state!
Find your own best place to live in Utah
Really, there’s no way to go wrong in Utah. Its welcoming, family-oriented culture makes any city feel vibrant and friendly — and perfect for living. No matter what you’re looking for, Utah is sure to have a great option in store for you.
Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com’s multifamily rental property inventory of one-bedroom apartments in March 2021. Our team uses a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
Other demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Source: rent.com