In Utah, you’ll be offered three unique ways to make the best of your life. You can benefit from the urban surroundings in Salt Lake City and the mountains around the area, relish in world-class skiing, and have all of the facilities expected with big-city life.
If you plan on saving a little money without losing most of your access, you can choose the suburbs. Even so, the prices are increasing rapidly as more people are emigrating from the city center. To avoid another possible 9% increase in the coming year, you’ll want to establish your home quickly.
In Utah, you’ll also find a rural life waiting for you. You can create the home of your dreams if you manage to make a longer commute, you also have the option to begin farming, ranching. For a few freelancers, this might be the exact solution as they are self-employed.
With the decision of moving to Utah, there are also some unexpected surprises. You’ll get to build a nice life for yourself here, but there might also be some price to pay.
To know further, here are some pros and cons of living in Utah listed out for you.
Pros of Living in Utah
1. Cost of Living
Utah has a contentious living price compared to other states. The price here is much more affordable than its neighbor Colorado. It is among the most inexpensive states in the US guaranteeing a high standard of living for all. The mixture of high salaries, low real states, and utilities draw people to move in.
Being Salt Lake City, living here might be pricier compared generally to around the state but it is for sure affordable than around the nation. It is natural that the cost of living in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area is pricier than around the state in general but is lower compared to around the nation.
2. Climate
Utah can be just the right option if you want a great job climate. Here you’ll come across four seasons which can be a perfect choice if you don’t mind so. Two of them will mostly be winter and summer, and then come hints of spring and fall, making this the best location to live.
The citizens here get to feel all the attributes of the dry continental climate. You will notice that there are lesser cold winds or storms. There might be some problems with snow at elevation, but it is not impossible to deal with or an unbearable situation.
3. Low Crime Rate
Utah ranks among the top-ten list of states having the lowest crime rates. The violent crimes are 40% lesser compared to the median around the country. This may be because of Utah’s firm religious influence.
Whatever it is, the possibilities of being a victim of mugging are very few. The crime rates are noticeably lower in rural communities, 80% below average to explain precisely.
4. Culture
You’ll be among the nicest of people as Utahns are all welcoming and considerate. Most people here are kind, having a friendly nature. This is because of the large number of Mormons in the state, and their values. Considered extremely liberal and progressive, Salt Lake City is home to people who might come often as conservative at present, but they will make an impression being very liberal and some of the nicest people you’ll ever come across.
5. Growing Economy
The economy of Utah’s economy is increasing at a quicker rate compared to the other states in the nation. This state has been named as the best state for business by Forbes Magazine.
Utah’s GDP increment rate was 52% more than the national rate of 2.1%. The jobs present have grown to reach to needs of people, even though the population has gotten high, which means unemployment stays at a low.
Cons of Living in Utah
1. Taxes
Utah isn’t regarded among the tax-friendly countries. The residents here are normally paying more taxes as compared to the residents of other states. The taxes have an inclusion of income tax, property tax, gas, cigarette, and alcohol taxes. It comes off as the 25th highest country when the state income collections in Utah are compared with other states.
2. Rising Home Prices
Regardless of the usually considerable price of housing in Utah, for those planning to move here, this might be bad news. With an increasing GDP, bustling job market, and growing population, the cost of housing is going up too. With a constant rise in the prices – by 7.4% over 2018, it has been predicted by experts that it will continue growing.
3. The Abundance of Mormon Communities
About 60% of the population of Utah are Mormons, as noted by recent data. The number gets to greater than 80% around the southern part of the state.
A few people may be put off by the dominant religious group. Hence, this might not be such a great state to live in, if you are not of the religious persuasion.
4. Extreme Weather
It can get extremely hot in Utah – at the end of June and starting of July, the summers in south-central Utah can reach up to 115 °F. With plenty of snowfall across the state, the winters are mostly in the low 20°.
In summer all over the state, the areas can get over 100°, and Salt Lake City stays at a median of 90°. In the city area, smog is still a huge problem as it covers the city for many days continually.
Cost of Living in Utah
1. Housing
In Utah, an average home costs $256,700, which is $51,800 greater than the national average home value of $204,900.
2. Food
A single adult in Utah spends a median of $3,046 on food yearly, and a family of four spends $8,797 typically. For context, the national median for yearly food expenditure is $3,240 for a single adult and $9,354 for a family of four.
3. Healthcare
The prices for healthcare are comparatively low in Utah. The median healthcare price for a single adult in the state is complete $3,689 per year, in comparison to the national median of $4,266. The yearly median health care price is a total of $11,445 which is $1,505 lesser compared to the national median of $12,950.
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