Moving to Utah: Pros and Cons in 2025
If you’re thinking about moving to Utah, you’re not alone. The Beehive State atttacts newcomers for good reason! With bustling metropolitan areas like Salt Lake City and quiet rural towns, there’s a place to match your desired pace of life.
As much as there is to love about Utah, it’s smart to weigh the good and the not-so-good before you buy a new home and pack up your belongings.
Here, we’ll walk you through what you need to know about moving to Utah to help you decide if it’s the right fit for you.
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Pros & cons of living in Utah
Like any big move, relocating to Utah comes with its own upsides and potential downsides that are important to consider.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest pros and cons of living in the Beehive State to help you make an informed decision.
Pros of living in UT
- ✓Robust economic growth
- ✓Abundant outdoor activities
- ✓Growing population
- ✓Outdoor paradise
- ✓Diverse
Cons of living in UT
- ✖Extreme weather
- ✖High cost of housing
- ✖Peculiar liquor laws
- ✖Dangerous drivers
- ✖Huge emphasis on religious identity
Things to do in Utah
Whether you’re moving to Utah work, family, or just a fresh start, you’ll want to get the most out of your new home state — and that includes finding fun things to do. The good news is that, no matter your interests, Utah has lots of fun places to explore and things to do.
You can visit these places with your family or use them to meet new people if you’re alone. With so many choices, you’re sure to find something that suits you and makes you feel comfortable.
Popular Attractions in Utah
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Arches National Park
- Zion National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Park City
- Temple Square
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Lake Powell
Museums in Utah
- Natural History Museum of Utah
- Hill Aerospace Museum
- Clark Planetarium
- Goulding’s Trading Post Museum.
- Thanksgiving Point
- Utah Field House of Natural History State Park
- Park City Museum
- St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm
- David J West Gallery
- Utah State Railroad Museum
Parks in Utah
- Red Hills Desert Garden
- Pioneer Park
- Liberty Park
- Ensign Peak Park
- Thunder Junction All Abilities Park
- Sandstone Tours
- Nine Mile Canyon
- Midway City Dog Park
- Memory Grove Park
- Draper City Park
Fun facts about Utah
Each state has a unique character molded by its history, culture, and residents. Learning about its small details and quirky traditions helps you understand what life there is truly like.
These fun facts about Utah, will give you a glimpse at what makes the state unique, and may even give you a few more reasons to make the move.
- Utah gets its name from the Native American tribe, Ute. The tribe has lived here for centuries, much before the first Europeans arrived in America. While traditionally the Ute tribe hunted, fished and gathered food, they also traded with other Native American tribes and with the Spanish.
- Archaeological evidence supports the fact that the Utah region has been inhabited by Native Americans for about 12,000 years.
- Utah’s nickname “Beehive State” honors its Mormons settlers. The community people wanted the state to enter the Union with the name Deseret, meaning “honeybee.” However, Congress thought that the name sounded like desert so the state was named after the native Ute people.
- The state of Utah has an interesting geography. It features three distinct land forms. These include the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Ridge Region.
- Newspaper rock – the symbols etched in sandstone act as a 2,000 year old newspaper of native cultures.
- There are over 2,000 naturally formed arches at the Arches National Park in Utah.
- Utah is home to one of the oldest living organisms in the world. Located in the Fishlake National Forest, the trembling giant is a grove of Aspen trees.
- The Great Salt Lake is the largest of its kind in the Western world. Though the size of the lake keeps changing, based on the season, it is spread across about 1700 square miles.
- The largest raptor to be unearthed in the world was in Utah. The 23 foot long predatory dinosaur was named Utahraptor.
- Utah is home to the largest independent film festival in the country, the Sundance Film Festival. In fact, it was originally known as the Utah Film Festival.
- Kraft Foods, the makers of Jell-O, revealed that the residents of Utah consume more Jell-O than any other state in the country.
Utah population and demographics
While you’re thinking about relocating to Utah, it’s important to look beyond facts and figures to get to the story they tell about the Beehive State.
A state with more people might have more jobs, entertainment, and better infrastructure. On the other hand, a state with fewer people could mean a quieter lifestyle and close-knit communities.
Average education levels show the availability of job opportunities or access to local schools and colleges. Political breakdowns may indicate a state’s values and priorities.
Understanding who lives in Utah, how they live, and what they value can make it much easier to decide if it’s the kind of place where you’d feel comfortable and connected.
| Metric | Utah |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,417,734 |
| Female | 49.2% |
| Male | 50.8% |
| College graduation rate | 36.81% |
| Political leaning | Republican 60-40 |
| Crime index | 21.37 |
Utah weather
Climate plays a huge role in shaping your day-to-day life, so it’s an important factor to consider when deciding whether Utah is right for you. Looking at seasonal highs and lows and average rain and snowfall can help you imagine how much time you’ll be spending outdoors, preparing for storms, and adjusting to temperature extremes.
Summer highs can influence your energy bills and how much time you spend away from the AC. Winter lows determine the type of wardrobe and heating system you’ll need. Annual snowfall can range from light flurries to major storms that affect travel and daily life.
Whether you love sunshine, prefer cooler temps, or want to avoid snow altogether, knowing the climate can help you decide if Utah aligns with your lifestyle and comfort level.
| Metric | Utah |
|---|---|
| Summer high | 90ºF |
| Winter low | 17ºF |
| Annual rain | 15″ |
| Annual snow | 43″ |
Income and cost of living in Utah
A look at major industries, average income, housing costs, and the overall cost of living gives you a clearer picture of how affordable and sustainable life will likely be in Utah.
Knowing which industries boost the economy can help you evaluate job prospects in your field or foresee job market stability. If you’re thinking about renting or buying a home, housing costs are probably a major factor when deciding whether to move.
The cost of living index shows how much your money is worth compared to the national average. A lower index usually means daily expenses such as groceries, transportation, and housing are cheaper.
These numbers are more than just statistics. They’re practical tools that help you compare your current lifestyle to what’s possible in Utah and make a confident, informed decision about your move.
The main economic industries in the state include:
- Real estate and rental and leasing ($24.4 billion)
- Professional and business services ($19.9 billion)
- Manufacturing ($19.6 billion)
- Finance and insurance ($15.5 billion)
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance ($13.1 billion)
- Retail trade ($12.2 billion)
- Construction ($11 billion)
- Wholesale trade ($9.1 billion)
- Information ($8.5 billion)
- Transportation and warehousing ($6.6 billion)
| Metric | Utah |
|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,302 |
| Average home cost | $517,020 |
| Average income (per capita) | $86,833 |
| Cost of living index* | Not available |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% |
| Average sales tax | Not available |
| State income tax | 4.95% |
*To figure out the cost of living in each state, there’s a 100-point index, known as the cost of living index. This metric starts with a baseline number of 100. States with a number below that are less expensive to live in while states with numbers higher than 100 are more expensive to live in.
Top schools in Utah
If education influences your decision to move, a state’s schools reflect its career opportunities and community resources.
Whether you’re planning to go back to school yourself, have kids nearing graduation, or just want to live in a state with strong academic options, it’s worth checking out what Utah has to offer.
Here are some of the top schools in Utah:
- The University of Utah
- Brigham Young University
- Utah State University
- Weber State University
- Utah Valley University
- Southern Utah University
- Dixie State University
- Westminster College
- Snow College Ephraim
- Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Finding the best moving company for your relocation to Utah
We’ve reviewed hundreds of moving companies and worked directly with customers to identify the top movers across the country.
If you’re planning on moving to the Beehive State, here are the best moving companies to help you transport your belongings to your new home wherever you are headed from.
- Alabama to UT
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Cost of moving to Utah
Before you take the leap to Utah, it’s a good idea to get a handle on moving costs. On average, hiring professional movers will run you about $131 per hour. The total cost depends on how much stuff you have and how far you’re moving. Cross-country moves, for example, will definitely hit your wallet harder than a quick hop across state lines.
The type of move you choose can make a big difference in cost, too.
To keep costs down, choose one of the best moving container companies. You do the packing and loading and they handle the driving for you, so it’s kind of like a middle ground between DIY and full-service.
Want to save even more? The most affordable option is to get a rental truck. With this options, you’ll do all of the heavy lifting, including packing, loading, driving, and unloading.
But if you’d rather not break a sweat, professional interstate movers can do all the work for you. Just keep in mind that this convenience comes at a price. Be sure to get quotes from several different movers to find one that fits your budget and moving needs.
| Company | Quote | Rating |
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Safeway Moving
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Mayzlin Relocation
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BLVD Moving
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PODS
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American Van Lines
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Cost to bring your car to Utah
Bringing a car with you? Use our car shipping calculator below to estimate how much it’ll cost to transport your vehicle to Utah.
Utah car insurance requirements
Utah drivers license requirements
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