Living in Salt Lake City, Utah

What it's like to live in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City had 199,723 people at the 2020 Census, and Salt Lake County, which takes in the suburbs around it, had about 1.2 million. If you're moving to this part of Utah, choosing between the city and one of those suburbs is one of the first things we'll talk through.

The first phase of the new Salt Lake City International Airport opened in September 2020, about 10 road miles from downtown, and TRAX light rail runs from downtown to the airport.

The foothills are a big part of the appeal. Salt Lake City's 13.5-mile stretch of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail runs from North Salt Lake to Parleys Canyon, with views across the whole valley.

I lived in Salt Lake City for my first seven years in Utah, so I know the city side of a move here, too. One client who relocated to Utah wrote that my "knowledge of northern Utah and the Salt Lake suburbs was incredibly helpful while relocating."

On the east side of the valley, I focus on three areas, each with its own guide: Salt Lake City's East Bench, Millcreek, and Cottonwood Heights.

Getting outside in Salt Lake City

• Little Cottonwood Canyon: Snowbird, about 25 road miles from downtown, and Alta, about 27. Alta is skiers-only.
• Big Cottonwood Canyon: Solitude, about 27 road miles from downtown, and Brighton, about 29.
• Park City is about 31 road miles from downtown, with Park City Mountain and Deer Valley.
• The Bonneville Shoreline Trail along the foothills above the city.

Good to know before you buy in Salt Lake City

City or suburb. The Salt Lake City School District's boundaries match the city limits, so homes in the suburbs are in other districts. Where you land in the valley also changes your drive to the canyons, so tell me where you'll spend most of your time.

Canyon traffic. On busy ski days, traffic up the Cottonwood Canyons can back up for hours. UTA runs ski buses from the valley, and living closer to the canyon roads makes a real difference.