Shot of the mountains in the town of Ogden UT

Photo Courtesy of Visit Ogden

UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.

liv score
559
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 14
Demographics 55
Economy 63
Education 43
Health 54
Housing 88
Infrastructure 74

#59. Ogden, UT

North of Salt Lake City and located near three world-class ski resorts is Ogden, which is a little slice of heaven for those who love to be outdoors. Whether you love to ski, hike or bike, Ogden has some of the best trails, mountains and terrain to enjoy your favorite outdoor activities — and did we mention how gorgeous the scenery is?

But besides beautiful mountain scenery, Ogden also has a lot to offer, like a rapidly growing housing market (which Zillow estimates grew 21.2% over the last year and is expected to grow an additional 7.9% over the next year).

Ogden also made our list this year because it’s so easy to get around — with a walkability score of 87, it’s possible to leave your car at home and enjoy the gorgeous views and fresh air.

Local Obsession: Though not as famous as Albuquerque’s, the Balloon Festival in Ogden draws tens of thousands of people every year to watch the sky be dotted with colorful hot air balloons.

Climate Described in 6 Words Or Less: Truly the best of every season

Top Industries and Employers: The top industries in Ogden are aerospace and advanced manufacturing, outdoor products, life sciences and information technology. The top employers in Ogden are the Office of Inspector General for Tax and the McKay Dee Hospital Center.  

Local Dream Job: A Consumer Experience Representative for Amer Sports Company, focusing on creating customer loyalty for various cycling products.

Quintessential Meal: A big ol’ plate of chile rellenos from Sonora Grill, an Ogden favorite

Favorite Weekend Activity: If it’s the weekend and there’s fresh powder, you can guarantee that all of Ogden is hitting up Nordic Valley for some quality skiing and snowboarding.

After-Work Meetup Spot: Friendly bartenders and cheap drinks await you at Funk N’ Dive, a former speakeasy

Best Local Beer: The Bee’s Knees Honey Wheat is one of Roosters Brewing Co’s signature beers, which gets its namesake from Utah’s nickname, “The Beehive State.”

Free Way to Have Fun: Romp through the Ogden Botanical Gardens at Utah State University, which is home to a large collection of irises and several different species of trees and shrubs, among others

Truly Hidden Gem: Visit (and swim in) Lorin Farr Pool, the iconic pool from that famous “drowning” scene in “The Sandlot” — kiss from Wendy Peffercorn not included.

– Jamie Birdwell-Branson

Read More:

5 Gorgeous Mountain Towns You Can Actually Afford

The Best Places to Live in Utah

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