Salt Lake City UT

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

liv score
680
How We Calculate Our Data
Civics 56
Demographics 54
Economy 59
Education 65
Health 54
Housing 32
Infrastructure 55

#18. Salt Lake City, UT

Bordered by the Western Hemisphere’s largest salt lake and cradled by the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City is postcard-perfect. Residents here can get from downtown to the chairlifts in an hour, and the area’s snow is so good it’s dubbed the “Greatest Snow on Earth.” (You may remember the Winter Olympics were held here in 2002.) In addition to great skiing, Salt Lake City has an up-and-coming brewery scene, lots of museums to explore, plus free tours at Temple Square to learn the history of Mormon pioneers. Also, five National Parks are within five-hour drives, making for easy weekend escapes. The housing market is hot and job growth outpaces the national average.

Top Industries and Employers: Higher education, government and healthcare are the industry titans in Salt Lake City. The University of Utah and state government are the area’s top employers.

Best Coffee Shop: Alchemy Coffee is a cozy coffee shop that hosts open-mic nights.

Best Local Beer/Brewery: The funky blackberry sour from Kiitos Brewing. Bring some quarters for the pinball machine!

Must-Have Meal: Wagyu beef stroganoff from The Copper Onion

Best Co-Working Space: Work Hive

Best Meetup Spot (When Meeting Up Is a Thing Again): HallPass, the first food hall concept to open in Salt Lake City, boasts eight kitchens and two bars.

Creative Hub: The Natural History Museum of Utah has exhibits on everything from dark sky preservation to dinosaurs.

Favorite Weekend Activity: Hitting the slopes for a ski day in nearby Park City.

Free Way to Have Fun: Take a 2.3-mile out-and-back hike on the “Living Room Trail,” which will lead you to slabs of sandstone that look like recliners. 

Local Dream Job: Announcer for the Utah Jazz

Read More:
The 8 Best Things About Living in Salt Lake City
Looking For a Tech Job in an Affordable City? Check Out Salt Lake City!
Why Salt Lake City is a Great Place to Live for Travel Addicts

– Brittany Anas

Continue Reading Best Places To Live in the US in 2020

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