Considering moving from Houston to Utah? Great choice! With its lower cost of living, low crime rate, and strong economy, it’s the perfect place for both individuals and families. Utah is also a place of scenic mountains, plenty of ski resorts, winter sports, and other outdoor adventures.
If you’re not interested in living in a larger city like Salt Lake City, Utah, there are other cities with a small-town feel. This includes Provo, Utah, which is home to Brigham Young University and boasts a friendly community. Utah also has a much smaller population than Texas. Houston’s population is about 2.29 million, while the entire state of Utah has a population of only 3.34 million. When it comes to weather, unlike humid Houston, Utah has a dry semi-arid climate.
In Utah’s west are the Deer Valley Resort and the huge Park City Mountain Resort. There’s nothing like it in Texas. There is a lot to love about Utah, and if you’re thinking of moving there, you’re not alone. Utah has seen a population increase of 17% between 2010 and 2020, with people coming from Texas and other states. Here’s why those moving to Utah can look forward to a bright future.
Church of the Latter Day Saints
Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, isn’t just the home of the Great Salt Lake. It’s also the home of the headquarters of the (CJCLDS) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
A strong economy and low unemployment
The economy of Utah is diverse, and that includes industries such as mining, tourism, agriculture, information technology, manufacturing, finance, and the energy industry. And a recent report stated that Utah has the second-best economy in the nation. The unemployment rate is only 2.1%, lower than the overall rate of 3.5%.
While homes cost more, rent is cheaper
When it comes to the housing market, you’ll spend more to buy a home in Utah, but you’ll discover renting is much cheaper in Salt Lake City, UT, than in Houston, TX, San Antonio, or Austin. In the past year, rents have been rising, but moving to Utah will save you money over living in Houston.
The cost of a studio apartment
If you’re in the market for a studio, you’ll pay an average of $1,145 in Salt Lake City vs. $1,291 in Houston.
The cost of a 1 bedroom apartment
A 1 bedroom apt. in Salt Lake City will cost you an average of $1,295, while one in Houston would cost you $1,400 a month.
The cost of a two-bedroom apartment
If you’re looking for a two-bedroom apartment, you’ll pay an average of $1,675 in Salt Lake City compared to $1,813 in Houston.
If you want to buy a home for your family, homes in Utah cost about twice what they cost in Houston. So many people are moving to Utah that housing is in high demand, which increases prices.
Cost of living in Utah vs. Houston
Even though moving from Houston to Utah may mean higher home purchase prices, the total cost of living is much the same. The higher home prices are balanced out by savings in other areas. You’ll pay about the same at grocery stores in both cities, but utilities are much cheaper in Salt Lake City, and you’ll save a lot on child care.
What about taxes in Utah?
There’s no income tax in the city of Houston or the State of Texas. On the other hand, Utah has a flat 4.85% rate. There is a 6.10% state sales tax rate, and the local rate has a cap of 2.95%. There also are local taxes, and the average combined rate of local and state tax is about 7.19%.
When it comes to property taxes, the rate in Utah is the 11th lowest in the country at 0.63%. Texas ranks number 45 at 1.8%. The lower taxes might even offset some of the higher home purchase prices.
How’s the job market in Utah?
If you’re moving to Utah and looking for a new job, you’ll love the strong job market. It also is a chance to boost your professional career, especially if you’re employed in any of these fast-growing job sectors:
- Veterinary technician
- Operations Analyst
- Software Developer
- Web developer
- Interpreter and translator
- Personal Banking
- Marketing
- Mining
- Business analyst
In Salt Lake City, in particular, professional jobs range from managerial jobs to registered nurses to software developers.
There are also plenty of opportunities for those who don’t fit into any of those categories. There’s a huge need in Utah locations for those who do house cleaning, landscaping, child care, and other helper jobs. But all work and no play isn’t any fun. Let’s talk about the fun things to do after moving to Utah. There are things to do in the city and outdoor adventures.
Things to do once you move to Utah
You got your moving quote, packed and unpacked your stuff, and made that long-distance move. Now, after all the stress, it’s time to rest, recoup, and enjoy your new location. You’ll find lots of things to do in Utah.
Utah is a gorgeous state with incomparable beauty that draws people from all over. There are cliffs, mountains, waterfalls, museums, and historical things to explore–there’s something for everyone, no matter what sort of person you are.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park has a large variety of plants and wildlife coupled with gorgeous scenery. You’ll find waterfalls, slot canyons, red rock cliffs, and beautiful vistas. You can take a bus ride from spring to fall that will take you and your family through the park’s most beautiful locations, including Zion Canyon, accessed via the Zion Canyon Scenic Dr.
Or you can drive your car and take the Zion-Mount Carmel Hgwy that boasts incredible views beyond the valley. There are also plenty of hiking options, such as the Angel’s Landing trail, if you’re not afraid of heights. Campers will rejoice at the number of sites in and near the park. There are also RV parks available.
Lake Powell
Lake Powell is actually a vast manmade reservoir. It’s a great place for any water enthusiast. You can boat, kayak, wakeboard, and swim. Rentals are available for all sorts of watercraft. Your family might even enjoy a stress-free, relaxing stay on a houseboat.
There’s also plenty of shoreline–1,960 miles–that attracts an average of two million people annually. If you’re not a water person, there are a number of hiking trails to choose from.
Arches National Park
Arches National Park is the home of beautiful red rock formations and more than 2,000 stone arches. But there’s more than just natural beauty in this park. You can explore history at Wolfe Ranch, a restored one-room cabin from 1898 located at the trailhead to Delicate Arch.
Other rock arches include the Double Arch, the Sandstone Arch, and the Broken Arch. Also of interest are the Fiery Furnace, Devil’s Garden, the Windows, Park Avenue, and Balanced Rock. Some of these provide some physically demanding hikes. Camping is available in and around the park. And as you drive the winding road to the park, you’ll get spectacular views of Moab from the road that towers above it.
Park City Mountain Resort
Love the snow? Then Park City Mountain Resort is for you! It’s the second-largest ski resort in the country, attracting snowboarders and skiers from around the world to its 7,300 acres of mountains. It’s also where the U.S. Olympic Ski Team trains.
You don’t have to be a seasoned skier to visit. They offer lessons and even have a Snowboard School. The 330 trails are marked for every skill level. There’s even night skiing on some runs. After a fun day with the family in the snow, relax in one of the rented vacation cabins.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is a no-kill animal rescue that is home to more than 1,700 cats, dogs, horses, birds, rabbits, and other animals. They are all up for adoption, but if they don’t find homes, they can live the rest of their life in the sanctuary, cared for and loved.
Even if you’re not in the market for an adoptable pet, you can still visit and spend time with the animals. The sanctuary also has special events throughout the year. Best Friends is located in a beautiful canyon in Kanab, UT.
Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT
The Natural History Museum of Utah in Salt Lake City has more than 1.5 million historical artifacts. There’s a paleontology section with specimens from the Intermountain West, an anthropology section with more than 11,000 specimens, and the botany section has an exhibit of frozen DNA swatches.
The Sundance Film Festival
Utah isn’t just for skiing. Each January, the Sundance Institute holds the Sundance Film Festival, the country’s largest independent film festival.
Robert Redford’s Wildwood production company started the festival in 1978. For those who enjoy films, especially arthouse and non-mainstream fare, you’ll have a great time during this two-week event.
Moving costs to the home of the Great Salt Lake
Long-distance moves have a wide range of costs. When it comes to Utah moving, particularly to Salt Lake City, UT, you’ll pay between about $1,000 and $7,000. Of course, that depends on how much stuff you have. Get three bids, so you have confidence you are moving to Salt Lake City at a low cost.
Delta: The Best Choice for Your Houston to Utah Move
Delta Moving Company is a fully licensed moving company with a professional, trained staff. We offer a wide range of moving services tailored to your long-distance move to Utah to offer a stress-free experience that sees your belongings safely transported with all the support you need. We also offer short-term storage and long-term storage. We offer free estimates, so give us a call at (800) 484-0085.
