Moving to Utah

Utah, otherwise known as ‘The Beehive State’, is a wonderful state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to UT, we have composed a comprehensive list of some important facts and useful tidbits to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the Mountain Region of the country, Utah is bordered by Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Wyoming. With a total land area of over 84,898.83 Square Miles, it comes in as the 13th largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of UT is 3,051,217 making it the 19th least populated state in the union and the 8th least densely populated. The state capital, Salt Lake City, has a population of 178605. which is the 23rd largest capital in the country.

Notable Utahns

Utah is home to many famous and some infamous citizens such as, Maude Adams a prominent actress is from Salt Lake City and Frank Borzage a notable film director producer is from Salt Lake City. Others include people like John M Browning a inventor and Butch Cassidy a outlaw .

Climate

Utah is a geographically diverse state with forested, mountainous, and desert regions. It has a varied climate due to its inland continental location and wide range of topography. Elevations across the state range from approximately 2,500 feet in the Virgin River Valley to 13,500 feet in the Uinta Mountains. Based on records from long-term stations, temperatures in the mountains average around 20°F during the winter months, while lower elevations in the southern portion of the state frequently experience days over 100°F in the summer. In the northern part of the state, the Great Salt Lake has a moderating effect on temperatures in its vicinity. The hottest year on record was 1934 with an average annual temperature of 51.3°F, followed by 2012 with an average annual temperature of 50.9°F.

National Parks

Utah is home to 4 beautiful national parks.

• Arches

  This site features more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, with some of the most popular arches in the park being Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and Double Arch. Millions of years of erosion have created these structures located in a desert climate where the arid ground has life-sustaining biological soil crusts and potholes that serve as natural water-collecting basins. Other geologic formations include stone pinnacles, fins, and balancing rocks.

• yce Canyon

  yce Canyon is a geological amphitheater on the Paunsaugunt Plateau with hundreds of tall, multicolored sandstone hoodoos formed by erosion. The region was originally settled by Native Americans and later by Mormon pioneers.

• Canyonlands

  This landscape was eroded into a maze of canyons, buttes, and mesas by the combined efforts of the Colorado River, Green River, and their tributaries, which divide the park into three districts. The park also contains rock pinnacles and arches, as well as artifacts from Ancient Pueblo peoples.

• Capitol Reef

  The park’s Waterpocket Fold is a 100-mile (160km) monocline that exhibits the earth’s diverse geologic layers. Other natural features include monoliths, cliffs, and sandstone domes shaped like the United States Capitol.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important factor when relocating to a new state. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the security of its citizens, it intensely affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Utah’s violent crime rate is 21 per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 287per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.

Utah ranks #42 in the US for violent crime and #19 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Utah’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C-

Utah spends on average $7038.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). UT ranks #31 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While UT ranks #31 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 84.80%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Utah ranks #31 with over 43.10% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Utah is 5.00% which ranks 18th favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. UT’s rate is $26.55 which ranks 17th in the US.

Currently, UT sales tax is $23.33 for which it comes in as 27th compared to other states.

Sports

Utah fans are not only devoted but also very tried-and-true to their local major league teams. Utah is home to the following teams: the Real Salt Lake, and the Utah Jazz .

Utility Companies

Before you move to Utah, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in UT.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Utah, visit their website at http://www.utah.gov/