Hot but beautiful - 6/10/2024

I've lived in the Salt Lake City metro area for almost 10 years, and it has its pros and cons. Pros: -Beautiful mountains - even if you don't go, just look towards the horizon in almost any direction and you've got a little dose of happy. -just about all the outdoor things you could possibly want to do are within a reasonable drive -Mormons mostly make for good neighbors - few loud parties, etc. Cons: -Cost of housing (like most cities) and living in general -Urban sprawl: inefficient low-density suburbs = looooong commutes on packed freeways -Air quality: I developed asthma about year 5. The mountains are glorious... When you can see them through the gunk in the air. -HEAT. This has gotten noticeably worse over the last decade, and is really the main factor that's making me think about leaving.

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Trying it - 5/5/2021

Love it more thing

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Paradise - 2/26/2021

Salt Lake City feels like home. There are so many things to do and see. There are many families and one thing to look out for is, there are many cranes and high rises under construction. I saw many job opportunities and apartment deals. It just has a charm. I am definitely going back

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Don't get fooled by fake smiles - 2/19/2021

I've lived in Salt Lake City almost for six years. Each place can have negative aspects like traffic jams, cost of living, crime and climate etc. However, this city has more unique features. As a gay person of color who works in STEM I met many kind people. But I also met weirdly unfriendly people and fake-friendly people with passive aggressive attitudes. Although SLC is known as the most diverse place in Utah, it still has very homogeneous culture, mentality and life style. I really can not see any advantages on any other city aside from the relatively safe downtown which is lack of vibe and actually like a ghost town. Religion is over powerful and it forms most aspects of life such as work, relationships, leisure, politics etc. It is quite likely to be treated differently in school and at work, if you are not white. This is a perfect place for white outdoorsy conservatives and the people who tend to convert.

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Nightmare - 1/3/2021

This sad place is an absolute nightmare to be in. It’s a war zone between Mormons and atheists. If you’re Mormon, you’ve got this compulsion to tell everyone about it. The atheists feel the need to destroy any hint of God, by means of property vandalism, while pitching a fit if their bloody rainbow flags go missing (when you know full well and good that they took it down, themselves, just to create more hate towards all Christians). It’s nothing more than a war zone. The other parts of Salt Lake County are beginning to show signs of this, as well. Anymore, you’ve either got to be Uber Mormon, or so anti religion, that you scream at an “In God We Trust” license plate. If you’re just a regular Christian, you’re not accepted.

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Bye Utah - 10/9/2020

I think I have the right to review this place since I lived here 19 years. I stuck it out to be stable for my kid bit really I should have moved where she could have experienced something better. Utah is beautiful but that’s it. The LDS community rule the state and look out for each other. If you are not LDS you are kinda left out. It’s hard for minorities because blacks make up leas than 1 percent of the population. The job market for me was bad that’s why I ended up leaving. For professional women it’s nit the best place to be. I don’t miss the bad air quality and state taxes. The public school system is horrible. I feel bad for the teachers and students. Not enough taxpayers because the Morman women stay home and take care of their kids. Yet I paid taxes for school districts and had my kid in private school. The U and Westminster are subpar schools. I wasn’t impressed with my higher education in Utah. I dislike Utah and I won’t be one that comes back.

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Beautiful Scenery / Fake People and Bad Drivers - 3/31/2020

Coming from a non-Mormon transplant who has lived in SLC for almost 2 years now: Pros: Outdoors - Mountain access is less than 30 minutes away, even in the farthest reaches of the valley, and it's closely situated to tons of national parks. The options for an outdoorsy person are limitless. Jobs - There is a large job market, especially in tech, which means that you have a lot of maneuverability and growth opportunities. Commute (outside of winter) - As long as you don't have to get on the freeway going north of SLC, or south of SLC, commutes are very manageable. Cons: Fakeness and Cookie Cutter Personalities - Unless you are Mormon, you will struggle to find people that can become friends or that you can connect with. The Mormons that I have met, the majority of the population, are very sheltered and their ignorance shows when they talk about social issues or issues that they would not have encountered, having lived in such a homogeneous place. People here are 'nice', but it's a fake niceness that fades and can be seen through when you spend more time around them. There is a huge passive aggressive and stuck up culture that permeates this area. Prescription Drug Abuse / Anti Drug - Utah is number one in the united states for prescribed drugs relating to pain management and mental illness. That alone is not a problem. The problem is that the same people who are hooked on all of these 'legal' drugs, are staunchly anti drug and anti alcohol, while simultaneously acting like they are a small government state. The war on drugs has failed. It has failed in every country, city, state, or municipality that has implemented it. All research points to legalization of drugs resulting in lower crime and less strain on the prison system, and the government in general. Plastic Surgery Capitol - Utah is one of the plastic surgery capitals of the United States (surpised?). It shows. Women here tend to look like barbies, and I don't mean that in a good way. A lot of people here are image obsessed, which is one of the things I hated about Los Angeles. Drivers - The drivers out here are some of the worst I've ever experienced. There are more fatalities per crash than almost any other state. They're always in a hurry, even though this is one of the slowest, low key cities I've lived in. It doesn't matter if there is snow / ice on the road or not, giant trucks are going to fly down the highway and maneuver recklessly, causing accidents. There's also the other extreme, where drivers seemingly can't or won't make decisions in a timely manner. I've never been cut off so many times by slow cars making a right turn into busy traffic. It's bizarre. Air Quality - In the winter, you get 'inversion', which is pretty awful. A lot of people experience sickness and / or trouble breathing during this time period. I moved here from Los Angeles, and I've NEVER experienced air quality that was nearly this bad. In the summer, during fire season, you get the smoke from OR and CA that blows across the US and settles over the valley in SLC. Conclusion: If you are not Mormon, or conservative, it can be challenging to live here. If, however, you do most of your socializing online and you love the outdoors, this can be a perfectly fine place to live.

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No. - 9/30/2019

Nasty air, lots of Mormons and the church does rule the place, though people claim Salt Lake is "liberal." Nasty, tribal attitudes, finding friends, socializing is really hard. Utahns can be very envious, they won't let you excel in a company if you are a smart foreigner. Wages are very low, tenants have no protection from landlords, lots of scumbags and lots of white collar crime in the area. Property crime is VERY high for this size of a city. Salt Lake is a "hidden gem", as they often say, if you're a boring person, or a tired pony in your mid 50's. Otherwise, it's a regressive, repressive place. Some Pros: Mountains, lakes, national parks. Proximity of those. No traffic jams. Park City (no other prominent cities, really).

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Air pollution and Ill-mannered people - 6/16/2019

Before moving to the Mormon Mecca, check crime stats and airnow.gov. You also better love loud aerial cake fireworks that bribe-taking Utah legislators permit. If you’re single don’t pay more for a house with a backyard because squealing kids from large Mormon families and loudly barking dogs (SLCo Animal Services is worthless) mean you can’t even sit there and read. Bigotry is a given here.

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Mountains, mormons and homelessness - 5/21/2019

Salt lake can be fun with all the mountains and recreation around you. However there are a ton of homeless, most of the politicians are mormons which means there really is no separation between church and state. The housing prices have gone way up and even a crappy house will cost around 300k.

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Sad to leave SLC but had no choice. - 5/17/2019

Before I left SLC to move to Oregon, there were 55 car thefts in 14 days, a guy was filled with bullets on state street by about 20 cops after he drove around with a shotgun shooting at strangers not to mention the mall shooting. Typical SLC resident response: "Its a big city what do you expect." It amazes me how SLC residents will downplay how absolutley horrible the city has become under Liberal leadership. This was once one of the cleanest, safest cities before the last liberal Mayor was elected putting our homelessness and crime at an all time high, not to mention our drug problem. You turn on the news and cops are begging for raises and another jail because funds aren't being given for it in one of the most economically sound states in the USA. If you don't start electing people who reflect Utah (and NOT California! please stop coming here, you already ruined your own state)----Salt Lake will be Los Angeles. One bedrooms went from $650-750 to $1100 in a matter of a few years. Oh---and the low income housing list wait is 2--4 years long (Unless you're Muslim) and believe it or not the part of Oregon I live in now is 100 times more conservative, clean and safe than my once-conservative beloved Salt Lake City. Oh, and the hate-crime app being used in SLC is a hit for whiny, screaming progressives who get offended if you talk too loud or ask them to please not shoot you. How about addressing the influx of serious gang violence first? Good riddance. All you progressives please stay in Salt Lake. Don't ruin the rest of our country with your "give away everything we have and ignore our locals" mentality.

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For a conservative life style - 3/16/2019

Salt Lake City or Utah is an ok place, if you have something to be busy like a good career or education opportunity only for a couple of years. This state is extremely family and religion oriented and it limits social opportunities drastically. Pros: Friendly people (mostly) Relatively low crime rate Cons: Harsh climate Drivers Limited social and cultural activities/scene Very Poor dating scene (quantitatively and qualitatively both) Increasing cost of living

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I couldn't ask for a better place to live. - 12/21/2018

I've been all over the country and I was born in Salt Lake City. It gets better every day. It is the cleanest place, the mountains are awe inspiring every day even after living here for years. The police force is good, family values and relationships are important, it is quiet for a city, and you are within 20 minutes of Park City, the mountains, the desert, lakes, hiking trails, restaurants, and getting around town is so easy and convenient. It is easy to get parking and you are not overcharged for fees like that. Bicycles can be rented downtown and make for a fun activity while getting around the people-friendly city. There are bars, museums, historical sites, malls that are new and some of the best, sports teams, musical performances, universities, views, and beauty everywhere you look. This is one of the greatest preserved secrets and cities of this country. I'm grateful every day to live here.

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Recommended - 11/10/2018

Interesting jobs and a great place for the outdoorsy and families

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Good Place - 11/10/2018

Friendly city with terrific mountain access and a strong, interesting economy.

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Downtown is a homeless convention center!! - 8/16/2018

Absolutley horrible The amount of homeless in the city is so much that it looks like a PARADE. Elderly, drug addicts, people lying on the sidewalks after overdosing. One guy overdosed on heroin in broad daylight and a bystander gave him CPR. There are needles everywhere. There is a homeles person sleeping under every tree. Thanks to the liberal mayor, who has diverted all funding to help Muslims instead of programs for our homeless or resources for needy families. I am not making this up, my wife is afraid to walk to her car and works in the city. The amount of homeless is staggering. This looks nothing like the SLC I grew up in. Please, please consider who you vote for because we are slowly turning into California. This is mine and your CHILDREN's future.

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Three Stars and Dropping - 7/5/2018

Pros: Access to great mountains and desert areas (amazing) Crime is manageable if you live in the right area Outdoor culture Great Universities Pretty decent jobs. Aerospace, tech, food, etc. Good airport with good connections and centrally located . Still better than many places if you love the mountains, but see the cons. Cons: Too much growth is basically creating congestion on the roads, trail heads, and resorts. Even the backcountry, to which we have great access, is getting tracked out. The LDS culture can be creepy unless you live in the right spot. Traffic just keeps getting worse. The horrible light timing on my commute is a disgrace to engineers. Drivers education here is a joke. Basically SLC is experiencing serious growing pains. OH...and the pollution and inversions. Reservoirs are more consistently being closed off due to algae blooms. Trail heads that used to promise solitude now include crowds, trash, and parking lot crime. The projection for population growth doesn't promise any reprieve from the cons. Housing costs are rising rapidly.

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No longer a conservative city - 7/2/2018

Sadly SLC is going through some kind of forced-progressive "white shaming" movement and our Mayor is a far leftist who is obsessed with turning SLC into refugee relocation central. If you even dare mention that we are already too overpopulated for a flood of newcomers on assistance you get called a bigot or Islamophobe immediately. (We are turning into CA) Since neighborhood statistics only update every few years---I will save you the trouble of finding out for yourself that certain (even nicer) parts of SLC are turning into what looks like side-streets of Detroit with thousands of hood-rats and shady people on assisted housing. If you are conservative and love a place that's made up of clean, working American families, SKIP Salt Lake. It's no longer what it used to be, and I've never seen neighborhoods fall apart so fast in such a short amount of time.

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Honest review - 6/18/2018

Do not move here. Salt Lake is doubling in size in the next 5--10 years. Crime is out of control and its known that we have a revolving door offender problem because slc refuses to build another prison to house inmates. People who assault women on the trax or bus are allowed to walk in a few days. The cost of living and renting is comparable to CA now unless of course you are on assistance like another post said. Our communities are filling up with the wrong kind of people. 20,000 refugees and counting even though we can barely house our own locals. Please pass up slc if you want a calm, healthy way of life. Me and my husband both came down with serious respiratory illnesses all winter long because of the air quality and we are both health nuts. I was in the ER at one point because I was coughing up blood. I would not recommend having a baby here due to the serious health risks our air quality poses. If you like heavy traffic, horrible air, lack of nightlife and culture (unless you like the ghetto culture building up here from people coming in) ----this is the place for you. Not safe for women, rape rates through the roof.

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Not for young professionals.... - 5/3/2018

I do not recommend SLC for young professionals. Limited dating scene, religion based and most young women are looking to have very large families quick vs. progressive partnerships where you have money and time to travel without setting down right away. Housing is limited and even expensive apartments are full of screaming kids everywhere on the property, you will be paying $1500-ish and be dealing with tons of neighbors on public assistance, I strongly recommend renting in one of the large high rise type apartments in Sugarhouse if you need solid quiet as a career-oriented induvidual. Most apartments are NOT pet friendly either, if you are moving here with pets.

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