Utah is known for its healthy economy, outdoor recreational opportunities and family oriented communities. Movoto has searched the Beehive state and has found the Utah cities with the best work-life balance. There are opportunities to enjoy the outdoors all over the state, from the Canyonlands, to Moab, to Bear lake, to the Wasatch Front ski resorts. One can really make the best of life in Utah. Places in Utah have unique environments, but similar characteristics remain such as low unemployment rates, well-designed infrastructure, and rich pioneer heritage. After analyzing information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the winners are in.
When it comes to deciding the best work-life balance, we considered variables such as unemployment rates, commute time, median average income, the cost of living, adjusted wage including the cost of living, and general accessibility to recreational opportunities. Luckily there are very few spots in Utah that are not located near stunning scenery and chances for adventure.
This Cache County college town is a wonderful place to live. Morgan Quitno named the Logan metropolitan area the safest in the U.S. in both 2005 and 2007. It ranked first in commute time, 14.4 minutes, and the cost of living here is our lowest, 90.6 compared to the national average. The median income here is $29,010 but when adjusted to the cost of living, the adjusted wage is $32,020. Logan has an impressive unemployment rate of 3.2%. The city has a culture of loyal Aggies fans from the local Utah State University. It also hosts the famous, annual three-day "Cache Valley Cruise-In," showing off special vehicles and events. The Utah Festival Opera also finds its home in Logan, as well as the Cache Valley Center for the Arts.
Utah Valley's home to Brigham Young University, Provo is a strong second to Logan. Provo has been recognized by many sources as a great place to live and work. In 2015, it was designated as the Best Small And Medium-Size Cities For Jobs by BLS, and in 2009 is was called an "enticing city for new careers" in Where to Retire magazine. Forbes gave extra attention by rating Provo as one of the top 10 places to raise a family and second on its list of Best Places for Business and Careers. Boasting the best unemployment rate of the state, 3.1%, Provo's average commute time is 17.3 minutes. The cost of living is significantly higher than Logan, at 97.3. This brings the median income of $31,300 down to an adjusted wage of $30,742. Locally supported Festival Latinoamericano celebrates the area's local Hispanic culture and a short drive up Provo Canyon brings locals to a myriad of ski resorts.
Salt Lake is home the University of Utah and the state's beautiful Capitol Building. "The Crossroads of the West" has a thriving outdoor recreation tourist industry, revolving mostly around skiing. This city comes in first for the highest adjusted wage of $35,888, with a cost of living at 99.7 and a median wage of $35,780. The commute time in Salt Lake is slightly more than the other winners, at 19.6 minutes, and the unemployment rate of 3.4% is impressive considering it is Utah's most populous city. Salt Lake is nestled up to the Wasatch Front, similar to Provo, allowing access to year-round recreation. The city also has a thriving Utah Arts Alliance that supports and promotes local artists.
Coming in fourth place, St. George is home to Dixie State University and picturesque red rock scenery. St. George sits at the convergence of the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin. The average commute time is the second best of our winners, at 14.8 minutes. St. George's median income is $28,990, and when adjusted to the cost of living of 94.3, the adjusted wage is $30,742, matching Provo. The unemployment rate is the worst of the bunch, at 4.1%, which is still lower than the March 2016 national average of 5.0%. This red rock beauty is near Zions National Park, Tuacahn theater, and has a rich downtown historic district.
Our last place contender is not just a city, but rather a metropolitan area. Clearfield and Ogden are often grouped together in data collecting studies and since they are neighbors, their statistics are virtually the same. Forbes awarded this metropolitan area the 6th best place in the nation to raise a family. Commerce and manufacturing are booming industries and draw many jobs to the area. The commute time is the highest of the winners, at 20.1 minutes, which makes sense because of the distance between business and residential districts. Ogden-Clearfield's median income is $33,120, and combined with the cost of living of 95.9, the adjusted wage is $34,536, second best in the group. Local mountains and river provide opportunities for skiing, hiking, kayaking, and backpacking. Ogden is a satellite venue for the Sundance Film Festival and has many golf courses.
These Utah cities are all great places to live, all with different cultures and atmospheres. Logan is the small college town with die-hard fans, Provo is always growing its new families and business opportunities, Salt Lake City gives the big city opportunities to those avoiding high unemployment and crime rates, St. George has a more seasoned community and desert landscape, and the Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan area is a junction for businesses and interests to come together, giving access to many opportunities.
