Moving to Salt Lake area- husband starting school in Fall (Sandy: rentals, crime)

[reese8089]

Hi everyone!

My family will be moving to the Salt Lake area in late summer for my husband's grad studies at University of Utah and we need to know where to look for housing. Since our situation is a little different than recent threads, I thought I would start a new thread specific to our needs.

When we move, we will have an almost three year old and a three month old, so we need a home in area that is nice, safe and family friendly. We will also be on a budget, so rent amount is a factor. We want to stay under $950/mo for a three bedroom if possible. Also, since my husband will be commuting probably six days a week for research purposes, so we would like a place not terribly far (and not horrible to drive during traffic). Lastly, we are somewhat outdoorsy, so close to hiking and parks would be a plus.

I have looked online and it looks like there are some cities that might be within our price range for housing. They are as follows: Taylorsville, Midvale, Murray, Sandy, West Jordan, Magna and Bountiful. What are your thoughts? Do any of these locations fit our needs? Are any of these locations absolute no's?

Thank you in advance!

[eggalegga]

3bd House <$950
Nice, safe, family friendly
Husband works at U
Outdoorsy



Bountiful: Don't know a much about it.

Magna: Too far west, not so great drinking water. Not the nicest area.

Murray: Centrally located. This would be my vote as long as you're east of 9th east.

Taylorsville: If you lived near I-215, this would work for his commute to work. But there are areas of Taylorsville that aren't nice or safe. Also, there's the noise from the interstate and being in the airport flight pattern.

West Jordan: Might be too far south & west for a decent commute to the U. I would guess Higher rents than some other choices. Higher possibility to find newer housing.

Sandy: Nice city. Might be too far south for a commute to the U if you're too far east as well. Don't know much about rental market.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by reese8089

Hi everyone!

My family will be moving to the Salt Lake area in late summer for my husband's grad studies at University of Utah and we need to know where to look for housing. Since our situation is a little different than recent threads, I thought I would start a new thread specific to our needs.

When we move, we will have an almost three year old and a three month old, so we need a home in area that is nice, safe and family friendly. We will also be on a budget, so rent amount is a factor. We want to stay under $950/mo for a three bedroom if possible. Also, since my husband will be commuting probably six days a week for research purposes, so we would like a place not terribly far (and not horrible to drive during traffic). Lastly, we are somewhat outdoorsy, so close to hiking and parks would be a plus.

I have looked online and it looks like there are some cities that might be within our price range for housing. They are as follows: Taylorsville, Midvale, Murray, Sandy, West Jordan, Magna and Bountiful. What are your thoughts? Do any of these locations fit our needs? Are any of these locations absolute no's?

Thank you in advance!

I would stay away from Magna, probably Taylorsville and West Jordan, too. Some parts of Midvale and Murray are fine, others not so good. (The farther east you go in these areas, the better.) Most of Sandy is good, but there are pockets that aren't great. Most of Bountiful is good. I'd personally suggest Bountiful. Again, there are exceptions in all of the areas.

[BuckeyezRule]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I would stay away from Magna, probably Taylorsville and West Jordan, too. Some parts of Midvale and Murray are fine, others not so good. (The farther east you go in these areas, the better.) Most of Sandy is good, but there are pockets that aren't great. Most of Bountiful is good. I'd personally suggest Bountiful. Again, there are exceptions in all of the areas.

Awww, Katz, I love my area of West Jordan, though, we are way, way west, so, not the 'norm' for WJ. lol

OT, we have a light rail system, Trax, that runs from places like Sandy, Murray, Midvale, & West Jordan, to the U of U. Depending on your needs or situation. I use Trax from a few miles from my home in West Jordan, &, it's not like alot of public transportation. Once you hit the main line, it gets busier, & more diverse. Closer to downtown & the U of U, it does get crowded. Just some food for thought.

Feel free to PM me if want info on the Mom's groups I'm on. One is even a 'transplant' Utah group of Mommies. =) Utah, IMO, is a GREAT place to raise a family. =) I'm from Ohio, if you can't tell by my username. lol

Welcome! =)

[reese8089]

Thanks everyone. I think it might be best to visit for a weekend, so we are not choosing a place sight unseen. Your comments give me a starting point though, so thanks.

Buckeyez, could you elaborate a little more on the public transportation? Does Trax travel above ground or underground? Is it a good option for transportation or is it not? I can't really tell from your description.

[skibarbie]

TRAX travels above ground and is ever expanding their routes. Check with UTA, Utah transit authority for travel times etc. I am not positive but they may not roll on Sundays unless it is a General Conference weekend. I personally think the price to ride Public Transit in SLC and surrounding areas is stupid expensive. I was used to free busses up in Park City and still think its nuts how much they charge down here...
Lots of reasonable places near the U that are family friendly and I would check those first before signing on for an 30-45 minute commute..

[reese8089]

We are going to try to find something in Salt Lake, but I want to have information on surrounding cities just in case we can't.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by BuckeyezRule

Awww, Katz, I love my area of West Jordan, though, we are way, way west, so, not the 'norm' for WJ. lol

You know what? When I wrote that, I kind of wondered if you might not have something to say about it. I probably shouldn't have included West Jordan because everything I know about it is second-hand information. So, to the OP... if I were you, I'd pay more attention to somebody who actually lives in (or has lived in) the locations you're asking about than somebody who doesn't.

[CCSLC]

3br for $950 a month isn't likely in SLC, or in a suburb traditionally considered "nice." I would think the nicer areas of Taylorsville, Murray, or West Valley (yes, nicer areas in WVC *do* exist) would be your best bet. West Jordan and Magna would be a little too far from the University for me, though I think Magna's main drag is very charming and has certainly gentrified a lot in recent years. There are also some very cute homes there. BTW: The water is completely safe to drink in Magna, it just has a higher mineral content. You'll want a water softener for bathing and doing laundry (but you'll probably want one in most areas of the valley!) and a filter for drinking if the mineral taste bothers you.

While Taylorsville and WVC have their bad spots for sure, and certain areas are under the airport flight path, I grew up there and still own property in both cities and have never had crime or neighbor problems. And my WVC property is directly under the flight path and when I lived there I only noticed it on occasion, maybe twice a week, and it wasn't bad at all.

In Taylorsville, I'd look west of 3200 West from 4700 South to 6200 South. Some nice homes there, especially along the South Jordan Canal Road.

In WVC, there is a particularly nice, affordable area around Peachwood Park, which is just north of 4100 South and just east of 3600 West. There is an older area near there (by Pioneer Elementary) which is safe but definitely older---I don't mean that neighborhood, but the newer one built in the mid-90s. You'll be able to tell the difference!

[irman]

Originally Posted by reese8089

We will also be on a budget, so rent amount is a factor. We want to stay under $950/mo for a three bedroom if possible. Also, since my husband will be commuting probably six days a week for research purposes, so we would like a place not terribly far (and not horrible to drive during traffic). Lastly, we are somewhat outdoorsy, so close to hiking and parks would be a plus.

With that in mind, you have to just get here, drive around the area and look.
There has to be something close to the U, that would fit the bill.
*Hiking* ?? You mean *taking a walk*, or really hiking with back-pack and a gallon of water in it ?
Anywhere east of the *congested areas* of SLC and south you can hike !!!
Plenty of trails and that is what that area is famous for !!

Originally Posted by Zionide

In Taylorsville, I'd look west of 3200 West from 4700 South to 6200 South.
Some nice homes there, especially along the South Jordan Canal Road.

Not for the budget the OP is looking at (no rentals, and 375K average), and ... definitely not west of 3200 !!!
OTOH, South Jordan Canal is east of 3200 even more east of 2700 !