Family areas in SLC

[SkiUtah76]

Traffic in SLC is a cake walk compared to Phoenix, Austin, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle and many other major cities. Traffic on I-15 South from Ogden "can be" a bit challenging, but they are adding the frontrunner train from Ogden to downtown, and the Legacy Highway (should be open late 2008) which will go from Weber County to I-215 just north of the airport. But, if you are use to driving in Phoenix traffic, then SLC will seem like a dream to you. I drove daily from Corona CA to Orange County (10 miles) and it took me over 1.5 hours. In rush hour traffic from Draper to the airport (31 miles), it takes me 35 minutes. Sometimes, in a heavy snowstorm, it can be challenging, but that happens about 2-4 times per year and sometimes not even during rush hour.

The University of Utah is also an easy drive from I-15. SLC's streets in the morning and evening are very easy to drive and are typically one-way (3-4 lanes per street), so it keeps traffic flowing very nicely. One thing I have found about Utah is that they are progressive thinking when it comes to their highway system (even though most native Utahn's would not agree). They seem to put highways into place before millions of new homes are built or re-design the system to help improve driving conditions. In LA, there are 22 million people, and CDOT is NOW trying to figure out how to redesign Hwy 101 to improve driving times/conditions ( a little too late for that).

[Heathater]

My husband and I are considering relocating to the SLC area from Chandler, AZ and have many of the same concerns as you. We are non - LDS which doesn't really concern me anymore. My concerns are nice communities, weather, and things to do. I really don't like living in AZ but don't know if I'd love SLC or not.

[movingraptor]

I currently live in Bountiful and absolutely love it! Everything is close. Costco, Target, Home Depot, Walmart-people are really friendly here and it just has a good vibe. If your talking about the university of utah-my husband says that it takes about a half hour to get all the way there from bountiful.

[bijagirl]

I personally don't know that I would recommend Foxboro. I know that my in-laws were one of the first to build in the Rose Park area at about 700 N and Redwood, and look at what that area has become. Just remember that Foxboro is right there with the freeway, and the industrial. Who knows what is in the soil there? I am guessing what you breathe in from just the freeway is worth living else where.

Personally if you can't afford the upper area of North Salt Lake, Bountiful, Centerville - you are going to not be happy. And even there is a lot of drug use among the teens in these areas. I know from personal experience from twenty years ago and now having seen my brother's kids go through the school system in the area. The kids seem very sweet from the outside, but they come from affluent house holds with not much influence from the parents because "of course" these kids are great. Well... the kids I went to school with had loads of money, and the best parties.

I would look more at Kaysville or Syracuse in the north area, or Draper, Lehi in the other direction. Be prepared that having strong family values doesn't always mean anything. Utah has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the county. And Meth is rampant in Utah. (Thank god I never did more than drink in high school). Really investigate before you pick an area.

Best of luck.

PS - takes my husband less time to get to work from the south end of the valley than from Centerville when we lived there. The legacy opening in September may help the Davis county congestion on the freeway, but I think that is why so many people live in the southern end of the valley and yet work downtown.