I have some questions about The SLC area (Provo, Ogden: fit in, crime rate)

[famlife]

I'm pretty sure I'm not moving there, as I already have other plans in place, but I like to have a good understanding of all my options. I can move anywhere, as we work remotely, and have no family ties anywhere.
We are Catholic, and prefer a Latin Mass, so that means if we were considering Utah, then it would need to be near SLC, as the Latin Masses are in Taylorsville and Ogden.

I'm impressed by the low cancer rate and overall health of "Utahans" (?). Also, I've been to St George and Moab, and have driven through Utah multiple times, and I love the scenery and cleanliness. The overall crime rate is to my liking, too.

I'm not worried about not fitting in with LDS, as we barely fit in with Catholics, being more traditional than the majority. We have a large family of 10, and it's great to see so many other large families in Utah.

Question time:

Is land affordable outside of SLC? (Could we find 5 acres for -60k?) We wouldn't want to be more than an hour out.

How are you guys so healthy when the air quality seems pretty "iffy" and having so much toxic waste buried throughout he state? Does that make the soil or water contaminated? Is it okay to farm in?

Are there a lot of restrictions on land and off-grid homes?

Thanks for reading

[CCSLC]

The air quality is only a major concern from 2-6 weeks per year, depending on the year, so it's not prevalent enough to impact cancer rates enough to be statistically noticeable.

I'm not sure what "toxic waste buried throughout the state" you're referring to, as there's only one radioactive waste facility in Utah, in Clive, and it only accepts class-A (low level) waste. Clive is in an extremely unpopulated area anyway, so most the state's residents are not affected in any way by the facility.

[markg91359]

[quote=famlife;35018969]I'm pretty sure I'm not moving there, as I already have other plans in place, but I like to have a good understanding of all my options. I can move anywhere, as we work remotely, and have no family ties anywhere.
We are Catholic, and prefer a Latin Mass, so that means if we were considering Utah, then it would need to be near SLC, as the Latin Masses are in Taylorsville and Ogden.

I'm impressed by the low cancer rate and overall health of "Utahans" (?). Also, I've been to St George and Moab, and have driven through Utah multiple times, and I love the scenery and cleanliness. The overall crime rate is to my liking, too.

I'm not worried about not fitting in with LDS, as we barely fit in with Catholics, being more traditional than the majority. We have a large family of 10, and it's great to see so many other large families in Utah.

Question time:

Is land affordable outside of SLC? (Could we find 5 acres for -60k?) We wouldn't want to be more than an hour out.

That would be difficult indeed. Land north of Salt Lake is Davis and Weber counties. Both counties have large populations and land is not cheap. Land south of Salt Lake extends through Utah County into Provo. This is is also a heavily populated area with many suburbs and tract homes. I don't know what land out west near Tooele might sell for, but I suspect that 60K for five acres is nothing, but a dream there as well.

How are you guys so healthy when the air quality seems pretty "iffy" and having so much toxic waste buried throughout he state? Does that make the soil or water contaminated? Is it okay to farm in?

The question about air quality is a fair one. However, the EPA is saying that except for a few weeks in the winter that air quality in Utah is quite good. Its simply that in the winter inversions trap pollution with the Salt Lake Valley. Its worst from mid-December through January. The question about soil and water contamination though is downright silly. I don't know where you got this idea from. Utah has plenty of farms and there is no issue from soil contamination from toxic waste--none. Maybe you are channeling the "Love Canal" in New York when you think of that.

Are there a lot of restrictions on land and off-grid homes?

Not enough in my opinion. I don't really approve of people who want to live like that. I see us as all part of a community and frankly, I wonder what the motives of someone living out in a vacant area off the grid really are when they come to Utah or anywhere.

[famlife]

Motives being not having to rely on a corporation to fulfill my basic needs and not having to pay monthly for something I can easily provide for myself.

Thanks for the input!