Well, this is my old stomping grounds. It's a nice neighborhood but the prices are outrageous. I'd say it's mostly professionals (doctors, attorneys, business owners) that live up there now. The homes are dated unless they've been fixed up. My parents built their house in 1957- 1958. (Sold it after mom died in 1992 and the new owners gutted it. ) I think the last of the houses right up against the mountains were built in the 70's to 80's although there are a few streets built since then but not many. John Huntsman (father of the governor) lived up at the top of Sherwood Dr. Don't know if he's still there. He was my Stake President (head of several LDS congregations if you're not familiar with the term) and the nicest guy ever! Lots of money doesn't neccessarily = snootiness. There are lots of wonderful people who live up there. Very mixed religion-wise, too. I had friends from all religious backgrounds in the neighborhood although most were LDS back then. I think that has changed to about 50/50 by now.
I'd say it's a pretty quiet area now with many retirees but some younger families. If you look at the area just below the zoo (Woodruff Way and below) the houses are more varied in size and value. The bigger ones have an asking price of upwards of 600K but I don't think that's going to last much longer. They'll have to come down.
The view of the valley from up there is always one that I love since I grew up with it, but I think the view looking up at the mountains from lower down the hill is more spectacular. It's an easy commute to downtown and a no-brainer commute if you work or go to school at the U. You could easily ride a bike.
Shopping- It is a little frustrating to be so far from a Target if that's your kind of store(nearest is Fort Union), but there is a K-mart (Walmart now?) near the mouth of Parley's Canyon and the Smith's Plaza (?) homestore near Trolley Square. Foothill Village has some fun shopping but not cheap.
Schools- East High School (Boo) Highland High (Yea!) Hillside Jr High (meh- whatever). Indian Hills Elem is now a gorgeous little school overlooking the valley. There aren't that many kids anymore up there but there is a nice new elementary school. They tore the old Indian Hills Elem. down and built a new state of the art elementary school in it's place. Seems crazy with the population up there getting older with few new move ins. But oh well.
Trivia- It's sometimes called the St. Mary's area because of a large Catholic school by that name that existed on the hillside about maybe 2800 E and 14th So. (Sherwood Drive area) That school was torn down in the later 60's. It's a shame because it was a beautiful landmark on a beautiful piece of property. Now that property is filled up with homes- one of the latest areas to be developed in the later 70's.
And just for the record, the hill was not much of a problem in the snow. They usually kept it pretty clear (all those big taxpayers living up there ya know). We used to go sledding right down the middle of the street (one of the side streets off of 13th So.) during the big storms and we'd be so disappointed when the snowplows came.
Overall- great area if you can afford it and don't mind the older feel. Not as classic as the Princeton Yale area but probably just as nice.
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St. Mary's neighborhood (Oak Hills, behind the zoo, etc)
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