Taking a job in Orem (Salt Lake City, Provo: fit in, rent, house)

[thenine]

I currently live in So Cal but am about to get offered a job in Orem.

I am just about to get married and my fiance and I are young so we want to be around a night life.

My biggest concern is that I am non-LDS. It sounds odd but some of the threads and comments about Utah county kind of scare me.

What areas should I look at if I want to buy a house, but don't want more than a 30 minute commute?

Also my fiance is an artist. What is the art scene like in Utah around Salt Lake?

Is it possible to live in an area with an art scene and manage a 30 minute commute to Orem?

Thanks

[chazcrew]

You won't find much of a night life in Orem. It's a very family-centered town. There is the college scene, in both Orem and Provo, but it's centered overwhelming around LDS students and groups. You can find more of what you're looking for in Salt Lake, but that's more than 30 minutes to commute. I'd recommend you split the difference: live on the north end of Utah County or the south end of Salt Lake County, so you can get to work easily, but you're not too far from Salt Lake City and its nightlife. Just for perspective, it's approximately 45 minutes from Orem to SLC with normal traffic. Longer during rush hour.

The arts are actually quite big here. There are a lot of galleries and a few museums, although it doesn't compare to larger cities. But for the size and population, it's surprisingly cultured.

You might check into Lehi or Draper or other nearby towns; both are somewhat centrally located between the job and the night life. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

[thompson84606]

If you don't have kids in school and aren't LDS from another state, the LDS thing isn't a big deal. People outside of the BYU bubble will be nice to you, with the general rule being lower income, more accepting (because most non-LDS and non practicing LDS are at that end of the spectrum and we interact more with each other. In wealthy areas of Utah valley you could go years without meeting a nonmember if you wanted to). There are more diverse areas of Provo and Orem along state street (ethnicly and religiously) and as a general rule of thumb for the area, the closer to I-15 you stay, the more diverse. I know there is a good mix in Lehi which is where you may want to look, I really don't think you would want to commute around the point of the mountain in winter. I commuted from Provo to Lindon and it took a half hour to and from work because of traffic. There are great performing arts throughout the city, real first class. My wife is an actress and singer and loved the people in the area. As for other fine arts I'm not so sure, the Avenues in the northern part of SLC and Sugarhouse in the southern part is known for artists and culture, but that is right close to downtown. YOU DON'T WANT TO COMMUTE TO OREM FROM FARTHER THAN SANDY. It's a higher cost of living in SL county anyway and the cultural benefits from living farther north are minimal (as in Sandy/Draper/The Jordans). As for nightlife, it's not a bad drive from Lehi to SLC. In Utah county there is Comedysportz which is a lot of fun and Atchafalaya Nightclub in Provo is the only real night/concert spot around (that I'm aware of, besides some great concerts the schools have) but it's a pretty good one. I personally think that people on the west side of Provo are just fine for nonmembers, but some people think you need to live further out (American fork, Pleasant Grove, Lindon, and Alpine are all more LDS influenced than any part of Provo west of University Ave in my opinion. Being young is more common in Utah county (55,000 students help between BYU and UVSC). The change of UVSC to Utah Valley University next year will help add more diversity to the area. This is a long and random post, but I would suggest buying in Lehi if you really want a house. BUT PLEASE, RENT in the area first!!!!! I know wAAAAAAAAAY too many people who got suckered into a house and regretted it later (and can't sell for the right price in this more depreciated market). Make sure you find just what you want. Rent in Provo or Orem and enjoy a very decent Provo downtown (and the new performing arts center on Center Street) and an open and excepting UVSC campus before making a decision on a suburb.
One unrelated piece of advise, NEVER move to St. George!

[thenine]

thanks for the feedback so far..... anyone else care to chime in.....

Any ideas on where I can find artist studios, or an art district in SLC??

[eggalegga]

I'm not LDS and I grew up (spent 21 years) in Orem. I couldn't wait to get outta there. I just didn't fit in. I prefer the Salt Lake valley. I would recommend living at the south end of Salt Lake valley, maybe Draper or South Jordan. I don't know much about Lehi, Alpine or Highland, but since they're in Utah county, I wouldn't want to live there.

I would say the avenues just north of downtown Salt Lake or Sugarhouse would better fit your artistic lifestyle. I don't know much about that.

There isn't much of a nightlife for newlyweds in Utah county unless it's LDS church related. That seems to be the social norm in that area. Downtown Salt Lake would be best for that.

[funutahgirl]

I live in Utah county- and have all my life. I am not Mormon and I do ok. You will definitely have different experiences in different neighborhoods. and although it is a longer drive to the social scene, it is a mere 30 min.
I actually prefer raising my kids in the Utah county area as there is less crime, less violence, etc. Provo is over-run with BYU students who must live the BYU housing rules. but further north in Lehi and Pleasant Grove, you will get a good mix.

The art scene here is amazing in my opinion. Sundance and Park city are but a stones throw and there are always art shows and events there.
good luck in your house hunting. it is a different culture here, but no different than the bible belts of other states.