BOISE or SALT LAKE CITY (West Jordan, Bountiful: house, job market, neighborhood)

[gerbjones]

Hi all. I need some advice on those that have lived in both places. We are LDS in Oregon so that is no factor.

I like Boise especially Eagle/Meridian. My wife likes Salt Lake City - Bountiful area.

Pros and Cons? My work is out of my house so I can work anywhere as long as there is internet, phone and an airport.

We have 3 kids. 9, 7, 3. We live in Portland. Both areas are family oriented and offer larger homes/lots.

Boise is smaller but I like that. Utah has the nice Wasatch and more snow. Advice is appreciated.

[Venusian_Artist]

I think there's more sunny days in Salt Lake. Since you're from my neck of the woods, that might matter.

[DP525]

Originally Posted by gerbjones

Utah has the nice Wasatch and more snow. Advice is appreciated.

After this winter, most here would argue that more snow is not necessarily a good thing.


Salt Lake has a bigger airport with more flights to more places. Not sure how important that is for you. I also work with some LDS folks who moved here from Boise. Most want to go back.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by gerbjones

Hi all. I need some advice on those that have lived in both places. We are LDS in Oregon so that is no factor.

I like Boise especially Eagle/Meridian. My wife likes Salt Lake City - Bountiful area.

Pros and Cons? My work is out of my house so I can work anywhere as long as there is internet, phone and an airport.

We have 3 kids. 9, 7, 3. We live in Portland. Both areas are family oriented and offer larger homes/lots.

Boise is smaller but I like that. Utah has the nice Wasatch and more snow. Advice is appreciated.

gerbjones,

I posted in the Boise Forum since I have lived in both cities. Maybe you only want to read answers instead of asking more questions, I don't know. That is your option.

To me, given the amount of interest/discussion here about your question, I think it is pretty clear some in Boise like to discount SLC every opportunity they have (or most any other city but Boise). Other comments are written only to be helpful.

If I were you, I'd visit both cities again - perhaps after another post asking where you my locate in Boise, as I don't remember you asking that in the Boise post. I'd visit both areas again. And, I'd read how you worded the questions in the Idaho vs. Utah forums, as I don't recall them being identical.

As you clearly stated here, and did in the Boise forum as well, you prefer Boise. I think your statement here is a little stronger about wanting to be in Boise than SLC. Having lived in both cities, I find a lot of wasted energy in Boise trying to prove how the city is "just like Salt Lake City," in amenities, but doesn't have the LDS population and other issues.

It appears that some may not read the hard data.

Your wife prefers UT. Perhaps she should post her own post and ask specific questions.

How do the two of you make other decision about which you don't necessarily agree? Ultimately, I believe both you and your wife will know when an area is right for you. Perhaps neither SLC or Boise is the answer, since each of you prefer a different city.

I appreciate DP525's comment on many levels. What I don't know from that post is what are other specifics about his/her work that may have nothing to do with SLC as a city.

I hope you'll post your summary, gerbjones, of what you've researched and learned, and how you choose where you will move.

MSR

[johnscherer]

Follow your wife's good taste and sense of direction. SLC is the place to be. With all that the LDS Church is doing for downtown SLC their is no way, especially in Bountiful, that the appreciation on your home will be amazing. Its nicer than Boise as well. We bought our home in the "avenue's" area for this very reason. Its only 5 blocks from my home to Temple Square.

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[tootsiemolly]

I have lived in both areas. In fact we just moved from Meridian to Draper in Jan. But before I had lived in Salt Lake for 15 years, and my husband had lived here his entire life. Salt Lake has more to do at night. I.E. Jazz games, soccer, baseball, concerts. They have better news coverage and Expert Skiing. SLC has a stronger Job market. There are larger companies here. But, it sounds like that isn't an issue for you. However, it is worth considering. SLC is also an airport hub. So it is easier to fly out of. With that said I will post the positives about Boise in the Idaho thread. Salt Lake is influenced from the south. So I feel as though style comes from more of a vegas/Calf. Where as Boise in the NW and is more of an REI influence.

[IFgirl]

I live in SLC now, grew up in southeast Idaho -- I may still be partial to Idaho though. There are a lot of things to do in SLC if you like to spend money and a lot of time driving to get there. I was used to getting anywhere in town in Idaho in about 10 minutes and now to get from my house in West Jordan to downtown SLC is about 40 to 45 minutes of white knuckle driving in rush hour traffic. Ergo, I rarely go downtown -- maybe a few times a year. The drive from Bountiful to SLC during rush hour is even worse! Love the new Trax system -- can't wait til they build out in my neighborhood. I do love the extended seasons -- right now I have already worked in my yard -- but I think Boise is about on the same wave-length there. My husband and I have about 15 years til his retirement and are starting to look at where we want to land -- I've been looking at the Boise-metro area for the big city fun and rural community feel. Good luck on your search!

[IFgirl]

I believe there is more diversity in Boise than SLC. My kids, while living in Idaho, had friends of many faiths--not just LDS. Here, not so much. Also, I was much more impressed with the elementary schools in Idaho than I was when we moved here -- but that could just be our area of town. The high schools have a lot of variety in classes and options -- my kids have taken concurrent university classes at the high school, vocational classes which will give one a vet technician certification, and one even spent his senior year attending classes at the University of Utah -- never touched foot on the high school campus. Still I think I'm an Idaho-girl at heart