Which of the major UT cities have the smallest percentage of LDS? (Salt Lake City: fit in, transplants) - City-Data Forum

gimme it · 07-29-2008, 07:01 AM

In other words, which of the major cities/areas are the most diverse,liberal and welcoming to transplants? Utah looks gorgeous in pictures, but I have heard that if you are not LDS, your children will not fit in.

kaytidid · 07-29-2008, 11:32 AM

Ah, here we go again. We moved from the east coast 14 years ago. We have two daughters and we are not LDS.

My girls fit in just fine...they have friends...they do well in school...they are involved with lots of extracurricular activities. Utah is becoming more and more diverse by the year. I would say that it is probably about 50/50 LDS/Non. There are some areas of Utah that have more LDS than others. Utah County is one of them. Provo/Orem/Springville...and of course Colorado City and Hilldale on the UT/AZ border, but that is another beast altogether.

It is a rumor...a vicious rumor. Life is what you make of it. If you move here and are friendly, people will be friendly back. It is a huge culture shock. Really. It does take some time to get the swing of it. Some people never get the swing of it. Just like some people aren't made for NYC life.

BTW-pictures don't do Utah justice!

Best of luck!

Moonlight melvin · 07-29-2008, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimme it

In other words, which of the major cities/areas are the most diverse,liberal and welcoming to transplants? Utah looks gorgeous in pictures, but I have heard that if you are not LDS, your children will not fit in.

Well, the default city is Park City, but that's not practical for everyone.

I'm not LDS (anymore, spouse never has been.) and my children (who never have been) have had no problems. I live in the heart of mormonville (Utah county) and things/people annoy me, but as far as people treating us different, I personally have no problems. Yes, the office chit chat is definitely going to be different, your neighbors may come off super friendly until finding out your religion status, then they may back off and ignore you or they may treat you no differently, and that will reflect the way their children act as well....no one can predict it.

In school, majority of my friends were not LDS...it's really not THAT extreme as people make it out to be, as far as non-lds kids being shunned.

I think it comes down to who you are and what things you are interested in and what type of lifestyle you are expecting. You could do fine in just about any place.

Where are you moving from?

gimme it · 07-29-2008, 01:20 PM

thank you

so, would you say that salt lake city has most of the non-LDS transplants?

kaytidid · 07-29-2008, 02:12 PM

That is probably safe to say. Salt Lake City covers a whole lot of area...you have Salt Lake City itself, but then all of the suburbs of SL (South/West Jordan, Murray, Holladay, Sugarhouse, Draper, Sandy, ect) are also considered Salt Lake. The closer you stay to the downtown area, the more diverse the population is going to be BUT usually less family oriented than the suburbs. It might come down to where you would have to choose which you would prefer, more diversity or more family. That isn't to say that there isn't diversity in the suburbs, but moreso downtown.

Chickrae · 07-31-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimme it

In other words, which of the major cities/areas are the most diverse,liberal and welcoming to transplants? Utah looks gorgeous in pictures, but I have heard that if you are not LDS, your children will not fit in.

not true

cottonwood2420 · 07-31-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Which of the major UT cities have the smallest percentage of LDS?

Probably Park City. Unfortunately, housing is very expensive there. Besides Park City, Downtown Salt Lake City is very diverse and can be affordable in certain areas.

TheBudsMom · 08-14-2008, 11:19 AM

I must say that I moved into the area everyone on here(and elsewhere) said was a not so welcoming town for non-LDS and have not had any problems. My hubby says it is cause we have so many children people assume we are LDS.lol

My sister came to visit from AZ and said their LDS are so different than up here. SHe said here everyone just blend in and you have no clue what religion people are. While in AZ LDS are more harsh and abrasive so to speak and make their religion known.

newtoutah · 08-14-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cottonwood2420

Probably Park City. Unfortunately, housing is very expensive there. Besides Park City, Downtown Salt Lake City is very diverse and can be affordable in certain areas.

How expensive is Park City really?? Im used to townhomes costing 500K and up where Im from. Im jst asking because I keep seeing it

newtoutah · 08-14-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBudsMom

I must say that I moved into the area everyone on here(and elsewhere) said was a not so welcoming town for non-LDS and have not had any problems. My hubby says it is cause we have so many children people assume we are LDS.lol

My sister came to visit from AZ and said their LDS are so different than up here. SHe said here everyone just blend in and you have no clue what religion people are. While in AZ LDS are more harsh and abrasive so to speak and make their religion known.

It is true to that fact that the LDS here are rather different than back home. I don't know if its how many are here or vice versa. It maybe that no one cared what u were back home unlike here (in my development, had to say that..lol)