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Old 08-10-2015, 10:14 AM
 
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My family is going to be moving to Utah and are trying to find a place to live. Some relevant details -

-We are LDS, but are both politically progressive. I'm from the Midwest, wife from Pacific Northwest, and we're living in Michigan right now.

-We're obviously not scared of living among LDS, but would like to be in an area that is more politically moderate. (I understand that the whole area is conservative, but obviously there are neighborhoods that are more politically diverse or centrist than others.) We both have extended family in UT and did undergrad @ BYU, so we know the area from that perspective.

-I'll be working near BYU, and would like a reasonable commute.

-We have 2 young kids and would like good schools for them.

-Close to mountains would be nice, but isn't required. We both come from (and currently live in) areas that are really green, forested, full of lakes, rivers, etc., so we're trying to find the best way to love living in a high desert and not be depressed by how dry it is. It seems that living somewhere with quick access to canyons is the best route for this, right?

-We prefer mid-century houses ('40s through '70s) and are looking in the $200,000 - $300,000 range.

Some areas we're considering include
-Provo - It seems like the Indian Hills and Edgemont areas might fit a lot of our criteria? Indian Hills might be a bit expensive.
-Orem - I don't really know much about the various parts of Orem, but the commute would be short, close to canyons, pretty good schools, etc. Can you tell me anything else about Orem in relation to our other criteria?
-Northern UT County - It seems like Pleasant Grove, Am. Fork, etc. are more new construction, less likely to have the political diversity we'd prefer? (Maybe I'm just being an ignorant outsider in making these assumptions. Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

-Sandy, Draper are maybe a little farther from work than I'd prefer, and the schools don't look to be as good, but might fulfill the rest of our criteria well and give good access to SLC.

Any thoughts? Are there neighborhoods in Provo/Orem that are more politically diverse/moderate? Are there parts of Draper/Sandy with really good schools? How is the commute on the train from Draper/Sandy to BYU?

Thanks to all in advance for any help.
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Old 08-10-2015, 12:10 PM
 
Location: Metro Detroit
1,786 posts, read 2,649,456 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nilloc View Post
... but would like to be in an area that is more politically moderate. (I understand that the whole area is conservative, but obviously there are neighborhoods that are more politically diverse or centrist than others.)
Absolutely! The northern half of Salt Lake County, most of Summit County and the eastern parts of Web...

Quote:
Originally Posted by nilloc View Post
-I'll be working near BYU, and would like a reasonable commute.
Oh... Uh... Hmm...

I'm afraid that doesn't exist. There is basically a 30 mile bubble around BYU of extreme conservatism and religious orthodoxy. I wish you the best of luck. Live IN Utah County, but do your best to be not OF Utah County

Just so my post isn't completely useless, I would say try to live near UVU in Orem. That tends to have a younger crowd and younger people (even LDS ones) tend to be more liberal. Seriously though, you probably just need to live in Salt Lake County. Even Sandy will be 10x more liberal than basically anywhere in Utah County. Liberals and moderates just don't move to Utah County, and if they grow up there, they move to Salt Lake.
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Old 08-11-2015, 01:54 PM
 
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Thanks, Geo-Aggie. Yeah, we're thinking Sandy/Draper area might be where we end up, although I'm not in love with the commute.

Anybody else have any thoughts?
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Old 08-12-2015, 08:40 PM
 
Location: Salt Lake City
27,917 posts, read 29,770,558 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nilloc View Post
-We are LDS, but are both politically progressive. I'm from the Midwest, wife from Pacific Northwest, and we're living in Michigan right now.
You mean my hubby and I aren't the only ones???? Yeah!!!

Quote:
-Sandy, Draper are maybe a little farther from work than I'd prefer, and the schools don't look to be as good, but might fulfill the rest of our criteria well and give good access to SLC.
I think you'd be happier in either Sandy, Draper or Cottonwood Heights than anywhere in Utah County, despite the commute. Good luck with your move.
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Old 08-14-2015, 10:13 AM
 
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No, you're definitely not the only ones!! While we're a minority, especially in the U.S., there are lots of us progressive Mormons.

I've been talking with some friends who live out there. One has lived in the Tree Streets area in Provo and now lives in the historic Center Street area and said both of those areas have been pretty politically diverse (Obama yard signs in 2012, etc.).

Another grew up in Orem and when she and her husband moved back to UT, they chose to live in southern SL County, so they chose the other route. I think if we can find a house we like that we can afford, we'll try to buy in Provo's Tree Streets, Indian Hills, or Edgemont neighborhoods. If not, we might end up north of Point of the Mountain.
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Old 08-14-2015, 11:14 AM
 
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We lived in Cottonwood Heights and loved it! Ironically, our ward there was the most progressive we ever attended and we've been all over the country. I agree that you should look at CH, Sandy or Draper. It would be a reverse commute, so not as heavy traffic.
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Old 08-14-2015, 07:16 PM
 
Location: Salt Lake City
27,917 posts, read 29,770,558 times
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Originally Posted by nilloc View Post
No, you're definitely not the only ones!! While we're a minority, especially in the U.S., there are lots of us progressive Mormons.
Yeah? Well, all of us need to get together and change the world!
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Old 11-19-2015, 11:14 PM
 
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Wow, I'm very surprised your friend told you there's an area in Utah county that is liberal. I'd definitely visit because that's pretty unheard of down there. His liberal and your liberal may be two different liberals. Lol.
Draper will have more of the LDS influence than Sandy and of course the further north you go, the more, I'd say "open minded" you get. Liberal in Utah in general really is scarce unless you go all the way up to the Sugar house area. The good thing is that you will be going in the opposite direction of traffic.
I have LDS friends who are transplants from CA and Boston. They live in Sandy. Both say that it is way different being LDS in Utah. They feel they are scrutinized and judged more here than they were before. They also say it's a little claustrophobic because you live right next to the people in your ward whereas they traveled to church in the other cities. There's such a concentration of LDS here in Utah that I'm not sure the commute is going to solve your issue. It just may be a long commute. You may want to just grin and bear it because you are in the mormon mecca no matter where you choose to live in Utah. And I'm not saying that as a bad thing. I'm not LDS and I love living here. I just don't want you to choose a long commute thinking you're going to get liberal neighbors because it's unlikely even up in the Sandy/Draper area. Especially Draper. Maybe even look at South Jordan. Lots of catholics are moving in there. That's about as liberal as you're going to get in Utah. Except my neighbor, she's atheist. ;-)
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Old 11-21-2015, 11:14 AM
 
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Yeah, we'd love to live in Sugar House, but it seems pretty expensive and it would be a long commute for me. I remember when I was at BYU loving to go up to the Tower Theatre and Competitor Cycles and hanging out in the neighborhood.
I hadn't considered South Jordan. Thanks for the suggestion - I'll look into it.
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Old 11-21-2015, 06:28 PM
 
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
5,921 posts, read 13,805,322 times
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Somewhere I am puzzled why politics now play a role as where you would like to live.

Does this mean you discuss nothing but politics with your neighbours ??

How does a progressive LDS family differ from a non progressive family ?

OK, I do not live in Utah County but I have neighbours where I have absolutely no idea what their political ideas are !!
We talk to each other (over the fence type conversations), we help each other (when the need arises) and that is it. But then I do have more Non LDS Friends than LDS Friends ...

The *problems* here are the way some Non LDS behave in heavy LDS saturated neighbourhoods, and vice versa.
Plenty of *problematic* LDS people around those areas. Against Church policy I would say !!!
I am surrounded by both kinds but we never discus religion or politics.
Interesting to mention that during voting times, our neighbourhood seems to be void of signs.
Maybe we do not give a hoot ??
I *happen* to know some of them are LDS, because I see them in Church ...

My neighbour is NOT LDS and he smokes and drinks and walks around with a 45 in his belt!
They were originally from Tennessee ! (if that explains why ??)
But ...
When we work together in his garage, then he does not smoke and when it comes to being thirsty he brings out a beer for him and a soft drink for me (I know, both of them bad for you !!). No questions about why or whatever !!

Last edited by irman; 11-21-2015 at 06:38 PM..
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