Quality of Life

A Great Place To Visit
A Wonderful Place To Live
Fourteen ski resorts, five national parks, year-round recreation, awe-inspiring beauty, arts, culture, nightlife -- Utah has it all! And most of the good stuff is only a short drive away. Ski and golf in the same day. Snowmobile and water-ski in the same weekend. Anything's possible.

But excitement isn't Utah's only amenity. It's also safe, clean and affordable. So instead of just visiting Utah, why not live where the action is!

Climate and Weather
Utah's four-season climate is stimulating and healthy. The state's altitude ranges from a low of 2,200 feet in southwestern- most Washington County, to more than 13,500 feet in the high Uintas. The average maximum daytime temperature for Utah's metropolitan area ranges from 37 degrees in January to 93 degrees in July.

Low humidity and lots of sunshine are two favorable aspects of Utah's weather. In Salt Lake County, the summer daytime relative humidity averages less than 30%, and sunny skies prevail an average of 237 days a year.

Annual precipitation varies from less than five inches in Utah's arid Great Salt Lake Desert to more than 60 inches in the northern mountain ranges. In Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties, precipitation averages 6 inches per year. Snow accumulates to depths of 10 feet or more at some Wasatch Mountain ski resorts; at some locations, the season-long snow total will be 40 to 50 feet.

Because of the state's inland location, Utah's snow is unusually dry, earning it the reputation of being the world's greatest powder.

Quality of Life Highlights

• Utah's cost of living falls below national levels for most indicators

• The median price of a home sold in Salt Lake County in 2002 was $148,500

• Residents of the state enjoy lower disease rates and longer life expectancies

• The dry, powdery snow found at Utah's 14 Alpine ski resorts is considered to be the "greatest snow on earth"

• Utah has five national parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion and Capitol Reef

• Utah arts enthusiasts enjoy a unique mix of performing arts group including the Tony Award winning, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, the Utah Opera Company and the Mormon Tabernacle choir

• Utahns enjoy a variety of sports teams including: NBA's Utah Jazz, Salt Lake Stingers Baseball (Minor League), Utah Grizzlies (IHL), Utah Blitzz (USL), Ogden Raptors & Provo Angels (Minor League Baseball)