Today, we present you with the best places to retire in Utah!
To start things off, this western state is the 13th largest with a territory covering 84,899 square miles. Despite all this extra space, less than 3 million people are living here, making it the 10th least densely populated state in the USA. Most of the citizens of Utah live somewhere close to Salt Lake City, the state’s capital.
Unlike many other American states, Utah has a pretty diverse geographical arrangement. There’s plenty of natural diversity, ranging from deserts and sand dunes to deep forests and high mountains. There are several geological regions in Utah – the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin.
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The climate in Utah can be characterized as semi-arid, although things are a bit different in the mountainous areas where precipitations are far more common. Alternatively, you can also read up on the 10 best places to retire in Tennessee.
For today’s list, we checked out all of Utah’s counties and took on those that have at least 10,000 residents. We checked out several aspects, such as the median home price, the cost of living index, crime rate, average commute time and the number of physicians for every 100,000 residents. We handed out points according to the ranking by each of these categories and rewarded those counties that have more doctors than the state’s average. Data comes from Sperling’s Best Places which centralizes data from a number of governmental sources.
For reference’s sake, Utah’s median home price is $217,200, while the cost of living index is 106, just a few points above the national average. Overall, the crime rate is calculated at 33, with 1 being the safest, while the number of physicians per 100,000 population is 209, below the 261 average across America. Without any more chit chat, here are the 10 best places to retire in Utah.
10. Box Elder
Score: 14
Median home price: $164,500
Cost of living index: 96.1
Average commute time: 23.22
Crime rate: 25
Doctors per 100K: 74
In the northwest corner of Utah, on a 6,729 square miles territory, you’ll find Box Elder County, home to nearly 50,000 people according to the 2010 census. Some 15 percent of the territory is water, so if you love fishing or swimming you’re all set.
Box Elder County house prices are pretty accessible, with sales going on average for $164,500. The cost of living index here is four points below the national average, which is great news for your wallet. The crime rate is a more than decent 25, which is even below the state’s average. There are, however, only 74 physicians for every 100,000 people, so you might need to take your more complicated health issues in another county if they’re not covered by local hospitals and clinics.
9. Summit
Score: 15
Median home price: $489,700
Cost of living index: 157.8
Average commute time: 24.28
Crime rate: 43
Doctors per 100K: 427
Summit County is home to over 36,000 people who live in a territory that covers over 1,882 square miles, making for a very low population density.
The median home price in Summit County is one of the highest in the state, with the number hitting $489,700. This also translates into a hiked up cost of living index, which reaches 157.8. On the bright side, however, the crime rate was calculated at 43, which isn’t too terrible, while the number of doctors per 100,000 population is 427, which is more than double the state’s average.
8. Washington
Score: 15
Median home price: $200,000
Cost of living index: 102.5
Average commute time: 17.86
Crime rate: 29
Doctors per 100K: 172
Next up is Washington County, where the median home price is $200,000, which is a bit higher than in other areas, but still accessible. It all depends, of course, on how much you’re going to get for the current property you own or how much money you have saved up for the move. The cost of living index is below the state’s average, but slightly above the median amounts paid by Americans. The crime rate in the county was calculated at 29, which should make you feel rather safe. The number of physicians for every 100,000 residents is 172, slightly below Utah’s average.
The county can be found in the southwest corner of the state, on a territory that measures some 2,430 square miles. Despite the size of the county, there are only 138,000 people living here.
7. Iron
Score: 15
Median home price: $160,800
Cost of living index: 94.1
Average commute time: 18.21
Crime rate: 36
Doctors per 100K: 102
On the west border of Utah sits Iron County, home to over 46,000 people. The territory it covers measures over 3,300 square miles, a good part of which are national protected areas like the Dixie National Forest or the Zion National Park.
Houses sold in Iron County, Utah, go for $160,800 in average, which means you’ll also be able to find properties that go for cheaper if your pockets have a different depth. The cost of living index is a cool 94.1, so you might be able to put a little something to the side every month. In Iron County, there are 102 physicians per 100,000 population so your medical needs should, in part, be covered.
6. Cache
Score: 16
Median home price: $190,500
Cost of living index: 101.9
Average commute time: 16.72
Crime rate: 27
Doctors per 100K: 147
Up in the northern area of Utah, you’ll find Cache County, a territory of over 1,170 square miles. The place is home to over 112,000 people, making for one of the highest population densities in the state.
Slightly higher than in other counties we’ve visited thus far, Cache County has a median home price set north of $190,000. Depending on your resources, you could end up looking for a bit cheaper option. The average commute time here is great, just over 16 minutes, so you won’t end up spending forever behind the wheel, stuck in traffic.
The crime rate was calculated at 27 so you should, in theory, be quite safe here.
5. Sevier
Score: 26
Median home price: $147,900
Cost of living index: 92.8
Average commute time: 15.67
Crime rate: 26
Doctors per 100K: 82
In the middle of Utah stands Sevier County, with over 20,800 people living in it. The territory it covers measures some 1,900 square miles.
Sevier County brags with a median home price that’s below $148,000, a sum that’s more than accessible to everyone, especially to those considering moving to a different state. The cost of living index was calculated at 92.8, more than 7 points below the national average. Sadly, the density of doctors in the area is a bit lower than in other places, with only 82 physicians for every 100,000 people.
4. Carbon
Score: 28
Median home price: $124,000
Cost of living index: 88.6
Average commute time: 16.19
Crime rate: 35
Doctors per 100K: 122
Carbon County is home to over 21,400 people and it spreads over 1,400 square miles. It is also situated in the middle of the state.
Houses are sold for $124,000 on average in Carbon County, while the cost of living index is a comfortable 88.6, which will surely make it possible for you to put some money aside. Of course, this all depends on where you’re moving from and what the index is there. In Carbon County, you shouldn’t worry about spending too much time in the car since the average commute time is just above 16 minutes. The crime rate is also just a little above the state’s median numbers, sitting at 35, while the number of doctors per 100,000 people is 122.
3. Millard
Score: 31
Median home price: $129,700
Cost of living index: 89.3
Average commute time: 17.43
Crime rate: 22
Doctors per 100K: 56
With just over 12,500 people living here, Millard County is one of the least populous counties in Utah since the territory it occupies measures some 6,800 square miles. Most of the county, however, is occupied by the Sevier Desert.
Millard County doesn’t sit as well from a medical point of view as many neighboring counties since it only has 56 physicians per 100,000 population. Thankfully, however, you should be able to find additional help nearby in case your needs aren’t covered here. The crime rate was calculated at 22, so you should be quite relaxed here. The median home price is just below $130,000; which is a price that is accessible to plenty of pockets.
2. Emery
Score: 31
Median home price: $121,100
Cost of living index: 86.9
Average commute time: 19.91
Crime rate: 23
Doctors per 100K: 9
On over 4,450 square miles of territory live under 11,000 people. It’s called Emery County and it is situated in the center of Utah.
With perhaps the lowest density of physicians in the whole of Utah, Emery County only has 9 doctors for 100,000 residents. On the bright side, however, houses go for just over $121,000 here, a more than alright price for a house. The cost of living index is also quite low, sitting at 86.9.
1. Salt Lake
Score: 32
Median home price: $253,300
Cost of living index: 113.2
Average commute time: 22.15
Crime rate: 35
Doctors per 100K: 326
Home to over 1 million people, Salt Lake County, is also home to the state capital – Salt Lake City. With just 807 square miles of territory, the county has the highest population density in the entire state.
Salt Lake City is a great place, with loads of things to do, varying from entertainment options to restaurants, and cultural hotspots. Therefore, it’s not exactly a surprise that the median home price in this area is a bit higher – $253,000. The cost of living index is also a bit high, with 113.2 being the magic number, but it’s certainly not something to worry about. There are 326 physicians per 100,000 population here, which is easily explainable by the fact that there are several hospitals in the city and the county with the same name, and a rather high number of people living here. All in all, Salt Lake County makes it to the top of our list of the 10 best places to retire in Utah.
