1.
Cost of Living: Moving from high-tax states like New York and California
can reduce living costs substantially, especially given new tax laws. According
to TaxFoundation.org, Utah ranks middle of the pack nationally (25th) for state
income taxes with a maximum rate of 5%. For combined sales tax, Utah
is 29th at 6.77%. As for property taxes, the Beehive State is 40th at an
average of 0.65%. However, the property tax rate in Summit County (Park
City) is only 0.463%. According to some back-of-the-napkin math, you'll
get three- to four-times as much house for the money compared to LA's West
Side. And property values appreciated 9.9% annually as of Q1, which ranks
fifth in the country according to the FHFA.
2.
Education: The public school system is the best in the state, and
Park City High School ranks in the top 2% nationally. Park City public schools let out at 12:30pm on Fridays so
students can go skiing or participate in other sports. There is also Winter Sports School, a
charter high school that operates on a reverse schedule to accommodate winter
competition and travel. If private school is preferred, Park City Day School goes
from kindergarten to eighth grade and has been under the leadership
of Ian Crossland for the past year.
3.
Convenience: Salt Lake City International Airport is a 30- to
45-minute drive from town (no traffic), from where a flight to LA or San
Francisco is about 1.5 hours. To accommodate growth, the Utah Department of
Transportation has been widening highways, resurfacing roads and expanding
traffic circles on a huge scale this year, all of which is well ahead of
any congestion issues.
4.
Business Opportunities: The Beehive state is booming. The Salt Lake/Provo/Park
City triangle, dubbed Silicon Slopes, is an emerging tech powerhouse. This is
supported by two universities (the University of Utah and BYU) as well as big
tech companies (Adobe, Microsoft) and several startup unicorns (Banjo, Domo,
Qualtrics).
5.
All Four Seasons: Summers are actually better than winters. High
temperatures average about 80 degrees F with low humidity. In early June,
the aspen trees and wild flowers explode into bloom. Soon the mountainous
landscape becomes a tapestry of rich greens that seem to glow as the sun sets
after 9:00 pm on the summer solstice. Just 25
minutes away is the Jordanelle Reservoir,
which supports boating, paddleboarding, wake surfing, fishing or
just relaxing on a pontoon boat for the day. Lest I forget, Park City
is home to seven golf courses.
6.
Mountain Biking: Park City holds the distinction of being the very
first Gold Level Ride Center,
deemed as such by the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA).
"It all stems from a commitment to master
planning," says IMBA's VP of Programs, James Clark. "The
sheer miles of trails are fantastic, but what’s important is that they function
as a cohesive network, with signage and trail connections that create a model riding
area." That network includes nearly 500 miles of singletrack trails that
appeal to all ability levels. Plus, Deer Valley runs the lifts for mountain
biking and is continually building trails to expand its world-class bike
park.
7.
The State of Utah: Park City is one of many gems in a state full of
natural riches. Utah is home to five of the premier National Parks: Zion, Bryce
Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capital Reef — all within a few hours drive
time. Renowned mountain biking and off-roading destination, Moab, Utah, is a
five-hour drive and also offers access to rafting on the Colorado River. A
little further and you can be in The Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone
National Parks.
8.
Some of the Best Ski
Resorts in the World: At 7,000 feet above sea level, Park City
has a year-round population of about 25,000 and is home to two ski
resorts: Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort. The
former was voted the #1 ski resort in North America by SKI Magazine (2018)
and is exclusive to skiers. The latter has the most skiable terrain (7,300
acres) in the United States and is open to snowboarders.
9.
More Amazing Ski Resorts: There are many more world-class ski resorts
within an hour's drive: Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbasin, and Powder
Mountain to name a few. Not to mention Powderbird
Helicopter Skiing, which picks up in town.
