Top 10 Reasons to Live The park city dream

1. 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 (always growing!) 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 two sticks AND one stick…snowboarders.

2. It’s Surrounded by MANY More Amazing Ski Resorts: Just an hour’s drive outside of town, you can access some of Utah’s world class ski resorts: Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Snowbasin, and Powder Mountain to name a few. Not to mention Powderbird Helicopter Skiing, which picks up in town.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. All Four Seasons: Many will argue that 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.

7. 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. 

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. All About the Community: When you move to Park City and meet someone who lives in Park City, it's something very powerful you have in common. More than likely you're both here for these 10 reasons and many others so just like that, you have an immediate bond.