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Recently, Salt Lake City earned a prestigious title: the number one large metro for families, according to a 2025 study by LendingTree. While there are plenty of cities across the country that offer strong job markets and access to good schools, there's not quite as many that also have affordability, stability, and family-friendly amenities. SLC's many outdoor activities and high home ownership rates makes it stand out as a great place for families.

Here's a closer look at some of the factors that helped make Salt Lake City the #1 big metro for families.

What Makes Salt Lake City Stand Out?

So why exactly did Salt Lake City come out on top in this new study? A number of reasons.

First, Salt Lake City has one of the highest percentages of children living in owner-occupied homes -- 75%, which is second only to Minneapolis. Home ownership is often a sign of stability, good education, and long-term wealth creation. Salt Lake City's childcare costs are also below average, which is important in an age when childcare can be as nearly expensive as mortgage payments in some cities. Affordable childcare reduces the financial burden families feel and can make it easier for both parents to be in the workforce.

Another indicator of Salt Lake City's family friendliness? A high number of two-parent households, which often reflects a strong community foundation. Speaking of strong foundations, Salt Lake City's diversified economy provides a solid bedrock of tech, healthcare, higher education, and finance, which means more economic resilience when things happen to downturn. Salt Lake City also sports strong wage growth and good job stability -- another major appeal for families.

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Finally, Salt Lake City has quality schools and access to education, which makes it a strong draw for families looking to relocate there. The metro has a strong mix of elementary, middle and high schools, which is always a great sign for families.

Home Affordability in SLC

So what does the Salt Lake City housing market look like? While house prices in Salt Lake City are hardly immune to the affordability challenges happening nationwide, there are a few facts that give SLC the edge.

For one, Salt Lake City is more moderately priced compared to other major metros such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston or Seattle. If your family is relocating from there, or from any other higher-cost area, you'll find the prices in SLC much more reasonable even with the price increases. Strong population growth in Salt Lake City also means more housing market resilience overall.

Other Reasons Families Love Salt Lake City

Affordability and household stability are two great reasons to choose Salt Lake City, but there's a lot more to the city than that.

Good Schools

For starters -- and this bears mentioning again -- the Salt Lake City metro area has a strong school system. There are numerous public, charter and private school options in the area, which gives families flexibility when choosing a good neighborhood for their kids.

A Strong Economy

Salt Lake City also has strong job stability and career growth, as its economy has some solid anchors in the area of tech, healthcare, higher education (including the University of Utah), and fast-growing financial and professional services sectors.

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In terms of hard numbers, Salt Lake City has seen explosive growth in the "Silicon Slopes" tech sector -- a 22% increase in tech jobs in 2021-2022, which is more than double the standard rate. Healthcare, meanwhile, is responsible for 12% of all employment in the city, as the city has positioned itself as a hub for life-science research and healthcare innovation. Tech and healthcare aren't the only thriving sectors in Salt Lake City, though -- other major employment pillars include logistics, transportation, and government services. This means Salt Lake City's economy is remarkably well-balanced, which means not only a broader array of opportunities, but a more resilient economy when times get tough.

Recreation and Leisure

But obviously there's more to life than just school and work, and that's where Salt Lake City excels once again. The city offers world-class skiing, mountain trails for hiking and biking, and lots of lakes and parks for family activities in any season. Salt Lake City's culture mostly focuses on outdoor recreation, community gatherings, and overall wellness, making it a great destination for health-conscious families.

As an added bonus, many of these activities are family-oriented, such as youth sports programs, libraries, community centers, family-friendly museums, and safe neighborhoods. This makes Salt Lake City especially appealing for families with young children, who will have ample opportunities for enriching activities.

Finally, Salt Lake City also ranks high in terms of safety and quality of life, with clean air initiatives, community-driven neighborhoods, and lower crime rates compared to other major metropolitan areas.