Why Are People Moving to Utah County? 3 Real Reasons From a 23-Year Local
By Andrew Diaz · Hinge Real Estate Brokerage · Licensed Realtor & Appraiser (Lic #6171357-SA00) · Published September 22, 2026 · Updated September 2026 · 6 min read
Short answer: People are moving to Utah County for three reasons that keep coming up — jobs (a healthy, business-friendly economy where starting a company is genuinely encouraged), the outdoor, health-focused lifestyle (skiing, golf, and tight-knit small towns from Lehi to Santaquin), and family (a safe, community-first place to raise kids, often near grandparents). Andrew Diaz, who moved here from California and has sold real estate in the county for over two decades, breaks down each one below.
On this page
The 3 reasons at a glance · 1. Jobs & a business-friendly economy · 2. The outdoor, community lifestyle · 3. Family · Watch the video · Highlights from Andrew · FAQ
In his videos, Andrew has also talked about why some people leave Utah County. This is the other side of that conversation: why so many keep coming. Interestingly, a couple of the reasons people move here are the same ones that, in a different season of life, push people out — but for the folks putting down roots, three themes come up again and again.
The 3 reasons at a glance
| Reason | What it looks like in Utah County | Andrew's take |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs | Healthy job market, business- and entrepreneur-friendly state, funding and mentorship close at hand. | “One of the most entrepreneurial cultures in the nation.” |
| Outdoors & community | Skiing, golf, and small towns from Lehi to Santaquin with summer fair days, rodeos, parades, and food trucks. | “It gave me a sense of community and being seen.” |
| Family | A safe place to raise kids, often with grandparents and extended family a town or two away. | “That’s the thing I’m going to feel most blessed about.” |
1. Jobs — and a state that’s built for entrepreneurs
The first reason is the most practical one: work. Utah County still has a genuinely healthy job market, and the state government is, in Andrew’s words, “very job- and business-friendly.” He’s upfront that this is partly a political point of view — “that might rub you the wrong way if you’re on the other side” — but if you’re a business person or an entrepreneur, he thinks it’s hard to beat.
The numbers back up the “healthy” part. As of August 2026, Utah’s unemployment rate was 3.5% — below the national rate of 4.1% — and the state had added about 20,600 jobs over the previous year, roughly 1.2% growth (Utah Department of Workforce Services, Aug 2026). On the business-climate side, Utah placed 16th on CNBC’s 2026 Top States for Business and has repeatedly topped U.S. News & World Report’s Best States ranking (No. 1 for three years running as of 2025) (CNBC 2026; U.S. News).
What Andrew keeps coming back to, though, is the culture, not the ranking. He calls it “one of the most entrepreneurial cultures in the nation.” His experience: nearly all of his friends have started — or have a plan to start — some kind of business, and because someone in their family or friend group has already walked that road, real answers are “a phone call away.” There’s a lot of support and a lot of funding floating around. If you’re looking to build something, or you want a job situation where you can eventually start your own company, he thinks this is one of the best places in the country to do it.
2. The outdoor, community-first lifestyle
The second reason is health and activity — getting outside and actually doing things. Skiing, golfing, hiking; Andrew mentions he has five golf courses within about 15 minutes of his house. But the part he lingers on isn’t the recreation itself — it’s the small-town rhythm that comes with it.
Every little town up and down the county — from Lehi at the north end down to Santaquin at the south — has its own summer “fair days.” There’s a rodeo, a fireworks show, the big Saturday parade, food trucks, the whole thing. Everybody comes out. Coming from the San Fernando Valley in California, Andrew says it reminded him of what his own childhood neighborhood felt like before it changed in the ’90s and 2000s — “like jumping back into the ’70s, for good and bad.” What it gave him, he says, was “a sense of community and being seen a lot more than I would have otherwise.”
One honest caveat he adds: that community doesn’t just show up at your door. “You still have to do the work. You’ve got to get out there, meet people, be a part of what you’re trying to cultivate.” The ingredients are here; you still have to cook.
3. Family
The third reason — and the one Andrew clearly cares about most — is family. For some people that means family already lives here; for others, like Andrew, it’s about the kind of place they want to raise kids in. His wife grew up in the area and had family here, and he wanted to give his children the sort of childhood he had: kids running around at night, feeling safe, walking to the snow shack in the middle of the day, good schools, playing sports — “the typical Norman Rockwell kind of childhood.”
It compounds over time. His kids have an aunt and uncle around the corner, grandparents a town over, and now his own parents have moved here too — so the family keeps growing in one place. Andrew’s work has been good and the Utah real estate market has, in his experience, always been relatively stable, so his career has been steady. But when he looks back on the decision to move, that’s not what he points to. “When I take my last breath, I’m going to be really grateful we moved to Utah, because it brought family together. That’s something that will stand the test of time.”
Thinking about the move yourself? The three reasons above are the emotional case. If you want the practical one — costs, neighborhoods, schools, and what your money actually buys here — Andrew put it all in a free relocation guide. Get the Moving to Utah County guide →
Watch: 3 Reasons People Are Moving to Utah County
▶Watch on YouTube: 3 Reasons People Are Moving to Utah County Right Now
Key moments
- 0:00 — Why people come to Utah County (and why some reasons mirror why people leave)
- 0:57 — Reason 1: jobs and the entrepreneurial culture
- 1:32 — Reason 2: the outdoors and small-town community
- 2:29 — Reason 3: family
- 3:29 — The reason he’ll be most grateful for
Highlights, in Andrew’s words
“We still have a really healthy job market here, and the government is very job- and business-friendly… if you’re an entrepreneur, this is definitely the place you want to be. There’s a lot of support, a lot of funding, and frankly the culture here is one of the most entrepreneurial cultures in the nation.”
“All of my friends have some amazing business idea, and because they have a friend or family member who’s built a business, their questions are answered by somebody who’s gone through that path — that’s a phone call away.”
“Every one of these little towns, from Lehi up north down to Santaquin in the south, during the summertime they all have their special fair days — a rodeo, a fireworks show, the big parade on Saturday, food trucks. Everybody comes out.”
“Coming from California, moving here felt like jumping back into the ’70s — for good and bad. But it really gave me a sense of community and being seen a lot more than I would have otherwise. You still have to do the work, though. You’ve got to get out there and meet people.”
“I wanted to raise my family in a community like I was raised in, where kids could run around at night and feel safe… good schools, play sports, the typical Norman Rockwell childhood — and have a grandparent close by.”
“When I take my last breath, I’m going to be really grateful that we moved to Utah, because it brought family together. That’s something that will stand the test of time.”
About Andrew Diaz
Andrew is a licensed Realtor and appraiser with Hinge Real Estate Brokerage (Utah Lic #6171357-SA00), with 25 years in real estate. He moved to Utah County from California, is bilingual (English/Spanish), and lives and sells in the area every day. More about Andrew →
This article shares general information and one local agent’s perspective. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Market conditions change — verify current figures for your situation before making a decision.
Thinking about moving to Utah County?
Get Andrew’s free relocation guide — costs, neighborhoods, schools, and what to know before you move — or reach out with a question.
Get the free guideTalk to AndrewKeep reading
- Things to Know Before Moving to Utah County — the practical prep list.
- Living in Utah: 9 Things Nobody Tells California Transplants — if you’re coming from CA.
- California to Utah Cost of Living 2026 — is it really cheaper?
- Moving to Utah County: the complete guide — start here.
Frequently asked questions
Why are so many people moving to Utah County?
The most common reasons are jobs and a business-friendly economy, an active outdoor and community-oriented lifestyle, and family — either being near relatives already here or wanting a safe, tight-knit place to raise kids. Local agent Andrew Diaz names those same three as the ones he hears most.
Is the job market good in Utah County?
Yes. As of August 2026, Utah’s unemployment rate was 3.5% — below the U.S. rate of 4.1% — with about 20,600 jobs added over the prior year. Utah also ranked 16th on CNBC’s 2026 Top States for Business and has repeatedly topped U.S. News’ Best States list.
What are the northern and southern ends of Utah County?
Lehi sits at the north end of Utah County (near the Point of the Mountain and Salt Lake County), and Santaquin sits at the south end. In between are cities like Provo, Orem, Lehi, American Fork, Spanish Fork, and Payson — many of which hold their own summer fair days.
Is Utah County a good place to raise a family?
It’s one of the top reasons people move here. Andrew wanted his kids to have a safe, community-first childhood — good schools, room to play outside, and grandparents nearby. Many families move to be closer to relatives or to recreate that kind of environment.
Is Utah a good state for entrepreneurs?
Andrew calls it “one of the most entrepreneurial cultures in the nation,” pointing to available funding, mentorship, and a business-friendly state government. That reputation is reflected in Utah’s consistently high national business and economy rankings.
Keep reading: The flip side of this story — why some people leave Utah County, from the same local perspective.