"Utah! With its mountains and valleys.
Utah! With its canyons and streams.
You can go anywhere.
But there's none that compare.
This is the place!"
-Utah State Song Lyrics
If mountains and streams call your name, you'll feel right at home along with many other folks who have found solace in the Beehive State, landing in the town of Draper. Draper is a sizable city that has seen its population grow sixfold in just a couple of decades. This is probably because it acts as a commuter town for two metropolitan areas: it's smack-dab in between Salt Lake City and Provo-Orem. This means that as these cities have grown over the past 20 years, more and more people have been happily sprawling out into Draper. Some have been happier about the influx of newcomers than others, but they're all pretty stoked on their new Draper digs.
Moving to Draper
Moving to Draper can be a bit challenging if youre looking for an apartment to rent. Most of the real estate is owner-occupied and it is expensive no matter where youre looking. Still, if you’ve got your heart set on this area, come visit, meet with a few brokers, and decide what your options are. There certainly are rental units that come on the market; you just might have to wait a little longer to find the right one.
Check out a number of different properties in all the different neighborhoods to get a feel for what your tastes are. Do you prefer the rocky, scenic neighborhoods tucked away in the mountains or do you like a more urban setting with daily conveniences at your fingertips? You also might decide you like living closer to Salt Lake City, on the west side of town, instead of Provo on the east, or vice versa. Whatever you decide, rest assured that this whole town will provide a lovely quality of life that people don’t mind paying top dollar for. Perhaps this is where youll eventually end up buying your dream mansion someday.
Neighborhoods
Because Draper stretches out into two different metropolitan areas, it has some pretty distinct neighborhoods. Some of the city is nestled in the quiet mountains, other parts have a big city feel. These are some of the more distinctive neighborhoods in Draper:
South Corner Canyon Rd/Highland Drive: Real estate prices here are quite high and residents pay more than most people in the U.S. do. Most folks here are owners of their homes and townhomes, and you won’t find many apartment complexes here. There are high vacancy rates, however. Youll find a lot of married couples here and quiet, tree-lined streets for the quiet families to appreciate. Many wealthy people flock to the area as a result of the high quality of life basically you get exactly what you pay for. There are even a few two or three bedroom homes here! It’s mostly four or five bedrooms or more. $$$$$
City Center: Its still quite expensive to live in the city center, though rental prices, if you can find them, are quite a bit less. It really feels like the suburbs here there are large houses and some two and three bedroom apartments and houses on small streets and main streets. Peppered in are various strip malls, fast food restaurants, and cute little boutiques. It offers easy access to grocery stores and other daily essentials. While it’s not as great a place to raise kids as Canyon Road, it is much better for young single folks and empty nesters. $$$$$
S 300 E/E 12300 S: Prices here drop a little bit more and youre likely to find many more apartment complexes and high-rise apartments here. The vacancy rate is well above average, which might be due to a seasonal population lots of people flock here for ski season! $$$$
Minuteman Drive/Highland Drive: This area is even more affordable you can find enormous four and five bedroom homes for less than in other parts of the city, but very few smaller spaces. It’s a wealthy area and it has a number of beautiful mountain parks such as Steep Mountain Park and South Mountain Park. Traverse Ridge Road runs right through it and has beautiful views of the surrounding areas. $$$
S 700 E/12100 S: Still lower prices in rent and housing make this an appealing option for many. It’s a great place to look for reasonable apartment rentals, and it has an urban neighborhood feel, meaning that there are many stores, restaurants, and gas stations to suit your needs. The Honeybee Park is in this area, and there are a Home Depot and Costco right nearby.$$$
Living in Draper
Aside from being a very pretty and desireable community, Draper is known for its outdoor recreation. It has a number of large, beautiful parks scattered around the city and some of the best cycling and mountain biking trails in the valley. With nearly 90 trails, everyone can find something to suit their skill level! The Corner Canyon Regional Park is a favorite for many. Skiing is also a big draw, and a reason why many people relocate to the area. Only 20 minutes northeast of Draper, you can find Snowbird Resort, Alta, Brighton, and Solitude. Only 40 miles away is the popular Park City Resort, as well as Deer Valley and Wolf Mountain. It's world-class skiing right at your fingertips!
For those who love history, the Draper Historical Society museum tells the tale of Drapers rich past and heritage. Volunteers have brought in hundreds of items and artifacts to piece together the citys history. Things from the pioneer days as well as farming equipment and World War I memorabilia all live here in this charming little museum. The Sorsenson Home Museum gives you an idea of what it was like to live in Draper back in the early 1890s. The house feels frozen in time, and you cantake guided tours and even have birthday parties there!
