Contributed by Lindsay Shugerman, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Years ago, about the only thing Utah was famous for was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and stories about how hard it was to get an alcoholic beverage in a restaurant.

Then the ski industry took off, and Utah became the place with the powder.

But it’s only been in the past decade or so that people discovered that Utah is also a great place to live. Home to dozens of high tech companies, popular with start-ups and still the home of the “Greatest Snow on Earth”, Utah might just be the right place for you, too.

Here’s our list of the ten best places to live in Utah.

10. Provo

Home to Brigham Young University and a growing number of tech companies and start-ups, Provo is a great choice if you’re looking for a safe, family-friendly town to call home.

As with most of Utah, the natural surroundings are stunning, with hiking, camping, skiing and other outdoor activities literally steps away. A single family home here averages around $248,636, but there are less expensive homes further from the foothills.

Population: 112,488
Median resident age: 23.3 years
Median household income: $35,937
Median house or condo value: $220,900

9. Park City

Park City is more than just a main street filled with touristy shops. It’s also a great place to live if you love the outdoors or the arts.

The Sundance Film Festival brings top-tier celebrities and cutting edge films to town each year. And the October-to-May snowfall means lots of powder for downhill, snowboarding, cross country and snowmobiling. The one drawback is the cost of housing … a single family home in the Park City are averages about $798,094.

Population: 7,558
Median resident age: 37.4 years
Median household income: $76,769
Median house or condo value: $782,941

8. Midway

Named for a fort constructed midway between two early Mormon settlements, Midway is famous for its natural “hot pots” (hot springs visitors and residents alike love to soak in even in the dead of winter) and the annual Swiss Days celebration.

This friendly residential community is located only 27 miles from Salt Lake City, making it possible to work in the capital city and live up in the mountains. The average single family home lists for about $359,131.

Population: 3,845
Median resident age: 34.7 years
Median household income: $67,144
Median house or condo value: $359,131

7. Logan

The home of Utah State University and a number of biotech, aerospace, manufacturing and technology companies, Logan is arguably the most scenic city in Utah.

Outdoor lovers will enjoy the ample opportunities for hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, camping and mountain biking. and budget-minded families will appreciate the relatively low cost of living, with single family homes averaging only $171,782,

Population: 48,174
Median resident age: 24.2 years
Median household income: $34,131
Median house or condo value: $170,373

6. St. George

The relatively mild climate in the St. George area has earned it the nickname “Utah’s Dixie.” Far from the heavy, long winters in central and northern Utah, St. George has an average winter temperature of in the low 50’s with daytime highs in the 60’s, making it a popular city with retirees and those seeking refuge from ice and snow.

This safe, family oriented city is close to dramatic hiking and mountain biking locales, and boasts an active arts community. The average single family home is about $279,516.

Population: 72,897
Median resident age: 32.5 years
Median household income: $46,005
Median house or condo value: $236,900

5. Bountiful

Predominantly a bedroom community for Salt Lake City (about 10 miles away and Ogden (about 28 miles away), Bountiful is a newer residential area, mixed with some historical homes and farms. First settled in 1847, it did not grow extensively until Utah’s building boom in the 1980’s.

The cost of living is relatively affordable at about 15% below the national average. A single family home here averages about $290,309.

Population: 42,552
Median resident age: 34.2 years
Median household income: $63,908
Median house or condo value: $253,536

4. Springville

If small town living appeals to you, but you want the amenities of a larger city at hand, Springville may be one of the best places to live in Utah. With a population of just over 29,000, a world class art museum and easy access to Provo (less than 10 miles away), you may everything in this one friendly community.

Housing is also cheaper than in nearby Provo, with single family homes listing for about $226,763.

Population: 29,466
Median resident age: 26.7 years
Median household income: $54,897
Median house or condo value: $206,575

3. Moab

If you love the beauty of Arches and Canyonland National Parks, you might want to consider a move to Moab, Utah.

Like St. George, temperatures here are warmer than in the northern parts of the state, with midwinter highs in the 50’s and 60’s. With a population of only about 5,000, most residents of this southern Utah town are there because of the mountain biking or as support to the National Park visitor trade. But what it lacks in big city amenities, it makes up for in spectacular scenery and incredible outdoor recreation.

Single family homes here go for about $208,378.

Population: 5,046
Median resident age: 37.3 years
Median household income: $34,605
Median house or condo value: $191,227

2. Cedar City

Only 180 miles from the bright lights of Las Vegas, Cedar City sits at the entrance to the beautiful Dixie National Forest and nearby Bryce. This city is truly a outdoor-lovers paradise.

If the arts are your thing, Cedar City is also home to the hugely popular Utah Shakespeare Festival, which attracts visitors from all over the world. A single family home here in this medium-sized Utah city will cost you about $244,066.

Population: 28,857
Median resident age: 24.8 years
Median household income: $39,985
Median house or condo value: $231,503

1. Salt Lake City

The capital of Utah is the best of the places to live in the state if you want big city shopping, arts, and education combined with easy access to amazing hiking, skiing, boating, camping and fishing.

Despite its larger size and major university (Go Utes!), and bragging rights as host to the 2002 Olympics, the city manages to maintain a small town feel with its friendly residents and spotlessly clean streets. Housing costs have risen in recent years however, as more people have moved in from high cost states like California. A single family home will now cost you about $298,806.

Population: 186,440
Median resident age: 30.9 years
Median household income: $45,754
Median house or condo value: $242,200

Source: all statistics from city-data.com