17 Reasons Not to Move to Logan, Utah (Voted by the locals!)

Logan, Utah may seem like a good place to live, but we are here to tell you the reasons why it is not. We have done the research and know the 17 reasons why you should not move to Logan, Utah.

Keep reading to find out more!

1. It’s a College Town

Living in a college town has its ups and downs. While it can be pretty great for young adults or parents who aren’t quite ready to be empty nesters, it has more stressors than benefits for most other age groups.

While Logan is more family-friendly than most college towns, it still has its issues. The university takes up a large portion of the space and creates many of the local jobs, drivers are young and chaotic, local attractions and activities are often packed, affordable restaurants and movies are full of young people, and tipping is generally bad. If you live near the school, expect random yelling and loud music at night, and there’s not much you can do about it.

If you’re an employer, you can expect many of your employees to leave at the end of semesters or after a few years. Little can be expected in the way of consistency, especially when new class schedules come out.

Grocery stores will be wiped clean of staples and easy foods at the beginning and end of every semester. If you want a pack of hot dogs or a microwave burrito, we wish you the best of luck. You’re going to need it.

Worst of all is that affordable rent is nearly impossible to find if you’re not a student. All the student pages share links to cheap and affordable housing, leaving other residents to struggle with Utah’s high housing costs. Of all the points on this first item, this is the biggest problem for most new residents.

2. Logan is Geared Towards College Students and Old Residents, But Nobody Else

Logan has a reputation among Utahns for being the place where old people and college students live. Honestly, that reputation is well earned. The city isn’t ideal for most other demographics.

Because Logan is a college town, the entire city is fundamentally oriented towards college-aged people, including those who are married with very young children, but not many people older than that. When people graduate, they tend to move away to find better job opportunities or schools for their kids.

The other main demographic includes long-time residents who were born and raised in Logan. Their parents and grandparents might even be from Logan. If you look around town, their names might be on some of the buildings and businesses! These people love Logan’s old-timey feel, including little corner stores or diners that might otherwise have gone out of business.

As a result of all this, many activities and venues in the city aren’t ideal for children or mid-adults. If they are, they will still probably be shared with college students and old people. Be prepared for that possibility, and take a deep breath before you go to the park with your kids.

3. The City Shrinks Every Summer, and Business Reflects That

Because Logan is built around the university, anything that affects the university will affect Logan. When all the students leave for the summer, the city is bound to feel a little different.

While locals can enjoy a breath of fresh air and better frozen and fresh food selections at the grocery store, it can get a little annoying when local businesses are short-staffed or training new employees. Fast food orders can be a little questionable for a few weeks.

As is the case in many college towns, some businesses will reduce their hours or services until the next semester starts. Make sure to check before driving across town to run errands or get fast food. Take it from a local that arriving to find your favorite store closes two hours earlier is extremely frustrating.

4. Good Local Jobs are Scarce

Logan is a great place to work if you’re a farmer, botanist, college professor, or veterinarian. You might also find some success as a food truck owner during the school year. Outside of this, though, many residents struggle to find jobs that are adequate for the high price of rent and housing in the area.

If you want to move to Logan, start interviewing for jobs in advance. This is the best way to be sure you can afford to move to the city. If you can’t find a job, you may need to consider moving to another nearby community.

5. Poverty Rates are Extremely High for Utah

In a point directly related to the scarcity of good jobs, 26.2%Opens in a new tab. of Logan residents are at or are below the poverty line. Because rent is high and healthcare is expensive, the average income doesn’t keep up with the situation.

To be fair, part of this is because Logan is so densely populated by college students. They often don’t make an income at all during the school year so they can focus on classes, especially since so many jobs pay close to the minimum wage.

However, many locals are also low-income and stay in the area because it’s a family city. Moving out would cost more than staying.

6. You’re Dealing with College Drivers and Utah Drivers

College drivers are notoriously bad. Utah drivers are also known for making the road a more terrifying place. Put the two together and you get a uniquely stressful and interesting commute.

7. The City is Isolated On All Sides

Logan is a rural community on the edge of Utah’s populated strip. It is surrounded by BLM land, mountains, and farms. Some of the nearest towns are in Idaho, and there’s nothing nearby to make it an easy or casual drive to visit another city. It can get a little eerie at times, especially in the winter.

If you’re someone who easily feels cut off from humanity, Logan, Utah is not the city for you. It can feel like you’re truly in the middle of nowhere, especially if you’re on the edge of town. Some people love it, but some people get legitimately freaked out by the feeling.

8. There are Limited Restaurant Choices and Little Food Diversity

If you like international food, quality steak restaurants, or even just something that is slightly different from the normal food culture, Logan will be a rough adjustment. Their food scene appeals to rural farmers and broke college students.

There is one international restaurant in town called Sabores that locals have given positive reviews. I say international instead of a specific country’s cuisine because it does not have a specific cuisine. The same restaurantOpens in a new tab. offers chicken satay, ceviche, pho, tostadas, empanadas, butter chicken, Thai green curry, peanut butter burgers, Bahn mi, and more. It’s the one-stop shop for flavor in the city.

If you do want to move to Logan and you’re interested in other foods, you can drive to the relatively-nearby Ogden or Roy to shop at Ocean Mart or one of the many Hispanic markets or make a day trip to Salt Lake City for Russian, Ukrainian, or middle-eastern food. You’ll just have to travel to get your groceries.

9. Church Options are Limited, Especially for Non-Christians

Anyone moving to Utah has probably already been briefed about the state’s religious history, which is how cities like Logan were settled and founded. The state and city have a strong Christian presence and are generally interested in other religions, but often don’t already have places of worship available for them. If you’re a member of a religion that is not part of the local majority, you might have to travel fairly far to find something for you and your family.

10. Healthcare Can Be Hard to Access and Choices are Limited

Logan is a smaller city. Healthcare can be hard to access, with good doctors often having long wait lists. These waiting lists can take months if they are a specialist.

Doctors like OBGYNs, oncologists, dermatologists, and pediatricians are particularly full, and locals have some complaints about some of them. Be sure to research any doctor you visit before making an appointment, and ask other locals about their experiences. If you don’t like your options, you might find yourself traveling to another city again.

11. Parents aren’t Thrilled with the Schools

If you check out any of the main school reviewing websites, it will quickly become apparent that parents dOpens in a new tab.oOpens in a new tab.nOpens in a new tab.tOpens in a new tab. loveOpens in a new tab. the school options in Logan. They have expressed displeasure with disability accommodations, respect for IEPs and 504s, respect from teachers and principals, appropriate discipline for minor infractions or major bullying, and more. Students who identify as LGBTQ+ can face bullying and discrimination in schools, making the whole experience challenging for families.

In an issue closely related to the conservative and isolated nature of the community, students from minority groups can find themselves in strange situations. Whether they’re from a racial minority, have a disability, come from an alternative family, or have any other difference that makes them stand out, people are going to notice quickly. While the town as a whole isn’t too bad about discrimination, kids can make things uncomfortable and parents should be prepared to step in.

12. Disability Help is Extremely Limited in Many Locations, Including Schools

The town is old, and it isn’t prepared for some of the issues it faces. Disability mobility and accommodation are one of those issues, and things aren’t going to get better anytime soon.

The first issue is the construction styles. Many houses are older, meaning that anyone with a physical disability should visit before purchase to make sure there aren’t surprise steps or level changes inside the house. Visiting neighbors can also be difficult if their homes have these features.

Disability accommodation in schools is limited simply because locals don’t know what to do. For example, parents report that principles have been known to view autistic kids as spoiled or snottyOpens in a new tab..

13. Utah Faces Intense Pollution, and Logan is No Exception

Utah is shaped in exactly the wrong way to combat pollution. The many mountains and valleys are perfect for scooping up all the pollution, smoke, and dust from neighboring states and cradling it right in the breathing space of Utah locals to make us choke.

Logan is not the exception to this and has been known to have some pretty nasty winter inversion. Locals end up waiting eagerly for severe winter storms to blow some of the gross air out.

14. Logan is Liberal Compared to Most of Rural Utah

Compared to many of the neighboring communities and rural Utah as a whole, it’s pretty liberal! There’s even a community pride center and a pride paradeOpens in a new tab., and the locals are fairly friendly towards their neighbors who might have a different race, sexual orientation, or religion. Someone holding the hand of a same-sex spouse might get some funny looks, but they wouldn’t be in any physical danger.

For some people, this is a selling point. For other people, Logan might be uncomfortably liberal and they would prefer living in a more conservative nearby community. To each their own!

15. Logan is Very Conservative Compared to Much of the Western US

While Logan is more liberal compared to much of rural Utah, it is still conservative compared to much of the western US. There is a chance of discrimination over gender, race, sexual orientation, or other issues in workplaces and schools, even if the city officials are trying to make things safer. Logan residents aren’t often openly hostile towards other residents, but they can be petty.

16. Winters Get 2-3 Feet Of Snow in a Short Timespan

Utah has heavy winters, and Logan is even further in the mountain than most popular Utah communities. The snow is brutal for anyone who isn’t used to it! Also, be prepared for long winters, as snow can still be on the ground in April!

17. Summers Often Face Intense Drought

Logan isn’t safe from Utah’s drought problems. Fireworks, gardening plans, and water parks are all included in the things impacted by drought, as burn bans are enforced yearly.

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