If anyone’s seriously considering suburbs in the SLC area but they’re worried about the dynamic between raising kids there and churchy stuff, feel free to PM and I’d be happy to share my anonymous internet thoughts. Some of the information here is reasonable and some of it is not. Source: 10+ years in Utah County (20 miles south SLC), some time in SL County, family still in the area.

I never had religious affiliation come up in any of my many job interviews in Utah. Religious affiliation affecting the kids sports teams also seems iffy. Alcohol laws different from most other places, yes. Potential trouble with teenagers “fitting in,” maybe, but that can also happen in other places, teenagers. The kids playgroup in the neighborhood being made up of mostly/all Mormon moms and kids, that can be a thing, especially in the suburbs in Utah and Davis Counties, but it doesn’t automatically mean unwelcoming (perhaps in some cases, and it’s a shame when that happens). A lot depends on an individual’s perspective, and not everything about the culture might be perceived as negative. Utah generally ranks near the bottom when states are ranked for high drug abuse rates. It’s also probably the state with the highest percentage of basements full of dried/canned goods, so if “The big one” happens, there will be plenty of rice and beans and rehydrated vegetables in the neighborhood to eat. (Funny, but also not joking)

If it’s a given that a certain percentage of the population anywhere are wackos, then in a place with lots of Mormons a lot of the wackos you’ll meet will be Mormon. There are people you’ll want to hang out with and people you won’t; in Utah a large percentage of both groups will be Mormon.

There’s a lot of amazing things about Utah outside of the topic of religion. Everyone’s different and some people really do not enjoy the culture/religious aspects. Others don’t mind. Suburbs in the valleys north/south are usually a different feel than SLC city. For me, I’d be willing to put up with a lot due to the amazing scenery and outdoors opportunities Utah offers (have you ever driven through southern Utah on a clear day ), but the person I’m married to feels otherwise so we live in a very flat place.