Draper is a mountainside city tucked away between the Wasatch and Traverse mountains, known for well-maintained streets and parks, outdoor recreation and Salt Lake Valley views. Salt Lake City is just 20 miles north. “I think Draper is one of the best-run cities. In terms of aesthetics, it’s very clean,” says Rodney Moser, Broker/Owner at NextHome Navigator, who has nearly three decades of local experience. “Draper is a little further out of the city center, but it's still considered high-end.”
The city has the most hiking and biking trails of any city along the Wasatch Front, over 50 green spaces and about 100 miles of trails. “One of the biggest attractions to Draper is our extensive trail system,” says Linda Peterson, Draper’s community director. “We have a large amount of open space, so the city has built foot-only trails, biking trails and equestrian trails to help people enjoy our beautiful scenery.”
Draper has grown over the last three decades, with a population of 50,000. According to the 2020 Census, Draper has grown 102.8% since 1990, when the city had only 7,000 residents. As the headquarters of 1-800 Contacts, Draper continues to attract employers and expand into the surrounding valleys between the Wasatch and Traverse mountain ranges.
Residents have breathtaking mountain views from their homes in Draper.
An overview of subdivisions and homes in Draper.
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A steady housing market in Draper
In Draper, houses sell after about 50 days on the market, compared to the national average of 44 days. The median home sale price is $800,000. Early 2000s mountainside homes are typically large, with unique details like front-gabled roofs, stone and brick exteriors, staired porches and white, colonial-style columns. Colonial homes from the 1970s are scattered throughout the city’s historic district in the heart of Draper. Most homes sit far back from the road and have manicured lawns.
Homes in Draper often unique details in a variety of architectural styles.
Front-gabled roofs and stone and brick exteriors are common in Draper.
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Canyons School District, American Preparatory Academy
Students in Draper can choose from a variety of charter, public and private schools. Canyons School District, rated A-minus by Niche and ranked as the best school district in Salt Lake County, enrolls over 33,000 students from preschool through high school.
Summit Academy, the first charter school district in Draper formed in 2003, is rated B-minus from Niche and enrolls kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Another charter school district, the American Preparatory Academy, enrolls over 2,000 students in grades K-12 and is rated B by Niche. Waterford School is a private middle and high school rated A-plus by Niche; it’s ranked as the state’s best private high school. Another option is Juan Diego Catholic High School, rated A-plus by Niche, with about 700 students.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a popular religion in Utah — especially in the Salt Lake area — because Brigham Young, a Latter-Day Saint settler, founded the area. Many LDS churches are scattered throughout the city, most notably the Draper Utah Temple. Other local churches include St John the Baptist Catholic Church and Corner Canyon Church.
Juan Diego Catholic High School is rated A+ on Niche.
Corner Canyon High School serves over 2,400 students from across Draper.
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Galena Hills Park, Draper Historic Park
Draper has over 50 parks scattered throughout the city, including Galena Hills Park, the area’s largest green space with sports fields, paved trails and a pavilion. Draper Historic Park is a small space highlighting the LDS history in Utah with statues and plaques. The South Mountain Golf Course is a public, 18-hole course that has served Draper since 1998. It hosted the Utah Open in 1999.
Popular hiking destinations include the Bear Canyon Suspension Bridge Trailhead, Eagle Crest Trailhead and South Maple Hollow Trailhead. For skiing, people can visit many nearby resorts, such as Hidden Peak Summit, Alta Ski Area and Sundance Mountain Resort. The Flight Park State Recreation Area is in the southernmost corner of Draper, over 5,000 feet above sea level. Parasailing and hang gliding are allowed with a permit.
Galena Park offers pathways for hiking, equestrian use, biking, and walking in Draper.
South Mountain Golf Course is a nice neighborhood amenity in Draper, Utah.
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The Cliff Dining Pub, the Charleston Draper
Draper Crossing is an outdoor shopping mall with a Smith’s Grocery, a Dollar Tree and a T.J. Maxx. The Hidden Valley Shopping Center, a small local plaza on East Draper Parkway, has tenants like Savers, a thrift store and a UPS store. For dining, people enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert at Penny Anne’s Café. “It’s a perfect spot for breakfast; the only problem is that there will probably be a line with a wait of 40 minutes,” Moser says. At the Cliff Dining Pub, people can enjoy sushi and cocktails while overlooking the mountains. The Charleston Draper is an old brick home turned into an upscale spot with additional outdoor seating in its garden.
Restaurants and eateries in retail centers offer quaint sitting areas for residents in Draper.
Draper residents can enjoy shopping at large chain stores.
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The annual Draper Days parade
Draper hosts recurring holiday events throughout the year, including a Spring Egg Hunt, a Memorial Day Ceremony, a Haunted Trail and a Candy Cane Hunt. Every July, Draper Days comes to downtown, bringing a 5K race and live music to the area. The Draper Days parade welcomes thousands of people annually, who walk 1.5 miles from Stokes Avenue to Pioneer Road to the beat of live music and cheering crowds. The Draper City Amphitheater hosts summertime movie nights and has occasional theatre shows like Legally Blonde and the Sound of Music. People also visit the Draper Historic Theatre, which has been standing since 1938, for live performances.
Commuting around Draper
Interstate 15 and Utah State Route 89 lead to downtown Salt Lake City. “We’re halfway between two cities, and commuters can travel either north to Salt Lake or south to Provo,” says Peterson. “It’s a reasonable commute in either direction for daily drivers.” The Utah Transit Authority has a public bus and train service that reaches Draper, and UTA Flex bus routes connect Draper to other neighborhoods in the south and west Salt Lake suburbs. The UTA Trax light rail system leads to nearby shopping centers and schools; the Blue Line runs from Draper to downtown Salt Lake City.
Important to know
The city has an arid climate because of its topography, which is typical of places with high elevations. The elevation can cause air to get trapped - leading to pollution - but Moser says Draper isn’t impacted as much as surrounding areas. “One of the negatives of Salt Lake is the air quality, but Draper has sections on the hill that aren’t affected by inversion,” he says. Draper and the rest of the Salt Lake Valley experience a wildfire season from July to November. Residents must notify their local fire department if they plan on hosting campfires or bonfires, but most people will also need a burn permit, according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, Draper’s property crimes have stayed steady in the last year, while violent crime has increased, followed by a slight decrease. Lone Peak Hospital is the city’s local, 24-hour medical center on State Street.
Written By
Chloe Hawkins
Photography Contributed By
Kyle Aiken
Video By
Taylor Gilbert
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Melody Moser,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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