West Valley City

Hunter is a suburban community in West Valley City, about 13 miles west of Salt Lake City. “Housing in West Valley City is priced lower than most cities in Salt Lake County,” says Michael Wolters, a Realtor with Keller Williams - Salt Lake City and over 20 years of experience. Compared to Salt Lake City, subdivisions in Hunter are typically more residential; doors here open up to traditional grass lawns as opposed to city streets. The area is dotted with neighborhood parks, including the 77-acre Centennial Park, and is conveniently located near shopping and dining centers along Utah State Route 85. Hunter also receives a low CAP Index Crime Score of 3, compared to the national average of 4. Wolters says the average home price in West Valley City is about $466,000, lower than the county average of $687,000; homes in Hunter typically range between $400,000 and $650,000. Neighborhood streets are sidewalk-lined and feature well-kept front lawns and attached garages with the occasional tree or garden. Single-story and split-level ramblers are the most common home styles in Hunter. A typical, late-20th-century rambler with three to five bedrooms goes for about $430,000, while a 2000s version starts closer to $500,000. Local kids can attend Granite District schools, which receive a B-minus overall from Niche. Orchard Elementary, rated C, partners with the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program to offer a dance class; the school also features a family engagement center where parents can enroll in classes. Hunter Junior High receives a C and offers several afterschool activities for students, like homework club, Minecraft and intramural sports. Hunter High earns a C-plus and offers concurrent enrollment courses, where students can earn college credit at local colleges like Salt Lake Community College, Utah State University and the University of Utah. The 77-acre Centennial Park is located on the eastern side of Hunter, off Utah State Route 172, and features indoor and outdoor amenities, including basketball courts, multi-use fields and baseball/softball diamonds. Centennial Park also offers a fitness center, swimming complex and the RC Rock Crawler Park, where RC car enthusiasts can navigate their cars over rugged terrain. Golfers hit the links at the 18-hole Stonebridge Golf Club about 4 miles north of Centennial Park; the club offers a challenging course with water obstacles and striking views of the Wasatch Mountains. Locals are also within about 30 miles of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, where visitors can hike, rock climb and camp. Several shopping centers and big-box retailers line Utah State Road 85, including Walmart, across the street from Centennial Park. Further north on 85, locals can grab groceries at WinCo Foods, and nearby, there are national chain eateries like Cafe Rio and Black Bear Diner, and department stores like Target and Marshalls. La Casa Del Tamal is also nearby, a family-owned restaurant serving craft cocktails and authentic Mexican cuisine, touted as the “Best Tamales in Utah.” From June to October, residents can shop for locally sourced produce and goods at the Valley Farmers Market, open Thursdays at Centennial Park. Additionally, about 4 miles east on Utah State Route 171, “West Valley City has the revitalized Valley Fair Mall for all your shopping needs,” says Wolters. Westfest is held every June in Centennial Park; the beloved festival has been a city staple for more than 40 years and is a celebration of West Valley City that features a parade, carnival and talent show from city residents. About 5 miles east following Utah State Route 171, the Redwood Drive-In Theatre has been a local fixture since 1958. “It’s one of the few remaining [drive-ins],” says Wolters. “It’s a major centerpiece for family night!” Nearby, the Maverik Center offers a packed schedule of events, including concerts and home games from the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies and the NBA G-League’s Salt Lake City Stars. Utah State Route 85 runs through the middle of Hunter, so most residents are within 4 miles of freeway access on either side. From 85, residents can get access to Interstates 215 and 15 toward Salt Lake City, which is about 10 miles away and takes between 15 and 30 minutes during rush hour. Utah Transit Authority buses and TRAX, a light rail system, service Salt Lake County, while Frontrunner, a commuter rail system, provides transportation north to Ogden and south to Provo. Public transportation to Salt Lake City from Hunter can take an hour or more, so most commuters drive to save time. CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley West is located on Utah State Route 171, which runs east to west through Hunter and is easily accessible from anywhere in the neighborhood. Salt Lake City International Airport is 8 miles north.

Redwood is a suburban neighborhood in West Valley City’s downtown. “The city is home to cultural and entertainment venues like the Maverik Center and Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater, where residents can attend concerts, sporting events, and other performances,” says Michael Wolters, a Realtor with Keller Williams - Salt Lake City and over 20 years of experience. The neighborhood is about 7 miles south of Salt Lake City, and residents can drive along Interstate 215 or take Utah Transit Authority buses for an easy commute. "It's a good area where people keep their houses and yards really tidy, and they're in the central part of the valley, so that means they have ease of getting around,” says Ruby Reece, a Realtor with Century 21 Everest, who has worked in the area for almost 10 years. The average home value in Redwood is about $433,000, and most homes range between $350,000 and $550,000. Townhouses from the early 2000s and ramblers from the late 20th century are especially common. There are also a few mobile home communities, like Byde-a-Wyle Hacienda's Mobile Home Park; mobile homes start around $50,000 and go up to $100,000. A typical 3-bed, 2-bath townhouse goes for between $350,000 and $400,000 and includes features like open patios and two-car garages. Remodeled single-family ramblers start at $400,000 and can reach prices up to $700,000 for new construction versions. Home sizes in Redwood tend to be smaller than in other nearby neighborhoods, "but they're constructed well, and the yards are all roughly the same size," says Reece. Local kids can attend Granite District schools, which receive a B-minus overall from Niche. Redwood Elementary earns a C-minus and offers a gifted program for high-achieving students. At Granite Park Junior High, rated C, students can enroll in courses like orchestra, creative coding and theatre. Teens can then continue on to Granger High, which receives a C-plus. Kingspointe Park is a short walk from residences on Redwood’s eastern side; the park offers a sand volleyball court, jungle gym and picnic facilities that are popular for summer get-togethers. Further south, Grasmere Park is a single-acre plot of land with an open lawn, playground and fitness equipment. At the Redwood Recreation Center, visitors can take a dip in the outdoor pool or make a splash down the pool’s waterslide; there’s also an indoor gym, racquetball courts and a dance studio where locals can sign up for karate and aerobic classes. Golfers can hit the links about 2 miles away at the 18-hole Meadow Brook Golf Course, which offers classes, tournaments and striking views of the Wasatch Mountains. On the eastern side of Interstate 215, “West Valley City has the revitalized Valley Fair Mall for all your shopping needs,” says Wolters. Neighbors can grab groceries from the local Costco and browse department stores like JCPenney and Hobby Lobby; there are also plenty of eateries to dash into for a quick bite, like In-N-Out. To the west of Interstate 215, Redwood residents can shop for groceries at Lucky and dine at local eateries like Fat Fish, a sushi restaurant, and Habibi Grill, a Pakistani restaurant. There’s also Ogie’s Café, a classic American breakfast diner that’s been flipping flapjacks for over 40 years. Most Redwood residents are within two miles of the Maverik Center, where the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL play; other events are also held there, like concerts and skating performances. Nearby, Wolters recommends the Redwood Drive-in Theatre, a community staple since 1948, and on the weekends, the Redwood Swap Meet is hosted here. "Part of the culture in Utah and Salt Lake is bargains," says Reece. Locals will find plenty of bargains at the Redwood Swap Meet, which brings in more than 300 vendors. There’s also the Salt Lake Indoor Swap Meet, held less than a mile away off State Route 171, Thursday through Sunday. Redwood is in a central location, so locals don’t have much trouble getting to where they need to go. "It's pretty convenient because you can go in all four directions pretty quickly," says Reece. "But a lot of people live in and visit that area, so the road system ends up being a little bit more crowded than it does elsewhere." Redwood is about 8 miles from Salt Lake City via Interstates 215 and 15, which takes between 12 and 24 minutes during rush hour. The Utah Transit Authority provides public transportation options, so locals can also get to Salt Lake City via buses and TRAX, a light rail system; there’s also Frontrunner, a commuter rail system extending from Provo to Ogden. CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley West is 4 miles west, and Salt Lake City International Airport is 7 miles north.