better climates, better wages etc…
Nobody is arguing that Utah is the most expensive state in the union by the way — we are responding to your flippant attitude towards Utah housing prices where you have revealed a great deal of ignorance on the subject.
With the exception of the rural outlier areas of Utah — you’re hard pressed to find anything decent under $525,000. In some area “decent” will required $800k or more.
And no, Idaho is not more expensive than Utah.
Idaho - $470,000
Utah - $566,000
That’s nearly $100,000 difference between Idaho and Utah.
You claim to live in a more expensive neighboring state which must be Colorado. Well, Colorado has a whopping $46k higher average market so I’m not sure what you and the Mrs. are looking at when viewing Utah real estate and imagining all you could own if only you were if lowly Utah. I’m sure that $46,000 will get a great additional bathroom in Utah.
Colorado - $612,000
Arizona - $435,000
New Mexico - $365,000
Nevada - $437,000
Wyoming - $320,000