Salt Lake City and Provo ought to watch their backs. Ogden, once a railroad town so central that it earned the moniker “Junction City”, is swiftly regaining its gravitational pull. Milken Institute’s #2 Best Performing Large City for 2025 (up from #26 in 2024) has an aerospace advantage thanks to manufacturers like Williams International, which announced that it is expanding its presence in the city, adding 300 jobs and $1 billion in investment. Its proximity to Hill Air Force Base—which employs over 23,000—and a life sciences industry 250+ companies strong means Ogden boasts America’s 2nd-lowest unemployment rate. Hearing all of this industry chatter, one could forget that Ogden sits at the foot of the wild Wasatch Mountains—but the city certainly hasn’t. “Still Untamed” is its motto, and its residents live up to it, skiing, hiking and biking through the natural playground that surrounds the city, and breathing deep the crisp mountain air, ranked #33. The biggest breath of fresh air, however, may be that the city is still relatively affordable, ranked #17 for Housing Affordability—with rent averaging around $1,200 for a one-bedroom—even as more tech talent pours in, falling hard for this adventurous slice of Northern Utah.