I live in Kaysville, and it takes me 25 minutes to get to work 25 miles away 95% of the time I commute. I get to work between 8 and 8:30 in the morning, and I leave between 5 and 6 pm. The longest it takes to get home from Salt Lake is 35 minutes on heavy days. If there is a storm or wreck, yes it takes longer, but in the long run it is worth it to me.
When I moved back to Utah 2 years ago, I drove south, east, and west from my office before buying my house up north. There is ALWAYS traffic going south. One wreck on the freeway south and it is backed up for hours! Traffic is traffic. Deal with it and live where you want to live. I personally like living away from the crowds. I get that up North.
My advice: Make the drive to wherever you are thinking of living during the hours you will be making that drive before and after work and see how bad it is. Don't rush into buying until you have a great idea as to what you can get for the money, what the commute will cost, how long it will take, what the schools and neighborhoods are like, and you feel is the best fit for your family. Davis county has some of the best people (not dissing any other areas, just stating what I have experienced) in the state, great neighborhoods, and fantastic schools. It all comes down to your preference and your family. I love how close I am to Snow Basin, the Uintah's, and other areas I like to recreate. If I were to do it again, my personal preference would be further from people and into the Mountains. But as it is, I am not more than 30 to 45 minutes from my house to less crowded areas in the Mountains and I can recharge again.
Good luck and happy house hunting!
