St. Mary’s at a glance
Mid-century homes, big valley views and quiet, curving streets on Salt Lake City’s east bench, above Foothill Drive in the 84108 ZIP code.
Rock steps and a terraced backyard below the foothills on Lancaster Drive in St. Mary’s. A Gian Sexsmith listing.
Where St. Mary’s is
St. Mary’s is a hillside neighborhood on Salt Lake City’s east bench, above Foothill Drive and just south of Oak Hills, in the 84108 ZIP code. It is inside Salt Lake City limits and part of the city’s larger East Bench community. The University of Utah, Research Park, Red Butte Garden and Hogle Zoo are a short drive north, and Foothill Drive takes you to I-80, I-215 and Parleys Canyon in a few minutes.
Named for a college on the hill
The neighborhood takes its name from the College of St. Mary-of-the-Wasatch, a Catholic women’s college run by the Sisters of the Holy Cross that later became a high school. The school opened its east bench campus in 1926, and the buildings were torn down in 1972 to make way for homes. One of the old stone entrance gates is now built into a private house.
Living in St. Mary’s
- Schools: most St. Mary’s addresses are zoned for Indian Hills Elementary, and many continue to Hillside Middle and Highland High in the Salt Lake City School District. Boundaries vary street by street, so confirm a specific address with the district.
- Views: many streets look west across the valley to downtown and the Oquirrh Mountains, so sunsets are part of the deal. Higher lots get the widest views.
- Getting around: Foothill Drive connects to the University of Utah, Research Park and the VA hospital to the north and to I-80 and I-215 to the south. Downtown is roughly a 15-minute drive.
- Outdoors: Emigration Canyon, Parleys Canyon and the foothill trails above the east bench are close by, and Hogle Zoo and This Is the Place Heritage Park are a short drive north.
- Errands: Foothill Village and the shops along Foothill Drive and Parleys Way are a few minutes away for coffee, dinner and everyday errands.
A custom home at twilight on Scenic Drive, just south of St. Mary’s on the same east bench. A Gian Sexsmith listing.
Homes in St. Mary’s
Most homes here were built in the 1960s and 1970s. St. Mary’s is known for a rare collection of mid-century modern houses, some by Utah modernists like Ed Dreier, with long rooflines, walls of glass and open floor plans. Brick ramblers and split-levels on generous lots fill in the rest, and many have been updated.
Homes tend to be larger than in nearby Yalecrest or Sugar House, and many sit on hillside lots with retaining walls and terraced yards. Gian’s 1967 Lancaster Drive listing sold for $1,270,000 in 2024 after multiple offers, and larger homes on the upper hillside streets have recently listed from about $1.9 million to $4 million. Townhomes, like the 1971 Oak Springs Drive townhome Gian’s buyer bought in 2024 for $765,000, are a lower-maintenance way into the neighborhood.
Gian in St. Mary’s
Gian Sexsmith has helped clients buy and sell in St. Mary’s and across the 84108 ZIP code, from Yalecrest to the streets above Foothill Drive. His St. Mary’s sales include:
| Street | Price | Year | Gian represented |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster Dr | $1,270,000 | 2024 | Seller |
| Oak Springs Dr | $765,000 | 2024 | Buyer |
What to know about St. Mary’s
- Views change value lot by lot. A clear look at the valley and the sunset can add a lot to a price, and a view blocked by trees or a neighbor’s addition can take it away. Price a view home against the closest comparable view, not just square footage.
- Check the hillside. Retaining walls, drainage and grading matter on sloped lots. Have them looked at during inspection, along with the sewer line on older homes.
- Plan for mid-century systems. Original windows, low-slope roofs and older electrical panels are common in 1960s and ’70s homes. Buyers should budget for them, and sellers should price them in.
- Original character sells. Many buyers come to St. Mary’s for mid-century design, so well-kept details like wood ceilings, clerestory windows and stone fireplaces are a selling point, not something to remodel away.
- Inventory is thin. Only a handful of homes come up each year, so set up alerts early. Gian texts new St. Mary’s listings to his clients as soon as they hit the MLS.
Common questions about St. Mary’s
Is St. Mary’s in Salt Lake City?
Yes. St. Mary’s is inside Salt Lake City limits, in the 84108 ZIP code, and is part of the city’s East Bench community.
What schools serve St. Mary’s?
Most addresses are zoned for Indian Hills Elementary in the Salt Lake City School District, and many continue to Hillside Middle and Highland High. Middle and high school boundaries vary by street, so check a specific address with the district.
How is St. Mary’s different from Yalecrest?
Yalecrest is closer in, with historic Tudors and cottages on flatter, tree-lined streets. St. Mary’s sits higher on the bench, with newer mid-century homes, bigger lots and more view properties. Both share the 84108 ZIP code.
What is my St. Mary’s home worth?
Recent sales on your side of the neighborhood, matched to your view, lot and level of updating, tell you more than a ZIP code average. Get a free home value, or call or text Gian at (518) 524-8303 for a no-obligation pricing analysis.
Homes for sale in St. Mary’s and 84108
St. Mary’s listings show up in 84108 MLS searches, along with Yalecrest and the rest of the ZIP code. Save a search to get new listings as soon as they hit the market.
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Buying or selling in St. Mary’s?
Gian Sexsmith is the #1 Coldwell Banker agent in Utah by transactions (2026 YTD), ranks in the top 1.5% of agents nationally and has sold homes across the 84108 ZIP code. Get a free, no-obligation pricing analysis of your home, or a heads-up on new and off-market St. Mary’s listings.
