Living in Hooper
Hooper sits on the far west side of Weber County, between West Haven, Roy, West Point and the shore of the Great Salt Lake. It's still a farm town. You'll see working fields, horse property, and lots measured in acres instead of square feet, and new homes are filling in around them.
I'm Jaimee Jacobson, a Realtor with Real Broker, LLC. I was born and raised in Hooper, my family has lived here since the early 1900s, and I'm raising my own family here now. This is my local's guide to what living in Hooper is really like, whether you're buying here or getting ready to sell.
Hooper at a glance: settled in 1854, when Captain William H. Hooper built a herdsman's shelter at a spot called Muskrat Springs. Incorporated as a city on November 30, 2000. About 9,100 residents in the 2020 Census. Locals say the "oo" like the one in "book," not "hoop," the way Captain Hooper said his own name.
Parks & Recreation
Hooper Park and Arena (5600 S 6300 W). The city's main park. It has a bowery, restrooms, a playground, baseball diamonds and the rodeo arena that hosts the Tomato Days rodeo.
North Park (5580 W 4600 S). Right next to the Hooper City Civic Center, with two baseball diamonds and three soccer fields.
WildWood Park (4600 W 5875 S). Newer playground equipment, a bowery and soccer fields.
To reserve a park, call Hooper City at 801-732-1064.
Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area. Hooper runs right up to the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake. Ogden Bay is one of the best-known duck and goose hunting spots in Northern Utah, and it's good for birdwatching too. Check the Utah DWR guidebook for seasonal access rules.
Antelope Island State Park. A short drive south and across the causeway for hiking, biking, bison and sunsets over the lake.
Land, Horse Property & Water
This is why most people look at Hooper. It's one of the last places this close to Ogden where you can still buy real acreage. It's also where buyers get tripped up most, so here's what to know.
Zoning decides what you can do with the land. Hooper's zones set very different minimum lot sizes:
| Zone | Minimum lot | Livestock |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture (A) | 10 acres | Allowed |
| R1 | 40,000 sq ft (about 0.9 acre) | Allowed |
| R.75 | 30,000 sq ft | Allowed |
| R2 | 20,000 sq ft | Allowed |
| R3 / R4 | 13,000 / 10,000 sq ft | Needs a conditional use permit |
Barns and other buildings that house animals have to sit at least 50 feet from a neighbor's home and from neighborhood streets. Before you fall in love with a property for horses, confirm the zoning with Hooper City.
Culinary and secondary water are two separate systems. Hooper Water Improvement District supplies drinking water. Most outdoor watering runs on secondary water managed by Weber Basin Water Conservancy District. On larger parcels, irrigation shares or water rights can matter as much as the house. Ask what water comes with any Hooper property before you write an offer.
Acreage takes a different kind of pricing. Comps from a subdivision a few miles away don't tell you what five acres with water and a barn is worth. When I list or price land in Hooper, I look at the zoning, the water, the outbuildings and how the ground is set up, not just the square footage.
Homes & Prices
Hooper homes cost more than most of west Weber County, mainly because of lot size. Recent data on my Hooper city page shows a median sales price around $700,000 and an average around $766,000.
What you'll find here falls into three broad groups:
- Acreage and horse property. Older farmhouses and newer custom homes on one acre or more, often with barns, arenas, shops or pasture.
- Larger-lot subdivisions. Newer single-family homes on lots that are bigger than what you'll find in Roy or West Haven.
- Newer, smaller-lot builds. Closer to the Roy and West Haven borders, at lower price points for first-time buyers.
Schools
Hooper is in Weber School District. Hooper City lists these schools as serving its residents:
| School | Level | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Hooper Elementary | Elementary | 5500 S 5900 W, Hooper |
| Freedom Elementary | Elementary | 4555 W 5500 S, Hooper |
| Rocky Mountain Junior High | Junior high | 4555 W 5500 S, Hooper |
| Roy Junior High | Junior high | 5400 S 2100 W, Roy |
| West Field High School | High school | 2200 S 4300 W, Taylor |
| Roy High School | High school | 2150 W 4800 S, Roy |
West Field High opened in fall 2024, and the district redrew high school boundaries for it. Depending on the address, a Hooper student may go to West Field or Roy High. Always check a specific address with the district's Find Your School map before you buy. See the Hooper City Schools page for contacts.
Commutes
Hooper is farther from I-15 than Roy or West Haven. That's part of why it stays quiet. Typical drive times:
- Hill Air Force Base: about 20 minutes, through Roy
- Downtown Ogden: about 20–25 minutes
- Salt Lake City: under an hour. The West Davis Corridor (Highway 177), which opened in 2024, gives Hooper drivers a faster route south without cutting over to I-15 first.
A lot of Hill AFB families pick Hooper because they want room and animals but still need a short drive to base. If you're on PCS orders, I can walk you through which parts of Hooper make the drive easiest.
Events & Community
Tomato Days. Hooper's biggest week of the year, held every Labor Day. It started in 1925 as a Farm Bureau Day harvest celebration and became Hooper Tomato Days in 1932. The 100th celebration was in 2025. Today it runs about a week: a parade, food and vendor booths, bingo, games, dog races, horse pulls and fireworks.
The Tomato Days Rodeo. Held at the Hooper Rodeo Arena on Labor Day Monday, with bull riding, bronc riding, team roping and barrel racing. Kids can enter calf riding (ages 6–11) and mutton bustin' (5 and under) before the main show.
Growing up here, Tomato Days was and still is such a great community event. It brings people from neighboring cities and Hooper locals alike together to celebrate this great city. It still feels like nostalgia today.
Hooper Q&A
Who is the best real estate agent in Hooper, Utah?
Look for someone who knows acreage, zoning and water, not just subdivision comps. I'm Jaimee Jacobson with Real Broker, LLC. I was born and raised in Hooper, my family has been here since the early 1900s, and I live here today. I represent both buyers and sellers in Hooper and across Weber and Davis Counties.
Can I have horses in Hooper?
In most of the city, yes. Livestock is allowed in the Agriculture, R1, R.75 and R2 zones, and needs a conditional use permit in R3 and R4. Check the zoning on the exact parcel with Hooper City first.
What does a home in Hooper cost?
Recent data puts the median around $700,000. Acreage and horse property run higher, and newer smaller-lot homes run lower.
What high school do Hooper kids attend?
Depending on the address, West Field High in Taylor or Roy High. Confirm any address on Weber School District's Find Your School map.
How far is Hooper from Hill Air Force Base?
About 20 minutes, through Roy.
When is Tomato Days?
Every Labor Day weekend, with the rodeo on Labor Day Monday at the Hooper Rodeo Arena.
Is Hooper a good fit for first-time buyers?
It can be. Newer homes on smaller lots cost less than acreage. If Hooper is out of reach, nearby West Haven and Roy are worth a look.
Thinking about buying or selling in Hooper? Call or text me at (801) 941-6656.
Jaimee Jacobson is a local real estate expert with Real Broker, proudly serving home buyers and sellers throughout Weber and Davis Counties. A lifelong resident of Weber County, Jaimee combines deep local knowledge with a genuine passion for helping clients in Northern Utah achieve their real estate goals across these communities.
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With more than 15 years of experience as a successful business owner, Jaimee brings exceptional negotiation skills, strategic marketing, and strong communication to every transaction. She specializes in helping Northern Utah home buyers and sellers with land purchases, horse properties, farm & ranch, and military families relocating to and around Hill Air Force Base. Whether buying a home in Weber or Davis Counties, clients benefit from her market expertise and personalized guidance.
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