I spent a day wandering the most expensive ZIP code in Utah. Take a look around the millionaire hideaway of Park City.

According to World Population Review, the roughly 20-square-mile ski town has about 8,000 residents.

Real-estate agent Derrik Carlson has lived in Park City for over 20 years and began selling homes in the area in 2012. He told Business Insider that the town has grown significantly since he first moved in — and so have market prices.

“Prices have continued to increase and hold strong. I ran a report last month on a couple of homes that had traded twice within 12 to 18 months, and they were up anywhere from 8 to 12%,” he said.

Carlson said about 25% of his clients move from California, and the rest come from New York, Chicago, and Florida. The city is a part of the Silicon Slopes — a fitting nickname for a stretch of land along the Wasatch Front that’s grown into a tech hub over the past two decades.

But it’s not just techies making their way to Park City.

“One of the most enjoyable things about working up here is everybody has a different background,” he said. “You have the tech people, the finance people, the CEOs, and small business owners.”

From New York City laundromat owners to Midwestern factory owners, Carlson said people of all ages are starting over in Park City.

“It’s not like you can just go after a specific type of buyer because it’s pretty mixed out here,” he added.

Carlson said Park City is a popular place to own a second home, especially for retirees. He added that roughly 50% of Park City’s incoming residents are vacation home buyers, though the demographic makes up about 85% of his client base.

“I work a lot in the second home frame. It’s people who have worked really hard to be where they’re at today and now have the means to come out here,” he said. “They’re here for one to three months out of the year.”

Carlson said he moved to Park City because of its stunning natural landscapes and location near the well-connected Salt Lake City International Airport.

“One of Park City’s big draws is having an international airport 30 to 45 minutes away, depending on where you are in town,” he said. “With Salt Lake being so close, whether going to the airport or running to Costco, you have all the options you want.”

Park City’s public amenities, including public restrooms downtown and a free bus system, have been around since Carlson first moved to the area.

The private amenities have expanded since Carlson moved in, from improved ski slopes to affluent golf clubs.

“It’s a great life out here. It’s a time to really unplug, and you have all the amenities you need,” he said.

During my trip, I visited the St. Regis Deer Valley, which gives guests access to the slopes at Deer Valley Mountain Resort. I wasn’t a hotel guest, and I was surprised to learn that anyone can take the hotel’s free funicular up to a patio at the top of the slopes.

I appreciated watching skiers glide down the mountainous winter wonderland without paying a cent.

Carlson said some clients opt for Old Town, the bustling downtown area filled with shops, restaurants, and ski access. I found a ski lift right in the heart of it.

“Downtown is designed to be walkable to get to Main Street or skiing,” he said, adding that there’s always something going on in Old Town, from summer concerts to the winter Sundance Film Festival.

I noticed a mix of mansions and more affordable real estate here. Current Zillow listings range from $690,000 to $28 million.

Many of Carlson’s clients move to Deer Valley, the Canyons — which is in the 84098 ZIP code but still a part of Park City — and the Colony. The neighborhoods are known for direct access to skiing from residential properties.

“You just go right out the door and pop on your skis, and you’re on the slopes,” he said, adding that these areas are coveted and real estate comes at a high price.

According to Realtor.com, the most expensive home on the Park City market is a 13-bedroom, 18-bathroom mega mansion in Deer Valley listed at $50 million.

Curbed reported that A-list celebrities, including Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, live and vacation in the private and exclusive Colony neighborhood.

Golf is a popular pastime for Park City residents when the snow melts. Carlson added that neighborhoods dotted with multimillion-dollar homes like Tuhaye and Promontory are known for their exclusive, members-only golf clubs.

The most expensive Zillow listings in Promontory exceed $18 million, and Tuhaye listings on Christie’s cost nearly $12 million.

Park City is a popular luxury skiing destination for second homeowners and visitors alike, and its tourism areas are classified as such. For example, Deer Valley is a resort mecca with a slew of accommodations lining the slopes. Meanwhile, short-term rentals are only allowed in certain zones.

“Where you can and can’t have nightly rentals in Park City is really well-defined,” Carlson said of the restrictions. “That matters for people looking to move here full-time so they know what will be around them in the future.”

According to the Park City website, the luxury ski town needs more affordable housing to keep up with demand.

Carlson said that nearby suburbs are a great option as an affordable alternative to Park City.

“The Heber Valley and the Kamas Valley are a 15 to 30-minute drive from Park City,” he said. “Everybody would love to live ski-in, ski-out at a really low price, but that’s not how beachfront properties can operate either.”

Both suburbs have plenty of listings on Zillow costing less than $1 million for those who aren’t ultrawealthy but crave a slice of the luxurious lifestyle.

Utah’s most expensive ZIP code offers walkable strips and public transportation — must-haves for city dwellers like me.

It also offers isolated homes and a range of outdoor adventures. It’s a place where you can ski in the winter, golf in the summer, or go to a concert after a scenic hike.

With the blend of lifestyle options in Park City, it makes sense why people would look to the destination for an escape.