Non-volatile storage system with reduced program transfers

A memory system comprises a plurality of memory dies and a controller (or other control circuit) connected to the memory dies. To reduce the time it takes for the memory system to program data and make that programmed data available for reading by a host (or other entity), as well as persistently store the data in a compact manner that efficiently uses space in the memory system, the data is concurrently programmed as single bit per memory cell (fast programming) and multiple bits per memory cell (compact storage). To accomplish this programming strategy, the controller concurrently transfers data to be programmed to a first memory die and a second memory die. The transferred data is programmed in the first memory die at a single bit per memory cell and in the second memory die at multiple bits per memory cell.