SLC Skyline 2024 · Invictus323 / CC BY 4.0Salt Lake Union Pacific Railroad Station, South Temple at 400 West, Central City West, Salt Lake City, UT, USA · Eric Pancer / CC BY-SA 3.0Presidents Circle · MrSchmidt / CC BY-SA 4.0Salt Lake City, Utah (2021) - 197 · Another Believer / CC BY-SA 4.0
Salt Lake City is a mid-sized city of 201,269 in Utah, with a median household income of $72,357
and a 3.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
Salt Lake City stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Salt Lake City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Salt Lake City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 97.7
Salt Lake City's overall cost of living index is 97.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Salt Lake City costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
Salt Lake City, UT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$458,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,254
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
47.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$72,357
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Salt Lake City's violent crime rate is 864.2 per 100,000 residents
— 127% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
864.2 /100k
Property Crime
5200.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Salt Lake City is served primarily by Salt Lake District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Salt Lake City, UT
National Avg
School District
Salt Lake District
—
Elementary Schools
23
—
Middle Schools
5
—
High Schools
7
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
50.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Salt Lake City sees average highs of 39.7°F in January
and 91.4°F in July,
with 17.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 49.0 inches of snow per year.
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Salt Lake City roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $458,600 and median rent is $1,254/month.
Salt Lake City's violent crime rate is 864.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5200.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Salt Lake City are operated by Salt Lake District.
The district has 23 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.2:1. 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Salt Lake City, UT has a population of 201,269, a median household income of $72,357, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%.
Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Salt Lake City averages 39.7°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.7 inches
with about 49.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Salt Lake City, UT is covered by 14 ZIP codes: 84116, 84104, 84103, 84106, 84105, 84102, 84101, 84111, 84112, 84113, 84114, 84150, 84180, 84138.
The population of Salt Lake City, Utah is 201,269 with a median age of 32.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Salt Lake City: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $458,600, median household income $72,357, crime index 236 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Salt Lake City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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