What it's like to live in Cottonwood Heights
Cottonwood Heights is a small city in Utah with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cottonwood Heights deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
How Cottonwood Heights compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cottonwood Heights
Based on Cottonwood Heights's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,460
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,200 a year
- 36% of Cottonwood Heights renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$138,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $69,410
- Homes cost 5.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 22% above US
$1,730/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,730 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $694,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $694,100 · 36% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 78% below US
72 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1554/100k · Cottonwood Heights Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 16% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 25% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 49% above US
54% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (13 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cottonwood Heights's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,730/mo) equals 17% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (25% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Cottonwood Heights
All Utah guides →Moving to Holladay →
3 mi away · pop. 31,099
Rent $1,704/mo · Income $117,043
Compare with Cottonwood Heights →Moving to Sandy →
3 mi away · pop. 94,291
Rent $1,777/mo · Income $112,176
Compare with Cottonwood Heights →Moving to Midvale →
4 mi away · pop. 35,989
Rent $1,597/mo · Income $75,084
Compare with Cottonwood Heights →Moving to Murray →
5 mi away · pop. 50,188
Rent $1,500/mo · Income $90,746
Compare with Cottonwood Heights →Not sure Cottonwood Heights is the one?
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