What it's like to live in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is a large city in Utah with unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Salt Lake City deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
- Strong hospital ratings
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Snowy winters — 49" per year
How Salt Lake City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Salt Lake City
Based on Salt Lake City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,828
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,560 a year
- 49% of Salt Lake City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$107,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $53,950
- Homes cost 7.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,414/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,414 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $539,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $539,500 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 21% below US
3.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 162% above US
862 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 4771/100k · Salt Lake City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 25% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 21% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
6 hospitals
There are 6 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.3 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 43% above US
52% 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
50 public schools inside the boundary
There are 50 public schools inside the boundary and 16 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (26 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Salt Lake City's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,414/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, remote workers (21% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Salt Lake City
All Utah guides →Moving to North Salt Lake →
5 mi away · pop. 23,474
Rent $1,667/mo · Income $101,447
Compare with Salt Lake City →Moving to South Salt Lake →
5 mi away · pop. 26,352
Rent $1,451/mo · Income $72,152
Compare with Salt Lake City →Moving to Woods Cross →
7 mi away · pop. 11,531
Rent $1,771/mo · Income $120,543
Compare with Salt Lake City →Moving to Bountiful →
7 mi away · pop. 45,023
Rent $1,565/mo · Income $104,785
Compare with Salt Lake City →Not sure Salt Lake City is the one?
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