What it's like to live in South Jordan
South Jordan is a smaller city in Utah with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. South Jordan deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 82" per year
How South Jordan compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to South Jordan
Based on South Jordan's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,982
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $79,640 a year
- 41% of South Jordan renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$130,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $65,050
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 41% above US
$1,991/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,991 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $650,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $650,500 · 41% 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▼ 66% below US
113 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 944/100k · South Jordan Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.1 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% 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▲ 33% above US
48% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 48% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
21 public schools inside the boundary
There are 21 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (17 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
South Jordan'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 ($1,991/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near South Jordan
All Utah guides →Moving to Riverton →
3 mi away · pop. 45,457
Rent $2,137/mo · Income $126,910
Compare with South Jordan →Moving to West Jordan →
3 mi away · pop. 116,692
Rent $1,757/mo · Income $108,153
Compare with South Jordan →Moving to Herriman →
5 mi away · pop. 59,346
Rent $2,019/mo · Income $122,650
Compare with South Jordan →Moving to Bluffdale →
6 mi away · pop. 18,797
Rent $1,915/mo · Income $129,531
Compare with South Jordan →Not sure South Jordan is the one?
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