What it's like to live in South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake is a small city in Utah with commutes that run shorter than most cities and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. South Salt Lake deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, snowy winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Snowy winters — 49" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How South Salt Lake compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to South Salt Lake
Based on South Salt Lake's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,902
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $58,040 a year
- 43% of South Salt Lake renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$82,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $41,020
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,451/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,451 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $410,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $410,200 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 112% above US
697 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 4290/100k · South Salt Lake Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% 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
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (21 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
South Salt Lake's strongest point is commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,451/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home) and people who want short commutes.
Other places near South Salt Lake
All Utah guides →Moving to Millcreek →
4 mi away · pop. 63,648
Rent $1,492/mo · Income $98,045
Compare with South Salt Lake →Moving to Murray →
4 mi away · pop. 50,188
Rent $1,500/mo · Income $90,746
Compare with South Salt Lake →Moving to Taylorsville →
4 mi away · pop. 58,678
Rent $1,482/mo · Income $86,413
Compare with South Salt Lake →Moving to Holladay →
5 mi away · pop. 31,099
Rent $1,704/mo · Income $117,043
Compare with South Salt Lake →Not sure South Salt Lake is the one?
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