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Living in
South Salt Lake.
About
Life in South Salt Lake
If you're considering South Salt Lake, understand that you're choosing proximity and connectivity over isolation or scenic charm. This is fundamentally an urban suburb designed around cars and transit—you'll have solid access to TRAX light rail and the S Line streetcar, which cuts your commute to downtown Salt Lake City, but you're also living in the shadow of major highway interchanges. The Spaghetti Bowl (where I-15, I-80, and SR-201 meet) dominates the landscape, though it rarely affects daily life unless you live immediately adjacent.
South Salt Lake at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
31.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.8%
Foreign-Born
22.4%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South Salt Lake: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South Salt Lake, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (23.2%), and 17.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.8%
of residents
65 and Older
7.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.2%
of households
Married Couples
29.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for UT
Rent, home values, and income in South Salt Lake
In South Salt Lake, home values are 16% below the UT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,426
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
38.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $435,559 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for UT
Unemployment in South Salt Lake and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in South Salt Lake is close to the UT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What South Salt Lake Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Salt Lake City, UT metro area
Commute20.3 min avg
How South Salt Lake residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South Salt Lake, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Major hub13.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 112% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South Salt Lake runs 112% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
697.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
4,290
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
South Salt Lake Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Salt Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Salt Lake County, which includes South Salt Lake, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $600,000 |
| 2024 | 35 | High Wind | $180,500 |
| 2023 | 59 | Heavy Snow | $17.6M |
| 2022 | 37 | High Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2020 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 5 | Hail | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
14 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Salt Lake County, county-wide
South Salt Lake is about 2% of Salt Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality57 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Salt Lake County, which includes South Salt Lake, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
57
Good Days
121
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Salt Lake County, county-wide
South Salt Lake is about 2% of Salt Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South Salt Lake has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
21.8"
Annual Snowfall
49.0"
Hot Days/Year
45
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
81
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 28°F | 1.54" |
| Feb | 46°F | 31°F | 1.45" |
| Mar | 56°F | 39°F | 2.04" |
| Apr | 62°F | 44°F | 2.54" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 2.09" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 1.06" |
| Jul | 91°F | 70°F | 0.55" |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 0.61" |
| Sep | 80°F | 58°F | 1.30" |
| Oct | 66°F | 47°F | 1.39" |
| Nov | 52°F | 37°F | 1.60" |
| Dec | 41°F | 28°F | 1.55" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
14.2%
of residents
Salt Lake Behavioral Health
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Marian Center
Psychiatric · 1.9 mi away · Salt Lake City
St Mark's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Salt Lake City
Intermountain Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Murray
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake's student/teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South Salt Lake (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 155,088 students · in-state tuition $8,730 · 52% graduate · median earnings $76,999 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 27,264 students · in-state tuition $9,832 · 68% graduate · median earnings $72,729 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 18,136 students · in-state tuition $4,543 · 26% graduate · median earnings $52,441 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 5,986 students · 76% graduate · median earnings $79,752 (10 yrs after entry)
Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences
12.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 2,058 students · in-state tuition $23,710 · 76% graduate · median earnings $34,098 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 823 students · in-state tuition $44,980 · 72% graduate · median earnings $70,627 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South Salt Lake
South Salt Lake has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Timpanogos Cave National Monument (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
National Monument
21 mi awayGolden Spike National Historical Park
National Historical Park
71 mi awayFossil Butte National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in South Salt Lake
Granite Library
3331 South 500 East, South Salt Lake City
South Main Health Clinic Library
3690 S Main Street, Salt Lake City
Cities Near South Salt Lake
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South Salt Lake?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South Salt Lake FAQ
Is South Salt Lake, Utah affordable?⌄
South Salt Lake's median rent is $1,451/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $72,152/year. Median home value is $410,200.
Is South Salt Lake, Utah safe?⌄
South Salt Lake's violent crime rate was 697 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 4290 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South Salt Lake, Utah?⌄
South Salt Lake has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South Salt Lake, Utah?⌄
The cost of living in South Salt Lake is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,451/month and median household income is $72,152/year. The median home value is $410,200. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South Salt Lake, Utah?⌄
The average commute in South Salt Lake is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from