City profile · Utah · Census ACS 2023

Salt Lake City, UT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Salt Lake City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

203,888
Residents
$74,925
Median income
$495,700
Median home
$1,747
Median rent (state)

Salt Lake City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Salt Lake City places in the 56th percentile for household income and the 2nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

56th
percentile, household income
85th
percentile, home value
71st
percentile, median rent
2nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Salt Lake City, UT

Utah's Salt Lake City is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 203,888 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Salt Lake City households earn a median of $74,925 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.5%. Typical homes in Salt Lake City are valued around $495,700, and the median resident age is 33.0 years. Educational attainment runs 50.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 70.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,283 residential building permits were authorized in Salt Lake City (Construction Slowdown), down 63% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Salt Lake City's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 6064.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Salt Lake City's yearly average temperature at 54.7°F with 15.5 inches of precipitation per year and 51.9 inches of snowfall.

Utah tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,747 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Utah run around $178, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 16.0 minutes, with 60.2% driving alone and 18.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

203,888 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Utah

Median Household Income

$74,925 /yr

Poverty 6.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.9 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Utah average

How does Salt Lake City compare to other US cities?

Where Salt Lake City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 85% pricier than other cities
Median rent 71% pricier than other cities
Safety 2% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Utah, Salt Lake City ranks #66 of 67 Utah cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Salt Lake City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Utah, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

56thIncome percentile
2ndSafety percentile

56th percentile nationally for median household income · 2nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Salt Lake City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Salt Lake City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 27 Avg. percentile National median
Salt Lake City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Salt Lake City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$495,700 15th percentile more affordable than 15% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Salt Lake City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Salt Lake City, UT Salt Lake City, UT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Salt Lake City, UT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Salt Lake City, UT median $74,925/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Salt Lake City, UT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Salt Lake City, UT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 50.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
203,888
Median Income
$74,925
Median Home Value
$495,700
Median Age
33.0
Poverty Rate
6.5%
Labor force participation
70.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
50.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
6064.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
864.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
5200.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
54.7°F
Annual Precipitation
15.5"
Annual Snowfall
51.9"

Schools

Total Schools
96
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
190,000 residents200,000 residents210,000 residents220,000 residents230,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 200,719 residents 218,428 residents ▲ +8.8%
Salt Lake City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1,283
housing units authorized
Single-Family
397
detached homes
Multifamily
886
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
6.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3,486
2020 2,667
2021 3,691
2022 3,633
2023 3,172
2024 1,283

Permit volume decreased 63% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.0 minutes
Drive Alone
60.2%
Carpool
8.1%
Public Transit
5.2%
Walk
4.8%
Work from Home
18.5%
Other
3.2%

Based on 118,747 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Utah - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$178
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Utah state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Utah state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Salt Lake City sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.9
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,747/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Utah

West Valley City
137,955 people
West Jordan
116,277 people
Provo
114,303 people
St. George
99,184 people
Orem
97,048 people
Sandy
94,723 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Salt Lake City's 203,888 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Columbus, GA
204,383 people
Little Rock, AR
202,739 people
McKinney, TX
202,314 people
Worcester, MA
205,501 people
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance), GA
201,504 people
Cape Coral, FL
206,387 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Salt Lake City's $74,925 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bethel Manor, VA
$74,918 median income
Leland, IL
$74,911 median income
St. Bernard, OH
$74,911 median income
Central Garage, VA
$74,911 median income
Lake City, PA
$74,909 median income
Kenai, AK
$74,907 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Salt Lake City, UT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Salt Lake City, UT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.5% 9.2% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.8% White 70.5% Black or African American 2.7% Asian 5.3% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 1.4% Some other race 9.2% Two or more races 9.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Salt Lake City compares to nearby Utah cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Salt Lake City (this city) 203,888 $74,925
West Valley City 137,955 $88,604
West Jordan 116,277 $103,960
Provo 114,303 $62,800
Census ACS 5-year FIPS UT FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Salt Lake City, UT?

What is the population of Salt Lake City, UT? +

Salt Lake City, UT has a population of 203,888 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Salt Lake City, UT? +

Salt Lake City households earn a median of $74,925 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Salt Lake City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Salt Lake City; the closest available measure is the Utah state average, a cost of living index of 98.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Utah vary by metro area.

Is Salt Lake City, UT safe? +

Salt Lake City has a total crime rate of 6064.2 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Salt Lake City, UT? +

Homes in Salt Lake City carry a median value of $495,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Salt Lake City? +

The average annual temperature in Salt Lake City runs 54.7°F, 15.5 inches of precipitation, and 51.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.