Utahflat 4.65% income tax, 4th lowest property tax, median home $500K
R+13 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 101
4.65%
Income Tax
237
Violent Crime / 100K
79.2
Life Expectancy
$500K
Median Home
$1,150
Childcare / Mo
Utah in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Utah
Utah has a flat income tax of 4.45% and taxes Social Security, though a tax credit removes it for lower and middle incomes. The state has the youngest population and largest households in the country, and the Wasatch Front from Ogden to Provo holds most residents. Home prices rose sharply after 2019. Alcohol is sold through state stores under rules that differ from every other state.
What Utah taxes, and what it doesn't
Utah levies a flat 4.65% income tax. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 4.5%, about $3,338 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 4.5%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Utah has the 21st highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 0.44% of home value a year, roughly $2,200 on the state's median home of $500K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Utah has the 4th lowest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 7.19%, the 21st highest in the country (the state portion is 4.85%).
For retirees: Utah is one of the few states that taxes Social Security benefits, pension income is partly exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Housing and the cost of living in Utah
Utah's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average; that is the 23rd most expensive of the 50 states.
The median home costs $500K, 65% above the national figure and the 7th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,650 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $900 a year, flood coverage adds about $450 where it is needed, car insurance runs $1,560.
Budget $110 a month for electricity and gas, $490 a month in groceries for two, $1,150 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 237 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); Utah is the 10th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,280 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 79.2 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 9.8% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Utah's health system 31st of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 37th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Utah is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 13 points in 2024.
On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions. Marijuana is medical only. Utah is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are drought, wildfire, earthquake. Annual average air quality index is 55 (under 50 is good).
Utah has a major hub airport, with about 135 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Utah
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
▾
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$2,200/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Near US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Below national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Among the most restrictive zoning in the nation (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
No single statewide STR program; local ordinances govern.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
▾
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Above the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Moderate homelessness rate; 26% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Utah
Healthcare#31 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #37 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Above national avg (~16)
Childcare$1,150/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs$110/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Dirtier than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel135+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle91% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Highly urban, big city feel
Restaurant Density
Limited dining options
Religious Congregations
Strong religious community
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2/100K residents: Growing
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Salt Lake City growing; Sundance Film Festival; Craft beer limited by liquor laws; Kilby Court is legendary indie venue
Transportation$1,560/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$7.25/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
18-week ban; trigger ban blocked by court
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
All gambling is illegal: no lottery, no casinos, no betting of any kind. Mormon influence on legislation.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Mystic Hot Springs (clothing-optional section) · Wasatch Naturists
Environment & ClimateAQI 55▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Poor. Can affect health
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+13 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
No state prohibition; posting governs.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy3.1% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+2.6% job growth · 3.1% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Top tech job market nationally
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#9 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Top-10 nationally (Tax Foundation SBTCI 2024)
Daily Life$3.28/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Near avg (-0.02 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Designated use areas only; state-issued permits required in some counties
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required under 21 (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks93°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 37°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards35/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits57/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
8.6% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet property tax abatement
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Utah counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Utah
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
UT vs NV
Utah vs Nevada
COL 101 vs 101 · 4.65% vs No income tax
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UT vs WY
Utah vs Wyoming
COL 101 vs 101 · 4.65% vs No income tax
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UT vs AZ
Utah vs Arizona
COL 101 vs 102 · 4.65% vs 2.5% income tax
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UT vs FL
Utah vs Florida
COL 101 vs 103 · 4.65% vs No income tax
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.