Salt Lake
Utah

What stands out

If you had to describe Salt Lake County in numbers, start here: natural-hazard risk is among the riskiest in America (99 of 100), the median home price is in the top 4% of American counties ($577K), and the share working from home is in the top 6% of American counties (15%). Within Utah it ranks 1st of 29 counties for natural-hazard risk.

Where you are

You live in Salt Lake County, Utah. 1,180,643 people live here with you, which makes it one of the country's big urban counties. The population held steady at 0.1% last year.

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.

Money

The typical household here brings in $90,011 a year, higher than 93% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $77,495. Unemployment runs 2.3%, lower than 89% of American counties. 15% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 19 minutes each way.

Utah takes 4.5% of that median income in state income tax, about $4,005 a year.

Home

The median home costs $577K, pricier than 96% of American counties, about 4.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,380 a month. Property tax is 0.59% of home value, roughly $2,590 a year on that median home, lower than 79% of American counties. 67% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.6 per 1,000 residents, lower than 66% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 23 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 78.8 years, longer than 83% of American counties. There are 5,479 active physicians in the county, about 46.4 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.5 of 5 stars. 9.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.05 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 54% of American counties. 92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted almost evenly. 72% of eligible voters turned out. Under Utah law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 52°F, highs near 64 and lows near 41, colder than 64% of American counties. About 18 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 99 out of 100, riskier than almost every county in America; the county has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 295 Mbps down, faster than 94% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 25 breweries, 15 museums.