Are you thinking about moving to Salt Lake City? Nestled along the Wasatch Mountains, this gorgeous city has so much to offer, from its strong job market and beautiful scenery to outdoor recreation and exciting attractions. Salt Lake City is known for its nearby ski resorts and the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but you definitely don’t need to be Mormon (or a skier!) to love this diverse city. Living in Salt Lake City has never been better, with its beautiful snow-capped mountains and crisp air quality.
Nicknamed the Crossroads of the West and the City of Saints, Salt Lake City is usually abbreviated as SLC or just Salt Lake. The city was founded by Brigham Young and a group of followers living in Salt Lake City in 1847. These early Mormon pioneers were escaping religious persecution and, after arriving in the valley, realized it had everything they needed. They created an elaborate irrigation system and laid out the street grid system for the city, which was originally called Great Salt Lake City for the nearby Great Salt Lake.
Young and his pioneers created a state known as the State of Deseret and petitioned for federal recognition in 1849. However, the U.S. Government instead established the Utah Territory. Salt Lake’s population grew rapidly due to an influx of Mormon converts along with Gold Rush prospectors.
What is it like to live in Salt Lake City? Today, Salt Lake City is known for its diverse population, winter sports, and strong economy. Still wondering what makes moving to Salt Lake City a great idea? There are benefits of living in Salt Lake City. For a start, it’s been ranked the least stressed city thanks to abundant jobs and a low cost of living, and many people are moving to Salt Lake City to take advantage of the great education options. Read on to learn more about living in Salt Lake City!
Is Salt Lake City a Good Place to Live?
Salt Lake City is a good place to live. Residents living in Salt Lake City can enjoy great air quality, plenty of live music, and an abundance of outdoor activities. After moving to Salt Lake City, you’ll also be close to several national parks in nearby cities and states like New Mexico and Arizona.
Where Is Salt Lake City?
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Salt Lake City is located in the Salt Lake Valley of northern Utah sandwiched between the Great Salt Lake, Wasatch Range, and Oquirrh Mountains. The city covers 110 square miles at an elevation of 4,200 to 9,400 feet. When living in Salt Lake City, you’ll have plenty of great opportunities for day trips. It’s about equal distance from Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
What county is Salt Lake City in? When living in Salt Lake City, you will be located in Salt Lake City County.
If living in Salt Lake City sounds great to you, then get in touch with our Salt Lake City movers. Trust our Salt Lake City moving company to get you to your new home safe and sound.
Salt Lake City Information
- County: Salt Lake City County
- Salt Lake City area: 110.81 square miles
- Salt Lake City zip code: 84101-84199
- Salt Lake City area code: 801, 385
- Salt Lake City elevation: 4,265 feet
- Salt Lake City time zone: Mountain Time Zone (UTC -6 and -7)
- Closest airport to Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Salt Lake City Population & Demographics
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The largest of Salt Lake County cities, Salt Lake City is also the capital of Utah and the largest city in the state. The Salt Lake City population is 199,723, with a metro population of 1.256 million. When living in Salt Lake City, you’ll be a part of the larger Salt Lake City-Ogden-Provo combined statistical area, which stretches 120 miles along the Wasatch Front with a population of 2.6 million people.
The racial and ethnic composition of those moving to Salt Lake City is 64.5% non-Hispanic white, 5.5% Asian, 2.5% Black or African American, 1.5% American Indian, and 1.5% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
What percentage of SLC is Mormon? While Salt Lake City is famous as the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormons are now a minority in the city. About 49% of Salt Lake County residents are Mormon, but the rate is higher in more rural areas of the county than in SLC.
Is Salt Lake City LGBTQ-friendly? Salt Lake City has a large LGBTQ community and an ever-growing population of immigrants from around the world!
There have been plenty of famous Salt Lake City residents living in Salt Lake City including singer Stevie Nicks, rapper Post Malone, and actor Robert Redford.
Additional Salt Lake City demographics:
- Median age: 32.9
- Sex ratio: 51.6% male to 48.4% female
- Median household income: $72,357
- Educational attainment: 91.2% high school grad or higher; 50.2% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Foreign-born population: 15.4%
Transportation in Salt Lake City
Getting around is fairly easy when living in Salt Lake City! You’ll notice SLC has unusual addresses – that’s because the city created a street grid system when it was founded. The Salt Lake Temple has a stone marker that is the Base and Meridian, the epicenter of the grid (0 East, 0 West, 0 North, and 0 South). The grid system and street numbering system expand outward from there in increments of 100. You can read addresses like coordinates, thus, one block north of the temple is 100 North.
You can use public transportation when living in Salt Lake City to make your commute or night out easier. There is a light rail system called TRAX with 50 stops on three lines, a UTA bus system that serves downtown and the suburbs, FrontRunner, the commuter rail that runs along the Wasatch Front corridor from Provo to Ogden, and the Sugar House streetcar serving the South Salt Lake area.
Salt Lake City is also served by I-15, I-80, and I-215, and the Salt Lake City International Airport is just four miles outside downtown.
Check out our complete guide to Salt Lake City public transportation and getting around the city!
What Is the Cost of Living in Salt Lake City, UT?
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Is Salt Lake City expensive? That may be a big question you are asking yourself before moving to Salt Lake City, UT. The Cost of Living index and the average cost for common items can help you compare SLC to where you are living now.
The Salt Lake City cost of living index (COLI) is 108.7. That means living in Salt Lake City is 8.7% more expensive than the national average. Groceries, healthcare, and housing are a bit over average, but utilities are more affordable than the U.S. average.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Salt Lake City would need to earn $102,871 a year ($8,573 a month) to live comfortably in the city.
Learn more about the Salt Lake City cost of living here.
SLC Typical Living Expenses
You can better understand the average cost of living in Salt Lake City by comparing these typical expenses to what you pay now.
- Dozen eggs: $3.63
- Potatoes (5 lb. bag): $6.30
- Steak (1 lb. ribeye): $6.96
- Loaf of bread: $2.97
- Gallon of milk: $3.44
- Chicken breast (1 lb.): $4.11
- Average monthly utility bill: $170.52
Salt Lake City Tax Rates
- Utah income tax rate: 4.65% (flat tax rate)
- Salt Lake City sales tax: 7.75% (additional 1% restaurant tax)
- Salt Lake City property tax: Nominal tax rate of .015288% assessed on 55% of your home’s market value (effective tax rate of 0.68%)
Property taxes in SLC are well below the national average. Learn more about property taxes.
Salt Lake City Real Estate | Average Rent & Home Prices
How much does living in Salt Lake City cost? Housing isn’t just your biggest expense after moving to Salt Lake City: it’s one of the biggest factors pushing the cost of living in Salt Lake slightly higher than the national average.
Are houses expensive in Salt Lake City? Houses are fairly expensive in Salt Lake City. According to Redfin, the median home price in Salt Lake City is $534,000. This is above the national average of $428,000. Make sure you read our complete guide to buying a house in Salt Lake City for tips and first-time buyer programs!
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Is rent high in Salt Lake City? The average rent is $1,637, according to RentCafe. As such, living in Salt Lake City as a renter is quite affordable. The average rent is below the national average of $1,727.
Salt Lake City Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Salt Lake City
Looking for the best places to live in Salt Lake City? The city is home to several large neighborhoods or districts, each with a unique vibe. You’ll find quiet, suburban neighborhoods nestled in the mountains and bustling urban communities packed with amenities. Living in Salt Lake City offers very diverse options. Here’s a quick look at some of the top Salt Lake City neighborhoods!
Sugar House – Exciting Gay-Friendly Neighborhood in Salt Lake Great for Millennials
Sugar House is one of the best Salt Lake City neighborhoods and one of the most exciting for singles, millennials, and foodies. Home to several new mixed-use developments, the neighborhood boasts an eclectic business district with fun boutiques, bookshops, art galleries, cocktail lounges, sports bars, and locally owned restaurants. It’s also home to Sugar House Park, one of the city’s best outdoor destinations with lakes, a forest, and rolling hills.
Be sure you read our guide to living in Sugar House and why it’s THE place to be in SLC!
The Avenues – Historic Neighborhood Known for Its Art Scene
The Avenues is one of the safest neighborhoods in Salt Lake and one of the most beautiful. Residents living in Salt Lake City enjoy gorgeous views of the Capitol and the valley with top-rated parks and hiking spots. It’s also home to several art galleries with a thriving art scene and an annual street fair.
Capitol Hill – Hippest Neighborhood in Salt Lake City for Singles & Young Professionals
Known for its gothic and Victorian homes, Capitol Hill boasts sweeping views of the city, world-class hiking, and tons to explore. This diverse neighborhood is home to cute bed and breakfasts, artisan coffee shops, lively bars, and, of course, Temple Square, SLC’s most iconic destination.
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East Bench – Safe Salt Lake City Neighborhood for Families
When living in Salt Lake City, you can’t go wrong with East Bench. East Bench is just a few blocks south of Capitol Hill and is a perfect community if you can’t decide between the excitement of downtown and close proximity to outdoor recreation. Set against the Wasatch Mountains, East Bench residents enjoy a short drive to downtown or the U of U, plus some of SLC’s best elementary schools.
Salt Lake City Climate | What’s the Weather Like in SLC?
What’s the weather like when living in Salt Lake City? The Salt Lake City climate is humid continental or subtropical climate with four seasons to enjoy. Does Salt Lake City get snow? The region is known for having the Greatest Snow on Earth, although Salt Lake City gets far less snow than the famous ski resorts just 30 to 50 miles away! The Salt Lake City annual snowfall is 53.4 inches. Its valley location, high elevation, and the Great Salt Lake all contribute to climate conditions in the city.
Spring is a pleasant season for living in Salt Lake City, with high temperatures of 61 to 72°F. This is a great time to explore the city’s many green spaces. However, the city experiences hot summers where highs often soar past 90 or 100°F. Winter brings a great deal of snow, with average annual snowfall of 56” and average lows of 21°F.
Be sure to read our in-depth guide to the Salt Lake City climate for a month-by-month look at weather trends and statistics.
Salt Lake City Restaurants
Get ready to dive into the diverse cuisine when living in Salt Lake City, where you’ll find everything from Navajo tacos and Northern Italian fare to Japanese ramen and authentic Lebanese food. Here are the best restaurants in Salt Lake City.
- The Bayou. Don’t skip out on The Bayou when living in Salt Lake City. This lively eatery serves up Cajun-inspired pub fare with a large selection of beer. The Bayou, 645 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801) 961-8400
- R&R BBQ. You’ll love the best Salt Lake City restaurant for barbeque! This fun counter-serve chain serves BBQ by the pound or plate with beers and sides. R&R BBQ, 307 W 600 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 364-0443
- Caffe Molise. This gorgeous Italian restaurant is a great place for a date or catching up with friends. It has a cozy, art-filled environment and a diverse wine selection. Caffe Molise, 404 S W Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (801) 364-8833
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Fun Things to Do in Salt Lake City
While living in Salt Lake City, you’ll enjoy seemingly endless opportunities for outdoor recreation plus excellent cultural attractions, a fun nightlife, and family-friendly attractions. You’re also never too far away from shopping malls and grocery stores. Here are some of the top things to do in Salt Lake City with kids, on a warm day, or when you’re looking for a thrill!
Top Salt Lake City Attractions
Temple Square with the oval-shaped Salt Lake Tabernacle and Salt Lake Temple in view.
- This Is The Place Heritage Park is an important Salt Lake landmark with a monument marking where Brigham Young, leading a congregation of Mormon followers, declared, “This is the place” he saw in his vision as they emerged from Emigration Canyon.
- Lagoon Amusement Park in neighboring Farmington is one of the top Salt Lake City attractions for thrill-seekers, with 10 roller coasters.
- Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is a fun, family-friendly destination with more than 2,400 marine animals, including stingrays and penguins!
- Temple Square is the iconic city center of Salt Lake and a 10-acre complex owned by the LDS Church. Known for its gorgeous landscaping and architecture, it features holiday lights and regular events that you can’t miss when living in Salt Lake City.
- Hogle Zoo is one of SLC’s best family-friendly attractions, with 42 acres of exhibits and over 800 animals to see!
- Clark Planetarium is located at The Gateway Mall and boasts 10,000 sq ft of free exhibits and a 3D IMAX Theater! Check out our Clark Planetarium visitors guide before you go.
- Vivint Arena is an upscale arena home to the Utah Jazz that hosts regular concerts and touring acts.
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Salt Lake City Entertainment & Arts
- Salt Lake Tabernacle is home to the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and an iconic organ with more than 11,600 pipes. When living in Salt Lake City, make sure you stop by.
- Abravanel Hall is home to the Utah Symphony, known for its unique performances and long recording history.
- USANA Amphitheater is the largest music venue in metro SLC and hosts major artists and events.
- Eccles Theater is a beautiful performing arts venue with a small black-box theater and a large main stage.
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Salt Lake City Museums
- Natural History Museum of Utah is the best museum for residents living in Salt Lake City who love dinosaurs. It has an impressive fossil collection, including one-of-a-kind specimens.
- Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum is one of the best things to do in Salt Lake City for kids, and it has dozens of interactive exhibits for all ages. Check our complete guide to the Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum.
- The Leonardo is an exciting art and science museum inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s philosophy on education and curiosity.
- Church History Museum in Temple Square is open to the public and features artifacts and art covering the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the founding of Salt Lake Valley.
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Salt Lake City Parks & Outdoors
- Sugar House Park is a top destination for bicycling, picnics, and soccer games in the summer.
- Liberty Park is one of the largest parks in Salt Lake City, and it has paddle boats, a duck pond, a museum, and an aviary. Residents living in Salt Lake City flock here in the summertime.
- Great Salt Lake State Park is a large recreation area with beautiful views of the lake and boat slips. Check out our complete guide to visiting the Great Salt Lake!
- Red Butte Garden is a beautiful botanical garden and arboretum next to the Natural History Museum of Utah.
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Salt Lake City Shopping
- Trolley Square is an iconic early 20th-century trolley barn-turned-mall with a small museum and restaurants.
- City Creek Center is an upscale shopping center with dining and more than 100 shops. Residents living in Salt Lake City love to enjoy this mall during the cold winter months.
- The Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City is SLC’s main entertainment district. This outdoor shopping center is home to the planetarium, children’s museum, and movie theater.
Map of Salt Lake City Things to Do
Here’s a map of the attractions to check out when living in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City Sports
Is Salt Lake City a good place to live for sports? Absolutely, especially if you love outdoor recreation! When living in Salt Lake City, you’ll have no shortage of sports to watch.
Salt Lake City is home to several major league sports teams:
- Utah Jazz (NBA) play at Vivint Arena
- Real Salt Lake (MLS) play at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy
- Utah Warriors (Major League Rugby) play at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman
The city is also home to a minor league baseball and ice hockey team.
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Outside professional sports, Salt Lake and the greater Wasatch Front offer world-class outdoor recreation and sports. While living in Salt Lake City, you can enjoy fishing, boating, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Snowboarding and skiing are very popular in the area, with eight ski resorts within 50 miles of Salt Lake City!
Salt Lake City Crime Rate
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Is it safe to move to Salt Lake City? Ahead of living in Salt Lake City, you probably want to know about crime and the safest places to live.
What is the crime rate in Salt Lake City? The Salt Lake City crime rate is 7,401 total crimes per 100,000 people, more than twice the national average. The violent crime rate is 978 violent crimes per 100,000 people, and there are 6,423 property crimes per 100,000 people.
Despite this high crime rate, Salt Lake City is a safe city, with the vast majority of crime focused in just a handful of areas. As such, living in Salt Lake City is safe.
What is the safest part of Salt Lake City? Before moving to Salt Lake City, you’ll want to check out safe neighborhoods like Central City, Yalecrest, and Liberty Wells.
We have an in-depth guide to crime in Salt Lake City that covers crime statistics, a SLC crime map, dangerous areas, and the safest neighborhoods to explore when living in Salt Lake City. Make sure you check this resource to find the safest places to live!
Economy & Jobs in Salt Lake City
Thinking about getting a job when living in Salt Lake City? Salt Lake City’s economy is diverse, with major industries that include:
- Finance with the country’s largest industrial banking center
- Shipping and transit, thanks to its strategic location as the Crossroads of the West
- Government with federal, state, and local governments all maintaining a large presence in SLC
- Health care with the region’s largest healthcare provider and several hospitals
- Education with several major universities and colleges
- Seasonal tourism with several major ski resorts nearby
Utah is #1 in the nation for GDP growth, with a GDP that grew more than 19% over the last five years.
The average salary in Salt Lake City is $78,000 or $21.89 per hour, according to Payscale. What salary do you need to live comfortably in Salt Lake City? According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, two working adults with two children would need to earn $26.67 per hour to live above the poverty level in the city.
Here is the average income for common job titles.
- Software Engineer: $81k
- Human Resources Manager: $69.5k
- Financial Analyst: $58k
- Registered Nurse (RN): $28/hour
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA): $14/hour
- Office Manager: $20/hour
Major employers in Salt Lake City include:
- Intermountain Healthcare
- Sinclair Oil Corporation
- University of Utah
- Zion’s Bank
- State of Utah
- Delta Airlines
- Utah Transit Authority
Ready to explore Salt Lake City jobs? You can start your search on Indeed, the City of Salt Lake job board, and the Salt Lake County jobs center. You can also explore the best places to work in Salt Lake City according to Glassdoor employee ratings.
Salt Lake City, UT Healthcare
Healthcare education and healthcare services are major aspects to consider when living in Salt Lake City. Intermountain Healthcare, headquartered in the city, is Intermountain West’s largest healthcare system with hospitals, clinics, a medical group, affiliate networks, telehealth, and homecare services. Utah has one of the best healthcare systems in the country, ranking #2 for healthcare quality and #1 for cheapest healthcare premiums.
Salt Lake City’s University of Utah Hospital is ranked the #1 hospital in Utah by U.S. News. This teaching hospital is nationally ranked in 2 specialties: #11 in the nation for ophthalmology and #30 for cancer. U of U Health is frequently honored as one of America’s best hospitals.
Schools in Salt Lake City, UT
What are the best school districts in Salt Lake City? While living in Salt Lake City, you will likely be served by the Salt Lake City School District which serves most neighborhoods in the city limits. This Salt Lake City school district has over 23,000 enrolled students in 42 schools.
There are several highly rated private schools in Salt Lake City, as well as public charter schools, that offer a good alternative to traditional public schools when living in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake’s Academy for Math Engineering and Science is rated the #1 high school in Utah with a STEM-based curriculum, while Rowland Hall is a private college preparatory school with an internationally renowned ski academy!
You can learn more with our complete guide to the best school districts in Salt Lake City.
After moving to Salt Lake City, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for higher education:
- University of Utah, or The U, is a nationally ranked public research university with 150 departments and programs divided into 17 schools and colleges, including the College of Health, College of Engineering, and the College of Nursing.
- Westminster College is a private liberal arts college
- Salt Lake Community College
- Brigham Young University (45 miles away in Provo)
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When living in Salt Lake City, you’ll have easy access to the Salt Lake City Public Library.
Salt Lake City Utilities & Getting a UT Driver’s License
Set on living in Salt Lake City? Make sure you know how to set up SLC utilities and get your driver’s license before you settle in!
The following are utility providers in SLC.
- Electricity: Rocky Mountain Power (start service)
- Natural gas: Dominion Energy Utah (start service)
- Water & trash: City of Salt Lake
To transfer your out-of-state driver’s license when living in Salt Lake City, you will need to visit a Driver License Division office. You can complete the application online here. You will need to provide proof of residency, identity, and Social Security number, then pass a written test. Read our step-by-step guide on how to get a Utah driver’s license for more information!
Does living in Salt Lake City sound like the right move for you? At Wasatch Moving Company, we’re standing by to help you settle into your new neighborhood without the stress, no matter where you’re coming from! Give our Salt Lake City movers a call today at 801-335-5603 to get started.
