Located to the south and west of Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake is a thriving and beautiful city in Utah County, UT. The city was developed in 1890 and originally called Central Park after the famous urban park in New York City. For decades, the area of South Salt Lake was called the “Big Field” and used by settlers to the north to cultivate crops. What is South Salt Lake known for today? The Salt Lake City Chinatown — the only Chinatown in Utah — plus two top-rated golf courses and its role as the metro area’s commercial hub. South Salt Lake’s slogan is “a Community of Neighbors” and this certainly holds true in this family-friendly community with plenty of opportunities for recreation and education.
Is South Salt Lake a good place to live? Judge for yourself in this COMPLETE guide to living in and moving to South Salt Lake, UT.
South Salt Lake Population & Demographics
South Salt Lake has a population of almost 25,000 and is part of the Salt Lake City metro area with a metro population of 1.2 million. The city falls within the 84106 and 84115 zip codes and the 385 and 801 area codes.
Curious about the people living in South Salt Lake? This diverse community is 52% white, 21% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 8% black, 2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and 2% American Indian. About 26% of people in South Salt Lake were born outside of the U.S, much higher than the national average of 14%, and this foreign-born population is on the rise, contributing to South Salt Lake’s unique and diverse culture.
South Salt Lake is home to Utah’s first Chinatown which was built in 2011 to meet the needs of more than 10,000 Chinese nationals living in the area. The Salt Lake City Chinatown now features a large shopping mall with an Asian grocery store, 38 Asian-themed indoor shops, and a 12,000 square feet strip mall with Asian-themed stores and restaurants like an authentic Hong Kong-style restaurant.
South Salt Lake has some tracts that are considered some of the hardest to count by the Census Bureau which makes it difficult to get a full picture of just who’s living in South Salt Lake. In one hard-to-count area in South Salt Lake, for example, the population is 45% Hispanic with many immigrants who may not speak English well enough for the census or who are undocumented.
Cost of Living in South Salt Lake, UT
How much does it cost to live in South Salt Lake? That’s a big question to ask as you explore where you want to move. One of the benefits of moving to South Salt Lake is its low cost of living. The cost of living in South Salt Lake is about 14% below the national average with housing and utility costs contributing the most to its affordability. Utilities in South Salt Lake are about 22% lower than the national average with the typical energy bill of just $131 per month.
The Salt Lake area has a great public transportation system with light rail, buses, and trains. The light-rail TRAX line runs through South Salt Lake and Salt Lake City with three color-coded lines. The city is also served by buses with connecting service at many TRAX stops. With a FAREPAY reloadable card, public transit will cost:
- $1.50 for local buses
- $4.50 for express buses
- $2 for streetcar and TRAX rides
Housing costs are the biggest factor determining living costs. Do you plan to rent after moving to South Salt Lake? The average rent in South Salt Lake is $1,140, according to RentCafe, which is about $100 cheaper than neighboring SLC.
Want to buy a house? Your money will go far in South Salt Lake. The median home price in South Salt Lake is just $184,000 — much lower than the U.S. median home price of $227,000. You can get an idea of what you can afford with your budget by searching for South Salt Lake, UT homes for sale online.
Best South Salt Lake Neighborhoods
South Salt Lake covers almost 7 square miles with plenty of great South Salt Lake neighborhoods to explore. Are you looking for the best South Salt Lake neighborhoods for families, do you want a short commute to downtown, or are you looking for an established neighborhood with tree-lined streets? You’re bound to find something that fits your lifestyle.
Love to be near the action? The redeveloped South Salt Lake downtown has it all, including thousands of condo units, plenty of shopping, opportunities to work near home, parks, and Parley’s Trail, a pedestrian and cycling greenway. Downtown is one of the best neighborhoods in South Salt Lake with new buildings along TRAX lines and stations. You’ll find lots of residential condo and townhome developments along Main Street and West Temple with modern amenities such as Liberty Crossing, a brand-new townhome development with a roof deck patio, fitness center, and self-service bicycle repair center.
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Interested in a new home? There are several new construction subdivisions in South Salt Lake. Cottages at Nibley is a sought-after neighborhood located next to Nibley Park Golf Course with homes starting in the $500s.
Planning on buying a home after moving to South Salt Lake and want an established community? The Stratford neighborhood features more affordable and historic homes built in the 1910s and 1920s including prairie style bungalows.
Top Restaurants & Fun Things to Do in South Salt Lake
Ready to explore the best things to do in South Salt Lake? After moving to South Salt Lake, you’ll have plenty of shopping, dining, and recreation at your fingertips. South Salt Lake, UT offers convenient shopping such as Ream’s Food Stores, Best Buy, WinCo Foods, Office Depot, and Interpointe Shopping Center. Here are some of the attractions and best South Salt Lake restaurants to explore, including great ideas for things to do in South Salt Lake for couples and families.
The Wairhouse Trampoline Park
You’ll love South Salt Lake’s best indoor entertainment space with trampoline play areas, dodgeball courts, basketball lanes, open jump courts, ball pits, and much more!
The Wairhouse Trampoline Park, 3653 500 W, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 (801) 266-5867
Fitts Park
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Named after Robert Fitts, the first town president of South Salt Lake, Fitts Park is one of the best things to do in South Salt Lake with kids. The park has creeks running through it that attracts ducks with three amazing playgrounds, sand volleyball pits, and much more.
Fitts Park, 3050 500 E, South Salt Lake, UT 84106 (801) 483-6000
The Pie Pizzeria – South Salt Lake
Be sure to check out the Pie Pizzeria, voted Utah’s best pizza! The Pie Pizzeria always uses hand rolled and tossed pizza dough and slices veggies, cheeses, and meats fresh daily. There’s always a fun specialty pizza on the menu!
The Pie Pizzeria – South Salt Lake, 3321 200 E, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 (801) 466-5100
Oh Mai South Salt Lake
Oh Mai is THE place for authentic Vietnamese food in South Salt Lake with top-rated pho soup and banh mi sandwiches plus other hits like steamed pork rolls and com dia.
Oh Mai South Salt Lake, 3425 State St, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 (801) 467-6882
Jobs in South Salt Lake, UT & Local Economy
South Salt Lake was known as the Center of Industry for many years as two-thirds of the city is zoned for light industrial or commercial. This has made South Salt Lake a commercial hub of the region. The city has a population of just 23,000 but the daytime population swells to over 46,000 when people come to South Salt Lake for work.
Thanks to its convenient location within 15 minutes of the University of Utah, Westminster College, Salt Lake Community College, and Salt Lake International Airport, many residents of South Salt Lake work for these major employers. There are also more than 2,100 businesses in South Salt Lake with a large concentration of manufacturing, retail, warehousing, and distribution.
Want to work in Salt Lake City? You’ll enjoy a short commute of just a few minutes. Here’s how your commute will look driving from South Salt Lake to Salt Lake City 3.2 miles away.
Major employers in South Salt Lake include:
- Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
- Granite School District
- Salt Lake Behavioral Health
- Bimbo Bakeries
- RC Willey
- MVN US Services
- Taylor Electric
- Westech Engineering
- Mondi Bag
South Salt Lake, UT Schools — Public Schools & Higher Education
Moving to South Salt Lake with kids or planning to start a family? South Salt Lake is part of the Granite School District and served by a junior high school and three elementary schools. There are also two charter schools: Utah International Charter School for grades 7 to 12 and South Salt Lake, Alianza for grades K to 8.
Living in South Salt Lake, Utah offers plenty of opportunities for higher education too! Broadview University’s West Jordan campus is a mile away and the South Salt Lake campus of Utah State University is within the city limits. South Salt Lake also has ties with Westminster College and Salt Lake Community College.
Other colleges and universities within 15 miles include:
- Fortis College Salt Lake City (2 miles)
- Independence University (2 miles)
- Eagle Gate College Murray (4 miles)
- Latter day Saints Business College (5 miles)
- Neumont College of Computer Science (10 miles)
- AmeriTech College Draper (12 miles)
South Salt Lake, UT Climate
Living in South Salt Lake, you’ll get to experience all four seasons with lots of snow in the winter, dry and hot summers, and modest rainfall. The Pacific Ocean brings storms between October and May while the Great Salt Lake contributes to heavy snow during the winter. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico is only contributor to rainy summer weather in South Salt Lake.
Because the city is between mountains in the Wasatch Front, you’ll also experience “inversion” which happens when cool air is trapped beneath hot air. This causes smog or fog that reduces air quality and visibility when it occurs.
Moving to South Salt Lake Tips
- Pursue a degree at one of several area colleges and universities
- Enjoy a short commute to Salt Lake City or work in South Salt Lake with thousands of jobs in retail, distribution, and manufacturing
- Choose from many great neighborhoods like the redeveloped and exciting downtown or an older, established community
- Enjoy a low cost of living in South Salt Lake with affordable housing
- Visit Utah’s first Chinatown in South Salt Lake
As you can see, South Salt Lake has a lot to offer with a lower cost of living than neighboring SLC, endless career opportunities, and the natural beauty of the Wasatch Front. If you’re set on moving to South Salt Lake, UT, trust the experienced South Salt Lake movers at Wasatch Moving Company for an easy and stress-free experience.
