Living in Salt Lake City, UT

Crime in Salt Lake City runs a bit below the national average. The violent crime index is 68 (100 is the U.S. baseline), with property crime at 163. That puts it in a decent spot — not the safest metro in the country, but meaningfully better than the midpoint. Neighborhood choice still matters, especially if you have kids or walk home late. FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

By most measures, yes. The median rent of $1,343/month against a median household income of $74,925/year works out to a 21.5% rent-to-income ratio. Financial planners generally want that number under 30%, so Salt Lake City clears the bar with room to spare. You'll have breathing space for savings, car payments, and the occasional splurge. Numbers from Census ACS 2023.

The average worker in Salt Lake City spends about 16 minutes getting to the office. Driving solo is the default (60.2%), with 18.5% working remotely and 5.2% on public transit. It's a fairly typical commute — not a selling point, not a dealbreaker.

Not particularly. The climate risk score is 27/100, which puts Salt Lake City in the low-risk tier. Drought, Earthquake, and Wildfire are the most relevant hazards, but none of them are frequent concerns. Standard insurance should have you covered. It's one less thing to worry about if you're comparing this city to higher-risk metros along the coast or in tornado alley. Data from FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA.

For most families, yes. Graduation rates run at 88.0% with a 22:1 student-teacher ratio, which is respectable. The best schools in Salt Lake City compete with any in the state, though weaker ones pull the city-wide average down. If schools drive your housing decision, focus on specific attendance zones — the right neighborhood makes all the difference.

About what you'd expect anywhere. The average monthly utility bill in Salt Lake City runs around $215 for electricity, gas, water, and sewer combined. The national average is $230, so you're right in line. Your actual bill depends on home size, insulation quality, and how much you run the AC or heater — but no surprises here.

For most people, no. The median AQI of 52 puts Salt Lake City in the "Moderate" category — fine for healthy adults, though sensitive groups (asthma, COPD, young kids) should pay attention on higher days. 218 days per year qualify as "Good." PM2.5 is the leading pollutant. Worth monitoring if you have respiratory conditions, but not a reason to avoid the city. Daily data at AirNow.gov.

Higher than average, yes. The total effective tax rate lands around 13.2% when you add up income, property, and sales taxes. Sales tax is 7.8%. High-tax areas often come with better public schools, infrastructure, and services — but that's not guaranteed, and it's cold comfort on payday. If you're moving from a low-tax state like Texas or Florida, brace for a noticeable dip in take-home pay.

Yes. Salt Lake City's water system scores 89/100 in our analysis — zero health-based violations on record, and the lead risk rating is "low." It meets or exceeds all EPA standards. You can fill a glass from the faucet without thinking twice. A basic pitcher filter can improve taste if you're particular, but it's not a safety concern.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.