The Salt Lake City metro area: Salt Lake and Tooele counties · Population 1,275,870 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Salt Lake City area
Household size in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.13 | 3.21 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.17 | 3.28 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.14 | 3.25 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.95 | 3.11 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | −0.09 | −0.03 |
Households in the Salt Lake City area are large by national standards, averaging 2.95 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in Utah overall, where it has 3.11 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.13, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.9 | 29.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.1 | 30.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.3 | 32.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.8 | 33.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.9 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.8, the Salt Lake City area is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Even so, the population here is older than in Utah overall, where the median age is 33.1. The median age has climbed from 30.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only five are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 9.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 9.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in the Salt Lake City area than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. Still, single parents are more common here than in Utah overall (8.9%).
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Salt Lake City area
Renters in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.1% | 28.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.9% | 30.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.2% | 29.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in the Salt Lake City area rent their homes (33.0%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Utah overall (29.8%). Nearly three in ten owners (29.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 1.9 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 8.3% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Salt Lake City area: 6.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. The Salt Lake City area has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +8 | +6 |
The housing in the Salt Lake City area is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1987, against 1980 nationally. Even so, homes here are older than in Utah overall, where the median home dates to 1991. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,067 | $971 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,131 | $1,064 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,296 | $1,222 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,796 | $1,701 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$729 | +$729 | +$606 |
The median renter in the Salt Lake City area pays $1,796 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $729 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Salt Lake City area
Bachelor's degrees in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.8% | 29.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.3% | 31.2% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.3% | 34.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 37.9% | 38.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +8.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly four in ten adults 25 and older in the Salt Lake City area (37.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 91.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.5% | 91.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 92.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.7% | 93.5% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in the Salt Lake City area have finished high school (91.7%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in Utah overall (93.5%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Salt Lake City area
| Period | Salt Lake City area | Utah | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 5.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 6.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 3.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in the Salt Lake City area than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only eight have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Salt Lake City area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City area (all) | 2.95 | 34.8 | 10.2% | 33.0% | 6.1% | 1987 | $1,796 | 37.9% | 91.7% | 3.8% |
| West Valley City | 3.53 | 32.2 | 14.2% | 28.3% | 5.8% | 1985 | $1,630 | 16.0% | 80.8% | 4.2% |
| West Jordan | 3.26 | 33.6 | 13.3% | 21.3% | 5.4% | 1997 | $1,945 | 29.4% | 91.8% | 3.9% |
| Sandy | 2.86 | 38.4 | 8.8% | 22.9% | 5.1% | 1984 | $2,064 | 44.4% | 96.1% | 2.9% |
| South Jordan | 3.17 | 36.8 | 7.0% | 20.0% | 3.4% | 2007 | $2,161 | 47.5% | 97.3% | 2.3% |
| Taylorsville | 3.01 | 35.0 | 12.8% | 29.3% | 5.8% | 1982 | $1,632 | 23.8% | 86.5% | 4.3% |
| Murray | 2.42 | 39.2 | 9.1% | 40.7% | 6.7% | 1981 | $1,774 | 40.7% | 95.1% | 4.2% |
| Herriman | 3.37 | 29.4 | 8.0% | 21.0% | 3.6% | 2012 | $2,227 | 43.3% | 94.9% | 4.2% |
| Holladay | 2.72 | 40.3 | 6.2% | 22.2% | 8.1% | 1970 | $1,732 | 60.4% | 98.2% | 2.9% |
| Tooele | 3.35 | 32.8 | 12.1% | 17.0% | 3.6% | 1996 | $1,466 | 24.8% | 92.3% | 3.6% |
| Draper | 2.98 | 35.2 | 6.0% | 31.4% | 3.4% | 2003 | $2,174 | 52.5% | 97.4% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Grand Rapids area · Fresno area · Buffalo area · Birmingham area · Hartford area · Richmond area · Memphis area · Louisville area · Raleigh area · Oklahoma City area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Salt Lake City area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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