Highly rated Salt Lake School District and oldest college in the state
The Salt Lake School District has an A-minus rating from Niche. Several elementary schools were recently named National Blue Ribbon Award winners. According to Niche, the city is home to several of the state’s top-ranked private institutions, including Rowland Hall and Judge Memorial Catholic High School.
Founded in 1850, The University of Utah is the oldest college in the state. It enrolls more than 34,000 students yearly at its campus east of downtown. It’s home to the University of Utah School of Medicine and the S.J. Quinney College of Law, and its science, technology, engineering and math programs are ranked among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The university’s football team routinely sells out home games at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Brigham Young University is a private college sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Provo, 44 miles south. Brigham Young, one of the first Mormon settlers in Utah, founded the university in 1875. Today, it welcomes over 30,000 students annually.
Colorful red stripes complement the playground at M Lynn Bennion School in Central Salt Lake
Salt Lake Arts Academy has a unique cursive sign displaying its name.
Red brick flanks the entrance at Highland High School.
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A fast-growing Southwest city
Salt Lake City is the state's cultural and economic engine. It’s home to a thriving culinary scene, major corporate and tech employers and a plethora of annual events that take place throughout the year. Known for its stunning scenery, it’s also a Southwestern haven for outdoor activities and winter sports at nearby mountain preserves and ski resorts.
Salt Lake City is Utah’s state capital and largest city, with just over 200,000 residents. The surrounding metropolitan area is home to another 2 million residents. This includes the counties of Salt Lake, Utah and Tooele, which is the fastest-growing county in the state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It also encompasses nearby cities like Lehi and Provo, home to the well-regarded Brigham Young University. Salt Lake City sits at the edge of the Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere. The Wasatch Mountain Range and the Oquirrh Mountains sit on either side of the city, making it a popular destination for tourists and outdoor adventurers. In fact, this setting and topography helped Salt Lake City become the host for the 2002 Winter Olympics. The city will be hosting again in 2034.
Pioneering Latter-Day Saints settlers led by Brigham Young came to Salt Lake City in 1847. The city experienced a population boom following the transcontinental railroad expansion in 1863 and as more members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also called the Mormon Church or LDS, flocked to the area. The Mormon Church remains a major presence in the city and state today; nearly half of the population of Salt Lake County is affiliated with the church, and more than 80% of state lawmakers in the Utah Legislature are members.
Salt Lake City and the surrounding metro area have seen a steady influx of new residents in recent years, gaining more than 30,000 new people between 2022 and 2023, according to a brief published by the University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. Surrounding cities like Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain were ranked Utah’s top three fastest-growing cities in 2023, according to the United States Census Bureau.
The cost of living may be a factor in attracting new residents. “I think one of the biggest draws is that it’s an affordable city — eating out, going to bars, paying for parking — it's more reasonable compared to other big cities,” says Zach Hansen, a Realtor with Homeworks Property Lab, who has lived in the area for over a decade.
As of June 2024, Utah’s employment rate increased about 2.2% with an addition of over $30,000 jobs since 2023, according to a report by the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Major employers in Salt Lake County, which includes Salt Lake City and surrounding areas in the county, are the University of Utah, Intermountain Health Care Inc. and the Utah state government. Fortune 1000 companies Questar Corporation and Zions Bancorporation are headquartered in the city, while Lehi has become known as the “Silicon Slopes” for its many tech start-ups.
Salt Lake City is famous for its gorgeous mountain views.
Salt Lake City has major tech and corporate employers.
Salt Lake City is Utah’s cultural and economic hub.
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Higher police salaries in Salt Lake City
Violent and property crimes are concerns for some Salt Lake City residents. The FBI’s Crime Data Explorer reflects higher rates of both property and violent crime in Salt Lake City than state and national averages. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city saw an increase in violent crime that has since leveled off. According to a 2024 press release from the Salt Lake City Police Department, overall crime rates decreased by more than 10% between 2022 and 2023, bringing crime to a 15-year low.
The Salt Lake City Police Department has addressed city crime by raising police salaries to help with employee retention. Efforts are also underway to send social workers and mental health professionals to respond to non-violent emergencies. The city’s top medical center is the University of Utah Hospital, according to The U.S. News & World Report. The hospital has ranked No. 1 for a decade and sits in the northeastern corner of the city, 4 miles from the heart of downtown Salt Lake.
Due to its elevation and topography, Salt Lake City experiences air quality issues, especially in the summer and winter months. Polluted air can get trapped in the area, negatively affecting ozone levels. Utah House Bill 220 was enacted on May 3, 2023, requiring the Utah Department of Air Quality to complete an emissions reduction plan by December 31, 2026. The department constantly monitors the quality and works to reduce air pollution, with programs like the Clean-Fleet Vehicle Program, which encourages using fuel alternatives like hybrid electric vehicles. There’s also the Charge Your Yard Incentive Program, an incentive for lawn care businesses to use discounted electrical supplies rather than gas-powered equipment. Since 1995, emissions have decreased by 47%, according to the Utah Department of Air Quality.
National parks, hiking and nearby ski slopes
Community parks are woven throughout the city, including dozens of mini-parks, playgrounds and sprawling recreational areas like Liberty Park. One of the oldest parks in the city, it features a lake with two islands and the Tracy Aviary, a birdwatching hotspot. Public gardens are also abundant in the city — like the Lindsey Gardens and the Red Butte Gardens, both in the city's northeast corner. Golfers can book a tee time at one of the city's many golf courses, including municipal courses with sweeping views like Bonneville Golf Course.
Along the city's eastern edge, trailheads stretch out into the Wasatch Mountain range, giving residents easy access to hiking, biking, and walking. Some neighborhoods offer trailheads that lead to towering peaks with views of the cityscape below. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail, popular with cyclists and hikers, traverses about 90 miles across the hills of the Wasatch Mountain front. National parks are a short trek from the city, including the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Timpanogos Cave National Monument, both less than an hour away. Skiing and snowboarding are available at mountain resorts just west of Salt Lake City. Three of the area’s ski resorts—Alta, Snowbird and Snowbasin—are among North America's top ski destinations. Snowbird Ski and Resort and Snowbasin Resort offer skiing and snowboarding, while Alta is a ski-only resort.
Salt Lake City’s Clark Planetarium offers free exhibits as well as educational IMAX films.
Parks are woven throughout Salt Lake City neighborhoods.
Tracy Aviary is a bird watching haven.
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Getting around SLC and beyond
Salt Lake City is traversed by Interstate 80 and Interstate 15, two major commuter corridors. The Utah Transit Authority provides transportation to about 119,000 riders every weekday through its system of bus lines, light rail lines and a commuter train that runs from as far north as Ogden to as far south as Provo. The authority’s commuter rail service, FrontRunner, makes 17 stops across about 80 miles.
Residents can also get around town using Greenbike SLC, a nonprofit bike share. The Salt Lake City International Airport is 7 miles west of downtown Salt Lake City. It is the busiest airport in Utah and offers nonstop flights to domestic destinations, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The Salt Lake City International Airport is 7 miles west of downtown.
The Salt Lake City International Airport is the busiest airport in Utah.
Modern art depicts a mountain scene at the airport in Salt Lake City.
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A busy, buzzy downtown Salt Lake City scene
Salt Lake City has plenty going on, with its growing populace mostly comprised of younger residents. City Creek Center is a shopping center with stores like Sephora and Express in the heart of downtown. The city’s downtown offers a mix of high-end cuisine, hole-in-the-wall eateries, and many pubs, breweries and cocktail lounges. The 9th and 9th dining district is 2 miles from downtown, home to popular spots such as Coffee Garden, Dolcetti Gelato and East Liberty Tap House. Due to the strong Mormon influence in the city, Salt Lake has unique alcohol laws. ABC stores are closed on Sundays, and double shots are prohibited at bars and pubs. Diners are also required to order food with a drink at restaurants.
Residents can grab tickets to a Utah Jazz home game at the Delta Center or check out the Clark Planetarium, a children’s science museum with a 55-foot dome, an Imax theater and children’s exhibits. Moviegoers can also take advantage of two independent theaters operated by the Salt Lake Film Society: the Broadway Theater and the Tower Theatre. Both theaters feature foreign, independent and classic movies daily.
The City Library at Library Square is in the heart of the downtown district. The city’s main library branch offers a vibrant space for reading and studying, with tall glass windows that face the mountains and a rooftop garden and terrace. To study art and history, residents can check out the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Natural History Museum of Utah and The Leonardo, a local science and technology museum that opened in 2011.
Temple Square, a 10-acre complex owned by the LDS Church, is a major religious center and historic landmark for the city. Home to the Salt Lake Temple, the largest Latter-day Saint temple, it’s also among the most popular tourist attractions in the state. Across the street is the Church History Museum, a popular spot for learning about the Mormon Church. It features a vast collection of artifacts, art and documents dating back to its earliest days.
Salt Lake City has one of the cleanest and most beautiful downtowns in the country.
Enjoy outdoor shopping at The Gateway in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City’s bustling downtown has a thriving culinary scene.
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A buyer’s market in Salt Lake City
As of 2024, Salt Lake City’s median sales price is $540,240, about 5% more than the previous year, according to the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. This is slightly higher than the national median price of $412,300. The national average is lower than Salt Lake County's median home price, which is $540,000 as of 2024, according to the Salt Lake Board of Realtors. “Prices really went up during the COVID pandemic but have come back down. I don’t think it’s recovered just yet. It’s a buyers’ market right now,” says Michael Ulrich, owner of Ulrich Realtors, who has lived and worked in the city since 2004.
Salt Lake City offers an array of homes and neighborhoods. From historic Queen Annes, Prairie Homes and Craftsman style homes in old, established neighborhoods like Yalecrest and The Avenues to ultra-modern condos in the up-and-coming Post District, there’s a little of everything. Streetscapes range from quiet suburbia with tree-lined streets and grassy front lawns to bustling downtown living. Central City , the downtown district, has recently transformed with dozens of modern apartment buildings, including The Charles and Cottonwood Broadway apartments. Mid-1900s ranch-style homes are the popular style in neighboring areas in Salt Lake County like Millcreek and Magna, which have more suburban features such as manicured front lawns, paved driveways and fenced backyards.
From remodeled bungalows to new builds, Salt Lake City has something for everyone.
Salt Lake City has established neighborhoods with mature trees.
Salt Lake City has many home styles including modern and Craftsman.
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Winter Olympics and annual parades on the horizon
Salt Lake City is on the radar for future athletic events and professional sports teams. With its abundant ski resorts and slopes, it’s no surprise that Salt Lake City is a candidate to host the upcoming 2034 Winter Olympics. It could also get a National Hockey League team; Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith has expressed interest in bringing professional hockey to the city.
Several major annual events occur in the city, including the Utah Pride Festival, which is held every June and draws more than 50,000 attendees, and the Days of ’47 Parade, an annual parade held on Pioneer Day, a state holiday. “In Salt Lake City, we take care of one another; Utahans are synonymous with just being good people,” Hansen says.
The Urban Flea Market is a year round market in downtown Salt Lake City.
There is a plethora of events and markets throughout the year in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City will hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002 and will again in 2034.
On average, homes in Salt Lake City, UT sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Salt Lake City, UT over the last 12 months is $545,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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