Facts & Info
Looking for the basic facts about Salt Lake? We've gathered statistics and numbers from various sources for you to have the vital information at your fingertips.
Population
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census)
Utah Population: 3,271,616
Salt Lake County Population: 1,185,238
the most populous county in Utah
Salt Lake City Population: 199,723
Wasatch Front/Salt Lake Area (Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties): 2,382,918
Salt Lake County Racial and Ethnic Diversity
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census)
| White: | 71.5% |
| Black or African American:Black or African American: | 2.0% |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native: | 1.1% |
| Asian: | 4.3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: | 1.8% |
| Two or More Races: | 9.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race): | 15.8% |
Economy
(Source:U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Median Household Income: $89,234 (in 2022 dollars)
- Per Capita Income: $42,820 (in 2022 dollars)
- Utah ranked as Best State by US News & World Report for third year in a row
Housing
(Source:U.S. Census Bureau)
- Housing Units: Approximately 450,000 housing units are located in Salt Lake County.
- Homeownership Rate: 63.5%, reflecting a majority of owner-occupied residences.
- Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units: $451,800
- Median Gross Rent: $1,430
Education
(Source: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)
- High School Graduate or Higher: Approximately 91.2% of adults have completed high school or higher education.
- Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: About 38.6% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Graduate or Professional Degree: Approximately 13.1% have attained a graduate or professional degree.
Transportation
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Utah Transit Authority)
- Average Commute Time: 22.4 minutes for workers aged 16 and over.
- Primary Commute Methods:
-
- Drove alone: 66.8%
- Carpool: 10.2%
- Public transit: 2.1%
- Remote work: 17.4%
- Transit Services (UTA):
- TRAX light rail (Blue, Red, Green lines)
- FrontRunner commuter rail (Ogden–Provo)
- Extensive bus network, ski buses, and On Demand zones
- S-Line streetcar (Sugar House to South Salt Lake)
- Midvalley BRT (under development)
- Salt Lake County is well-served by regional transit with growing investment in east-west routes and microtransit.
Visitor Economy - Economic Impact
(Source: Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute)
Salt Lake County’s annual $5.8 billion visitor economy means that taxpayers in the county pay $1,700 less per household annually due to the tourism tax revenue, which in turn strengthens communities by generating funding for essential programs, facilities and jobs.
The visitor economy in Salt Lake County last year supported more than 47,000 jobs in the community, allowing residents to support their families, eat at local restaurants, shop locally and experience Salt Lake’s lively art and culture.
Salt Lake City International Airport
(Source: Deseret News)
- Passenger Traffic: In 2024, the airport served over 28.3 million passengers, a 5.2% increase from the previous year and a new record.
- Infrastructure Expansion: The airport added 22 new gates in 2023, boosting capacity to meet rising demand.
- Consistently ranked as one of the best and most on time airports in the country.
Downtown Salt Lake City Development
(Source: Downtown SLC Economic Benchmark Report, KSL NewsRadio)
- Visitation: In 2023, downtown Salt Lake City logged 20.2 million visits. Visitors (non-residents and non-workers) accounted for 63% of all customer days.
- Residential Growth: The downtown residential population is projected to exceed 20,000 by 2025.
- Hotel Industry: Hotels in the convention district were on track for 1.85 million room nights in 2023 — a 15% increase over the previous year.
Elevation and Climate
(Source: National Weather Service, Salt Lake Station)
Salt Lake City: 4,330 feet (1,320 meters)
Snowbird Base: 8,100 feet (2,469 meters)
Hidden Peak: 11,000 feet (3,353 meters)
Average Daily Temperature
Salt Lake is an arid mountain desert. The air is thin, dry, and ranges between hot and freezing throughout the year. The area does experience four full seasons. (Sometimes they just all hit in one day.)
On average, Salt Lake gets 20 inches of rain per year in addition to 54 inches of snow per year. Typically, there are 222 sunny days each year in Salt Lake.
We strongly suggest dressing in layers no matter what time of year you plan your Salt Lake vacation.
| Month | High | Low |
|---|---|---|
| January | 37.0°F (2.8°C) | 21.3°F (-5.9°C) |
| February | 43.4°F (6.3°C) | 25.5°F (-3.6°C) |
| March | 52.8°F (11.6°C) | 33.4°F (0.8°C) |
| April | 60.9°F (16.1°C) | 39.0°F (3.9°C) |
| May | 70.6°F (21.4°C) | 46.9°F (8.3°C) |
| June | 82.2°F (27.9°C) | 55.8°F (13.2°C) |
| July | 90.6°F (32.6°C) | 63.4°F (17.4°C) |
| August | 88.7°F (31.5°C) | 62.4°F (16.9°C) |
| September | 77.6°F (25.3°C) | 52.4°F (11.3°C) |
| October | 64.0°F (17.8°C) | 41.0°F (5.0°C) |
| November | 48.7°F (9.3°C) | 30.4°F (-0.9°C) |
| December | 38.0°F (3.3°C | 22.4°F (-5.3°C) |
Ski Resorts At a Glance
| Alta Ski Area | 2,200 skiable acres |
| Brighton Ski Resort | 1,050 skiable acres |
| Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort | 2,500 skiable acres |
| Solitude Mountain Resort | 1,200 skiable acres |
| Total Ski City Resorts | 6,950 skiable acres |
Salt Lake resorts receive 500 inches of snow annually.
Mileage to National Parks
| Arches National Park | 232 mi / 376 km |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 270 mi / 437 km |
| Canyonlands National Park | 249 mi / 403 km |
| Capitol Reef National Park | 229 mi / 371 km |
| Grand Canyon National Park | 368 mi / 596 km |
| Yellowstone National Park | 325 mi / 526 km |
| Zion National Park | 350 mi / 567 km |
Convention Center Space
Salt Palace Convention Center
675,000 Square Feet (63,081 square meters)
Exhibit Space: 515,000 Sq. Feet (47,845 sq. meters)
Meeting Space: 164,000 Sq. Feet (15,236 sq. meters)
Ballroom: 45,000 Sq. Feet (4,180 sq. meters)
Mountain America Exposition Center
Exhibit Space: 243,000 Sq. Feet (22,575 sq. meters)
Meeting Space: 15,000 Sq. Feet (1,394 sq. meters)
Hotel Rooms
| Salt Lake County | 20,630 |
| Downtown/Convention District | 8,000 |
| South Valley | 3,133 |
| Mid Valley | 2,551 |
| West Valley | 1,394 |
| Mountains | 1,520 |
| East Bench/City Area | 1,425 |
| Airport | 3,332 |
Sales Tax Rates
(Source: State Tax Commission)
Sales & Use - 7.25%, 7.45% in Murray and 8.75% in Alta
Restaurant - 8.25 - 8.75%, 9.75% in Alta
Rental Car - 16.35%
Transient Room (Hotel) Tax Rates within:
Alta, Salt Lake City, Sandy and West Valley City: 13.82%
Murray and South Salt Lake: 13.52%
Bluffdale, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, South Jordan, and West Jordan: 13.32%
All others: 12.32%
* Transient Room Tax is imposed by a county, city or town on temporary lodging stays of less than 30 consecutive days, and is charged in addition to sales and other applicable taxes.
For additional information on Utah Sales & Use Tax Rates, go here.