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, Population Estimates, 2018)
Utah Population: 3,161,105
Salt Lake County Population: 1,152,633
Salt Lake City Population: 200,591
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, 3-Year Population Estimates, 2018)
| White: | 70.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race): | 18.6% |
| Black or African American:Black or African American: | 2.2% |
| American Indian or Alaskan Native: | 1.4% |
| Asian: | 4.6% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: | 1.7% |
| Two or More Races: | 2.9% |
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.
2018 Economic Impact
(Source: Visit Salt Lake 2018 Annual Report)
Salt Lake Hotel Revenues: $586.838 million
Salt Lake Tourism Impact: $1.519 billion
Economic Impact of VSL Meetings & Conventions Bookings: $313 million