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County in Utah

Salt Lake County, Utah

With 1,196,523 residents, Salt Lake County is the most populous county in Utah. In Salt Lake County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $637,100, and a typical home is worth $525,700. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,615 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $31.06 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $525,700

    +7% vs. Utah +58% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Salt Lake
    • Utah
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,615 a month

    +8% vs. Utah −8% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Salt Lake
    • Utah
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $637,100

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Salt Lake
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.54% of value per year

    +4% vs. Utah −43% vs. U.S.

    $2,836 a year for the typical owner

    • Salt Lake
    • Utah
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$567,330
1.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,644 a month
0.8% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Salt Lake County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $4,185 a month: 52% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $179,352 a year; the typical income here is $97,494. This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

There are 2 agencies with HUD-approved housing counselors who speak Spanish near here.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (2026 data); HUD (Retrieved November 6, 2026).

Only here

What sets Salt Lake County apart

  1. Salt Lake County has the 2nd lowest homeownership rate of the 29 counties in Utah (66%).

  2. Nearby, in Weber County, the typical home value is $426,700: 19% less than in Salt Lake County ($525,700).

  3. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Salt Lake County rose 51% on FHFA's index, about the same as in Utah (53%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Salt Lake County

What homes there are in Salt Lake County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Salt Lake County (60%), but less so than in Utah (67%).

Year built

The typical home in Salt Lake County was built in 1986, 6 years before the typical one in Utah.

There are fewer big homes in Salt Lake County than in Utah: 65% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 72%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 64% of owner-occupied homes in Salt Lake County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($637,100); the rest are worth more.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 51% of rented homes in Salt Lake County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this county ($1,615); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$2,124 a month

Utah: $2,009 a month

Without a mortgage

$609 a month

Utah: $564 a month

Owners with a mortgage

70%

Utah: 69%

In Salt Lake County, 70% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,124 a month, against $2,009 in Utah. Without one it drops to $609.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Salt Lake County rose 72% since 2015–2019, less than in Utah (75%).

Much as in Utah, the typical rent in Salt Lake County rose 42% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Salt Lake County rose 30%: less than home values (+72%) and rent (+42%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSalt Lake CountyUtahUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.5%5.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 0.6%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.0%3.1%3.4%
People per household 2.772.972.53
Drive alone 65%67%69%
Carpool 10%10%9%
Public transit 2%2%3%
Walk or bike 2%3%3%
Work from home 20%18%15%
Other means 1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes

In Salt Lake County, the rental vacancy rate is 5.5%, about the same as in Utah.

More than one person per room: that is how 3.0% of households in Salt Lake County live, near the figure in Utah (3.1%).

On average, a household in Salt Lake County has 2.77 people, fewer than in Utah (2.97).

In Salt Lake County, 65% of workers drive alone to work; in Utah, 67%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Salt Lake County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $525,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income here, which is $97,494 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $179,352 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Salt Lake County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $18,400 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$4,185

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$516,178
Total interest
$742,659
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $8,878 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,275 a month

  • Tight

    $2,275 to $2,925 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,925 a month

    Your payment · 52%

Compared with the typical household income in Salt Lake County ($97,494 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,185
Principal & interest$3,497
Property tax$237
Home insurance$219
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$233

You need at least $18,400 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Salt Lake County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Salt Lake County compares with Utah and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Salt Lake County rose 120% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Utah United States
In 2025 +2.6% +2.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +51% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +120% +121% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Salt Lake County compared with Utah and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Salt Lake $525,700
  • Utah $489,400
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Salt Lake $1,592
  • Utah $1,496
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Salt Lake $97,494
  • Utah $95,166
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Salt Lake compared with Utah and the United States
MeasureHereUtahU.S.
Residents1,196,5233,392,331334,922,499
Typical home value$525,700$489,400$332,700
Typical household income$97,494$95,166$80,734
Typical rent$1,592$1,496$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,615$1,493$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$31.06$28.71$33.65
Typical property tax$2,836$2,525$3,119
Effective tax rate0.54%0.52%0.94%
Households that own their home66%70%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent49%47%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$637,100$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Utah shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Salt Lake County

For a typical $525,700 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $4,185 $18,400 $516,178 7.18% FHA MIP · $233 $34,171 580
Conventional, 5% down $4,089 $26,285 $499,415 7.18% PMI · $250 $42,056 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,305 $105,140 $420,560 7.18% None $120,911 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,791 $78,855 $446,845 8.18% None $94,626 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

Everything about buying in Salt Lake County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in Salt Lake County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Salt Lake City-Murray, UT). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $637,100 $832,750
2 units $815,600 $1,066,250
3 units $985,900 $1,288,800
4 units $1,225,200 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Salt Lake County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Salt Lake County, the typical owner pays $2,836 a year: about 0.54% of the home's value. That is close to the rest of Utah and less than the national average.

  • Salt Lake 0.54%
  • Utah 0.52%
  • United States 0.94%

What Utah publishes Primary residential exemption (45 percent of value) (Utah State Legislature (Utah Code))

Exemptions and deadlines in Utah

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Salt Lake County 0.6% of homes (1,899) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 16% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Salt Lake County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Salt Lake County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in Salt Lake County as relatively high.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

The loss FEMA expects each year in Salt Lake County from all natural hazards is $622 million, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is earthquake, at about $206 million in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. EarthquakeRelatively high $206 million a year
  2. Inland floodingRelatively moderate $79.2 million a year
  3. WildfireRelatively high $23.9 million a year
  4. TornadoRelatively moderate $1.2 million a year
  5. Winter weatherVery high $62,107 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Salt Lake County in zone 5B: cold.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal air leaks and add insulation in the attic: ENERGY STAR says it lowers the chance of ice dams on the roof in snowy climates. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Put clear plastic film over the windows: it is inexpensive, cuts drafts, helps the house feel warmer in winter and reduces moisture on the glass. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$30.11$20.81 and $42.61
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$31.15$23.02 and $42.46
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$29.23$18.45 and $40.00
Roofers$23.18$16.87 and $34.65
Carpenters$28.78$17.56 and $36.32
Painters, construction and maintenance$23.20$18.46 and $31.62
Maintenance and repair workers, general$25.31$18.07 and $37.88

According to BLS, an electrician earns about $30.11 an hour in the Salt Lake City-Murray, UT area; a plumber, about $31.15.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Salt Lake County

The typical rent in Salt Lake County is $1,592 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

49% of renter households in Salt Lake County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 22% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,202 $23.12 $48,080
1 bedroom $1,349 $25.94 $53,960
2 bedrooms $1,615 $31.06 $64,600
3 bedrooms $2,143 $41.21 $85,720
4 bedrooms $2,439 $46.90 $97,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Salt Lake County

Programs and counseling in Salt Lake County

There are 2 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Salt Lake County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Utah down payment programs

  1. Utah Housing Down Payment Assistance Second Mortgage

    Utah state agency second mortgage for the down payment or closing costs alongside its first mortgage: up to 6% of the loan with monthly payments, or up to 3.5% at 3.5% with deferred interest and no payments; capped at $27,500

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Utah Housing Corporation (UHC).

    RepayableDeferred Verified November 5, 2026

  2. First-time Homebuyer Assistance Program

    Utah state loan, run by Utah Housing, of up to $20,000 with no interest or monthly payments for the down payment, closing costs or a lower rate; only for first-time buyers of a newly built home with a Utah Housing mortgage

    First-time buyers only. Run by Utah Housing Corporation (UHC).

    Deferred Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Utah programs

Help in Spanish in Salt Lake County

1 of the 2 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (801) 284-4400
  • Housing Authority of Salt Lake City Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (801) 487-2161

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in Salt Lake County. The full list is on the Utah counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Community Development Corporation of Utah

    501 E 1700 S, Salt Lake City · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    801-994-7222x200

  • Utah State University-Salt Lake County Extension

    2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City

    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (385) 468-4830
See every agency in Utah

Places

Cities in Salt Lake County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

See all 19 cities of Salt Lake County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Salt Lake County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Salt Lake County in 2026?

Salt Lake County has an FHA limit of $637,100 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $815,600, for 3 it's $985,900 and for 4 it's $1,225,200. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in Salt Lake County?

Salt Lake County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Salt Lake County?

The typical home value in Salt Lake County is $525,700 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Utah it's $489,400.

How much does it cost to rent in Salt Lake County?

Salt Lake County has a typical rent of $1,592 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,615 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Salt Lake County?

About $31.06 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $64,600 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,615 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).