Poverty and living standards in Salt Lake City, Utah: official figures
13.6% of residents of Salt Lake City (27,155 people) had incomes below the federal poverty line in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 343rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 12.5%; Utah: 8.5%).
How many children live in poverty in Salt Lake City?
13.2% of children under 18 in Salt Lake City lived below the poverty line in 2020-2024 (4,394 children), 337th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 16.1%; Utah: 8.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate for older people in Salt Lake City?
By age, the poverty rate in Salt Lake City was 15.7% for children under 6 and 11.6% for residents aged 60 and over in 2020-2024 (US: 17.2% and 11.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Salt Lake City live in deep poverty?
13,594 people in Salt Lake City, 6.8% of residents, had incomes below half the poverty line in 2020-2024, 314th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Salt Lake City are cost-burdened?
51.1% of renting households in Salt Lake City spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2020-2024 (24,617 households), 323rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 51.1%; Utah: 47.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Salt Lake City spend half their income on rent?
23.5% of renting households in Salt Lake City spent half or more of their income on rent and utilities, 241st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 25.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people in Salt Lake City are food insecure?
An estimated 15.5% of adults in Salt Lake City experienced food insecurity in the past year, joint 231st lowest of 592 US cities of 50,000 or more with an estimate, and 12.0% housing insecurity (CDC PLACES model-based estimate for 2023, age-adjusted).
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · saved copyHow Salt Lake City compares with other cities in the United States
Residents below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Salt Lake City ranks 343 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 340 | Enid | 13.7% |
| 341 | Salinas | 13.6% |
| 342 | Miami Gardens | 13.6% |
| 343 | Salt Lake City | 13.6% |
| 344 | Richmond | 13.5% |
| 345 | Omaha | 13.5% |
| 346 | Albany | 13.5% |
Children under 18 below the poverty line (2020-2024)
Salt Lake City ranks 487 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Children under 18 below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 484 | Wyoming | 13.2% |
| 485 | Sunrise | 13.2% |
| 486 | Carson City | 13.2% |
| 487 | Salt Lake City | 13.2% |
| 488 | St. George | 13.2% |
| 489 | Auburn | 13.1% |
| 490 | St. Cloud | 13.1% |
Residents with incomes below half the poverty line (2020-2024)
Salt Lake City ranks 314 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents with incomes below half the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 311 | Las Vegas | 6.8% |
| 312 | Springdale | 6.8% |
| 313 | Spokane Valley | 6.8% |
| 314 | Salt Lake City | 6.8% |
| 315 | Sacramento | 6.8% |
| 316 | Phoenix | 6.8% |
| 317 | Santa Maria | 6.8% |
Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent (2020-2024)
Salt Lake City ranks 501 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Renting households spending 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 498 | Newport News | 51.1% |
| 499 | Oakland | 51.1% |
| 500 | Rowlett | 51.1% |
| 501 | Salt Lake City | 51.1% |
| 502 | Encinitas | 51.0% |
| 503 | New Rochelle | 51.0% |
| 504 | League City | 51.0% |
Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) (2023)
Salt Lake City ranks 361 of 592, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults experiencing food insecurity (age-adjusted model estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 358 | Flagstaff | 15.6% |
| 359 | Redlands | 15.6% |
| 360 | South San Francisco | 15.6% |
| 361 | Salt Lake City | 15.5% |
| 362 | Palm Desert | 15.5% |
| 363 | Glendale | 15.4% |
| 364 | Concord | 15.4% |
More on Salt Lake City: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PLACES: Place Data (GIS Friendly Format), 2025 release: model-based age-adjusted prevalence among adults, for every place (data.cdc.gov API, columns used), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b2174bcc660f…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B17020: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Age (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e79a292f34605560506b7f4b5c8ea242c9d6e203c8e95ba675565ddb7758571e), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 41bab025d213…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table C17002: Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 dc3dc675113683ec3ff2a0e29a840f43e03268151d7f14b922658d7306da5187), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 31aa364bfddf…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B25070: Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income in the Past 12 Months (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 862ccc17d913305d11e6f802ce4518d76b30585ea0b05b251cd8cf21f8661386), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4f8d499d9e95…)
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