Phoenix, AZ vs Salt Lake City, UT
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | PhoenixPhoenix, AZ | Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City, UT | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | Same |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
9 mi is the distance from Phoenix, AZ to its nearest large city, while Salt Lake City, UT is 580 mi from one, a 571 mi difference that places Phoenix in the 9th percentile and Salt Lake City in the 76th percentile for this metric in 2023 Census figures. Phoenix also sits 113 mi from an international border (12th percentile) versus Salt Lake City’s 569 mi (79th percentile), and its 163 mi to a coastline (38th percentile) contrasts with Salt Lake City’s 579 mi (75th percentile). Average household size is 2.7 in Phoenix (73rd percentile) and 2.2 in Salt Lake City (18th percentile), a 21% larger figure.
Salt Lake City’s state and local tax burden of 12.1% (79th percentile) is 2.6 points higher than Phoenix’s 9.5% (34th percentile). The average commute in Phoenix is 25.7 minutes (65th percentile), 6 minutes longer than Salt Lake City’s 19.6 minutes (25th percentile). Bachelor’s degree or higher attainment stands at 50.9% in Salt Lake City (81st percentile), 18.6 points above Phoenix’s 32.3% (50th percentile).
Median home values differ by 30%, with Salt Lake City at $495,700 (82nd percentile) and Phoenix at $381,900 (69th percentile). Violent crime per 100,000 people is 694 in Phoenix (93rd percentile) and 857 in Salt Lake City (97th percentile), a 23% higher rate. Property crime per 100,000 people is 2,036 in Phoenix (78th percentile) and 4,753 in Salt Lake City (99th percentile), 2.3 times higher.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 12967th pctl | 14073rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Phoenix, AZ 129; Salt Lake City, UT 140; Salt Lake City is 9% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $381,90069th pctl | $495,70082nd pctl | Median home value: Phoenix, AZ $381,900; Salt Lake City, UT $495,700; Salt Lake City is 30% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,45868th pctl | $1,34360th pctl | Median rent: Phoenix, AZ $1,458; Salt Lake City, UT $1,343; Phoenix is 9% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $77,04155th pctl | $74,92553rd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $74,19770th pctl | $96,30584th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Phoenix, AZ $74,197; Salt Lake City, UT $96,305; Salt Lake City is 30% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $109,06970th pctl | $141,56984th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Phoenix, AZ $109,069; Salt Lake City, UT $141,569; Salt Lake City is 30% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Phoenix, AZ B-; Salt Lake City, UT D; Phoenix is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Salt Lake City needs about
$81,400
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 129 vs 140). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 3.3%34th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +2.1%78th pctl | +1.1%50th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Phoenix, AZ +2.1%; Salt Lake City, UT +1.1%; Phoenix is 1.0 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $40,30958th pctl | $49,64277th pctl | Per-capita income: Phoenix, AZ $40,309; Salt Lake City, UT $49,642; Salt Lake City is 23% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 14.3%63rd pctl | 13.4%59th pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 25.7 min65th pctl | 19.6 min25th pctl | Average commute: Phoenix, AZ 25.7 min; Salt Lake City, UT 19.6 min; Phoenix is 6 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 16.9%76th pctl | 18.5%80th pctl | Work from home: Phoenix, AZ 16.9%; Salt Lake City, UT 18.5%; Salt Lake City is 1.6 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 69493rd pctl | 85797th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Phoenix, AZ 694; Salt Lake City, UT 857; Salt Lake City is 23% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,03678th pctl | 4,75399th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Phoenix, AZ 2,036; Salt Lake City, UT 4,753; Salt Lake City is 2.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | ModerateCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Air quality: Phoenix, AZ B-; Salt Lake City, UT A-; Salt Lake City is graded higher. |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Phoenix, AZ C+; Salt Lake City, UT A+; Salt Lake City is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
4 rows not shown (data not available)
4 rows not shown: climate comfort isn't available for Salt Lake City, UT; broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Phoenix, AZ B-; Salt Lake City, UT D; Phoenix is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | lowState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | A-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | B+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | BState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Self-sufficientState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 9 mi9th pctl | 580 mi76th pctl | Nearest large city: Phoenix, AZ 9 mi; Salt Lake City, UT 580 mi; Salt Lake City is 571 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Phoenix, AZ C+; Salt Lake City, UT D; Phoenix is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 113 mi12th pctl | 569 mi79th pctl | Distance to international border: Phoenix, AZ 113 mi; Salt Lake City, UT 569 mi; Salt Lake City is 5.0 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 163 mi38th pctl | 579 mi75th pctl | Distance to coastline: Phoenix, AZ 163 mi; Salt Lake City, UT 579 mi; Salt Lake City is 3.6 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Exposed | Strategic location: Phoenix, AZ D; Salt Lake City, UT C+; Salt Lake City is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Salt Lake City, UT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,624,832100th pctl | 203,88895th pctl | Population: Phoenix, AZ 1,624,832; Salt Lake City, UT 203,888; Phoenix is 8.0 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,13479th pctl | 1,83956th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Phoenix, AZ 3,134; Salt Lake City, UT 1,839; Phoenix is 70% higher. |
| Median age | 34.824th pctl | 3315th pctl | Median age: Phoenix, AZ 34.8; Salt Lake City, UT 33; Phoenix is 1.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3%50th pctl | 50.9%81st pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Phoenix, AZ 32.3%; Salt Lake City, UT 50.9%; Salt Lake City is 18.6 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.773rd pctl | 2.218th pctl | Average household size: Phoenix, AZ 2.7; Salt Lake City, UT 2.2; Phoenix is 21% larger. |
More about Phoenix's residents · Salt Lake City's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | PhoenixPhoenix, AZ | Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+1 | R+10 |
| 2024 presidential | R +3.1 pts | R +20.0 pts |
Full politics data: Phoenix · Salt Lake City
Moving between Phoenix and Salt Lake City
- Median rent: $1,458 in Phoenix, $1,343 in Salt Lake City
- Median home value: $381,900 in Phoenix, $495,700 in Salt Lake City
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 129 in Phoenix, 140 in Salt Lake City
- Median household income: $77,041 in Phoenix, $74,925 in Salt Lake City
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $109,069 in Phoenix, $141,569 in Salt Lake City
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Phoenix, 3.3% in Salt Lake City
- Average commute: 25.7 min in Phoenix, 19.6 min in Salt Lake City
- Violent crime per 100k: 694 in Phoenix, 857 in Salt Lake City
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More places like Phoenix and Salt Lake City
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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