In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in Salt Lake City is $620,100 (Census ACS 2024; owner estimates, not sale prices). The FHFA House Price Index shows Utah prices up 1.1% and Salt Lake City–Murray prices up 0.2% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026. Utah has no real estate transfer tax. Selling a main home you owned and lived in for 2 of the last 5 years, the first $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) is excluded from federal income tax (IRS Publication 523).
Calculate for Salt Lake City
In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Salt Lake City is $620,100, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, against $545,200 for Utah. Between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026, the FHFA index for the Salt Lake City–Murray area rose 0.2%. Salt Lake City is in Salt Lake County.
How much homes cost in Salt Lake City
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for. The median of those answers is a useful benchmark, but it is not a sale price: it covers every owner-occupied home, including homes bought long ago. Our page on Utah home prices explains the method in detail.
| Area | Median value, 2024 (ACS) | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| City of Salt Lake City | $620,100 | ±$24,177 |
| Salt Lake County | $583,600 | ±$8,645 |
| Salt Lake City–Murray metro area | $575,200 | ±$8,465 |
| Utah | $545,200 | ±$6,188 |
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077. The 2025 estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.
Are Salt Lake City prices rising?
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) tracks repeat sales of the same single-family homes. Its purchase-only, seasonally adjusted index for the Salt Lake City–Murray metro area, published August 25, 2026, shows:
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City–Murray metro area | +0.2% | +22.7% |
| Utah | +1.1% | +24.0% |
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
Source: FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only files. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.
Prices in the Salt Lake City area were almost flat over the past year, after a gain of more than a fifth over five years.
Costs on top of the price
Buyers and sellers pay closing costs: lender fees, the appraisal, escrow and recording fees, and title insurance. Several depend on the loan and on the providers you choose. For the rules, who usually pays each item and a worked example, see our guide to closing costs in Utah and the page on transfer tax in Utah.
The yearly cost of owning depends on the property tax rates that apply at your address. We do not recalculate them here: our Utah property tax guide explains how the tax is set and how to appeal.
Help for Salt Lake County homeowners
The Salt Lake County Treasurer’s Office lists property tax relief programs for qualified homeowners: Circuit Breaker abatement for eligible elderly homeowners on their primary residence, Indigent Relief, Hardship Relief, Veteran Relief for disabled veterans, and Blind Relief. Eligibility rules are set by the Treasurer’s Office; check them before you rely on a program.
For help with the purchase itself, HUD’s Utah page lists Utah Housing Corporation, (801) 902-8200, and HUD Approved Housing Counselors, (800) 569-4287. See first-time buyer programs in Utah for what we could and could not confirm.
Utah guides for Salt Lake City buyers
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Salt Lake City?
The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the city of Salt Lake City at $620,100 (±$24,177). This is what owners think their home is worth, not the median sale price of recent sales.
Are home prices in Salt Lake City going down?
According to the FHFA purchase-only index, prices in the Salt Lake City–Murray area rose 0.2% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, which is almost flat. Over five years, they rose 22.7%.
Is Salt Lake City more expensive than the rest of Utah?
By the ACS median, yes: $620,100 in the city against $545,200 statewide and $583,600 in Salt Lake County. The city figure has a wide margin of error (±$24,177).
Which county is Salt Lake City in?
Salt Lake County. Its Treasurer’s Office runs the property tax relief programs listed above.
Where can a first-time buyer in Salt Lake City get help?
HUD’s Utah page lists Utah Housing Corporation, the Federal Home Loan Bank’s homebuyer programs and HUD Approved Housing Counselors. Our first-time buyer page explains what we could verify.
More Utah guides
- Closing costs in Utah: what buyers and sellers pay
- Real estate transfer tax in Utah: is there one?
- How Utah property tax works and the 45% residential exemption
- Seller disclosure requirements in Utah: what sellers must tell
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Utah?
- How does foreclosure work in Utah, and how long does it take?
- Home prices in Utah and Salt Lake City: median value and trend
- First-time home buyer programs in Utah: where to look for help
- How to verify a real estate license in Utah (5 professions)
Sources
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 ACS Data Release Schedule (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA House Price Index datasets, quarterly purchase-only indexes (state, metro) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Assistance Programs & Services, tax relief programs (Salt Lake County) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- Utah state information: homeownership and homebuyer assistance (HUD) (consulted October 13, 2026)