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Demographics / Taxes

Demographics
Population
Demographic Statistics
Tax Structure

Demographics
Ask a newcomer to describe Utah residents and you'll hear words like friendly, industrious, and young. Ask Utah economists to describe Utah's population and they'll say healthy.

Utah is the fourth fastest-growing state in the nation and ranks 34th in the nation in population. The state's rapid growth is attributed to both the area's high birth rate and to in-migration. 

Population
Utah's population reached 2,233,169 in 2000. This was an increase of 510,319 people since 1990. With a growth rate of 29.6 percent, Utah is the fourth fastest growing state in the nation. The majority of new Utahns (58 percent) are born here. Migration accounts for the rest of the growth (42 percent). With Utah's young population and high fertility rates, fast growth should continue. Some projections put Utah at close to three million people in the next 15 years. 

Like other states in the American Southwest, Utah is growing more racially and ethnically diverse-especially in its largest cities. For example, the number of Utahns claiming Hispanic or Latino ethnicity grew 138 percent in the last ten years. Nearly one in every ten Utahns is now Hispanic. Excluding those who identified themselves in the census only as being from "some other race" or as being from "two or more races", the state's next largest racial minority was Asian, followed by American Indians and Alaska Natives, African Americans, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Salt Lake City makes up a relatively small portion of the Salt Lake Valley. While Salt Lake County covers approximately 737 square miles, Salt Lake City covers only 111.1 square miles. Salt Lake City is the largest city in the state and has a population of 181,743. Salt Lake County's population is 898,387, making it the most populous region in Utah. 

Overall, Utah is expected to continue to have the youngest population in the nation. Utah's median age in 2000 was 27.1 years, well below the national figure of 35.3 years. 

Utah is first in the nation in the number of persons per household at 3.13, compared to the national average of 2.59. In addition, Utah's persons per family are 3.57, compared to the national figure of 3.14. 

Demographic Statistics
All area codes are 801 unless otherwise noted.

Salt Lake County
Population: 898,387
County Commission: 2001 S. State, 84190, 468.3519
Library: Whitmore Library (main branch), 2197 E. Ft. Union Blvd., 84121, 943.4636
School Districts: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84115, 263.6100, just one of the county's many school districts. 

Salt Lake City
Population: 181,743
City Hall: 451 S. State, 84111, 535.7600
Post Office: 1760 W. 2100 S., 84199, (main branch), 974.2200
Library: 209 E. 500 S. (main branch), 84111, 524.8200 
School District: Salt Lake, 440 E. 100 S., 84111, 578.8599

Alta
Population: 370
City Hall: Alta Town Office, P.O. Box 8016, 84092-8016, 742.3522
Post Office: 9265 South Highland Drive, 84090, 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

Bluffdale
Population: 4,700
City Hall: 14175 S. Redwood Rd. 84065, 254.2200
Post Office: 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

Draper
Population: 25,220
City Hall: 12441 S. 900 E., 84020, 576.6500
Post Office: 650 East 12300 South, 84020, 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

Midvale
Population: 27,029
City Hall: 7912 South Main, 84047, 567.7200
Post Office: 35 West Center Street, 84047, 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

Murray
Population: 34,024
City Hall: 5025 S. State, 84107, 264.2664
Post Office: 4989 South State Street, 84107, 800.275.8777
School District: Murray, 147 E. 5065 S., 84107, 264.7400

North Salt Lake
Population: 8,749
City Hall: 20 S. US Hwy. 89, 84054, 936.3877
Post Office: 345 North US Highway 89, 84010, 800.275.8777
School District: Davis County, 45 E. State St., Farmington, 84025, 402.5267

Riverton
Population: 25,011
City Hall: 12765 S. 1400 W., Riverton, 84065, 254.0704
Post Office: 1849 West 12600 South, 84065, 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

Sandy
Population: 88,418* 
City Hall: 10000 Centennial Parkway, 84070, 568.7100
Post Office: 8850 South 700 East, 84070, 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100
[*At the time this was updated on www.saltlakechamber.org, Sandy was contesting the Census count. Previous estimates had placed Sandy's population at 101,531.]

South Jordan
Population: 29,437
City Hall: 11175 S. Redwood Rd., 84095, 254.3742
Post Office: 10102 South Redwood Rd., 84095, 254.0322
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

South Salt Lake
Population: 22,038
City Hall: 220 East Morris Avenue, 84115, 483.6000
Post Office: 3161 S. W. Temple, 84115, 800.275.8777
School District: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84115-4697, 263.6100

Taylorsville
Population: 57,439
City Hall: 2520 W. 4700 S., Suite A2, 84118, 963.5400
Post Office: 5495 S. 4015 W., 84118, 800.275.8777
School District: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84115-4697, 263.6100

West Jordan
Population: 68,336
City Hall: 8000 S. Redwood Rd., 84084, 569.5000
Post Office: 7901 S. 3200 W., 84088, 800.275.8777
School District: Jordan, 9361 S. 300 E., Sandy, 84070, 567.8100

West Valley City
Population: 108,896
City Hall: 3600 S. Constitution Blvd., 84119, 966.3600
Post Office: 3490 S. 4400 W., 84120, 800.275.8777
School District: Granite, 340 E. 3545 S., 84111-4697, 263.6100


Tax Structure
General Property Tax: Property taxes are levied at the state and local level, based on assessed valuations established by elected county assessors and, in the case of certain properties, by the State Tax Commission's Property Tax Division. The amount of taxes paid is based on the tax rate applied against the taxable value of the property. Tax rates are set by local entities (counties and towns, school districts, and special taxing districts) and approved by the Property Tax Division. Effective tax rates ranged from 0.87 percent of market value on residential property to 1.2 percent on fee-in-lieu personal property in 2000.

State Income Tax: This tax is based on federal taxable income after deducting one-half of federal tax. Utah has a graduated tax rate up to a 7 percent rate on taxable incomes greater than $7,500. 

Sales and Use Tax: Utah has a sales and use tax for retail sales of tangible personal property and select services such as admissions to places of amusement, intrastate transportation service, hotel and motel accommodations, and certain other goods and services. Rates for sales and use tax within each municipality vary between 5.75 percent and 7.0 percent of purchase price. Additional local sales taxes for specific goods also exist. The restaurant tax is an additional 1 percent. The motor vehicle rental tax of 2.5 percent is applied statewide with an additional tax of 3 percent in Duchesne, Grand and Uinta counties and 7 percent in Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Sevier, Washington, and Weber counties.

Local taxes, in addition to sales taxes from room rates, vary from 3 to 4.5 percent. Municipal energy sales and use tax rates, when charged, varies from 1 percent to 6 percent. A general sales tax of up to 1.5 percent is applied in 12 resort communities.

Corporate Franchise Tax: The state of Utah taxes all corporations' net income, which has been determined by law to be allocable to the state. Utah has the three factors-sales, payroll and property-to equally apportion federal taxable income. The corporate franchise tax rate is 5 percent of net taxable income. Minimum tax for state banks and corporations is $100. 

Unemployment Compensation: Employers must pay on the first $21,400of wages paid to each employee during the calendar year. Unemployment tax rates vary from 0.1 percent to 8.1 percent of taxable payroll, depending on unemployment experience and type of industry. 

Tax Considerations and Exemptions: Utah's free port law is among the most liberal inventory tax laws in the country. Goods used by retailers, wholesalers, or manufacturers for processing and sale in Utah are exempt from ad valorem taxes.

Salt Lake, a customs port city, offers a foreign trade zone. The service allows duties to be deferred or reduced.

Motor vehicles have a uniform fee in lieu of property tax based on the model year of the vehicle. The fee ranges from $10 to $150, depending on the age of the vehicle. 

For more information on Utah tax rates, go to the Utah State Tax Commission.

updated 02-15-02