Signals
Salem
Lehi
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs77 · Top 11%
Growth
84 · Top 2%
vs71 · Top 15%
Climate
58 · Bottom 10%
vs55 · Bottom 6%
Physical resilience
49 · Bottom 42%
vs49 · Bottom 42%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 41%
vs81 · Top 49%
Schools
44 · Bottom 40%
vs69 · Top 28%
Access
97 · Top 23%
vs96 · Top 33%
Economic stability
84 · Top 2%
vs84 · Top 3%
Measured values
| Metric | Salem | Lehi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,324 | 85,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $111,117 | $131,299 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,521 | $43,508 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 854/sq mi | 2,807/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $605,700 | $612,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,592 | $1,964 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 93.7% | 75.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.6% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.0% | 50.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 4.2% | 5.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 673 | 923 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 65.2 | 10.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 6.3% | -1.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 24°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 20.2" | 15.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 16 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 25.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 29.3 | 26.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 25 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 22.35 | 24.55 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 42.0% | 52.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.8% | 50.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 19.5% | 14.2% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Salem
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Lehi
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Full profiles: Salem, UT · Lehi, UT · How this is calculated: methodology