Cottonwood Heights, UT

Census place 4916270 · pop 32,828

D57/ 100
😐 Meh
D
in UT
📍 Utah ranks #10 of 50 states →
🏆 Smoking6.8% · top 3%
🚽 Bad air43 days · bottom 7%
💡 Did you know?

Nicknamed the "City Between the Canyons," sitting at the mouths of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and their world-class ski resorts.

Source ↗
Taxes
0.52% property · US 0.99%7.42% sales · US 7.00%4.50% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level43 days7

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

43 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$694,10010

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$694,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Population growth (5yr)-3.5%13

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-3.5% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Natural disaster riskCounty-level99/10013

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Air quality (AQI)County-level54 AQI14

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

54 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,858/mo43

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$1,858/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Income inequality0.4263

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Commute time22 min64

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

22 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Poor mental health15.7%70

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate7.6%72

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

7.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Uninsured adults7.4%72

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.4% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Homeownership72.4%73

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

72.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unemployment rateCounty-level3.1%75

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

3.1% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Broadband access94.8%76

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

94.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult obesity27.8%84

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

27.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Bachelor's degree or higher53.8%86

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

53.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Median household income$119,42286

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$119,422 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Property-tax burden0.52%89

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.52% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Physical inactivity15.7%94

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

15.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking6.8%97

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

6.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Not measured for Cottonwood Heights: Crime, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Cottonwood Heights, UT a good place to live?
By the numbers, Cottonwood Heights scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is adult smoking and its weakest is unhealthy air days. Utah overall ranks #10 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Cottonwood Heights, UT expensive to live in?
Cottonwood Heights has a median home value of $694,100 and typical rent around $1,858/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Cottonwood Heights, UT?
Its weakest measured area is unhealthy air days (43 days) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Cottonwood Heights, UT best at?
Its strongest measured area is adult smoking (6.8%) — 97/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Nicknamed the "City Between the Canyons," sitting at the mouths of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and their world-class ski resorts.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.