By SLC Senior Advisor Care Team · October 18, 2026
Census Bureau estimates put Salt Lake County's 65+ population at 158,727 on July 1, 2025, up from 135,212 in mid-2020 (+17%), while total population grew about 3%. Tooele County's 65+ population grew about 27%. The county has 14,992 residents 85 and older, the group most likely to need daily help.
The numbers
The Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 county estimates by age show a steady shift in the valley's age profile. Salt Lake County remains younger than the nation, with a median age of 34.4, but its older population is growing far faster than its total population.
| County | 65+ in 2020 | 65+ in 2025 | Change | Share 65+ (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake | 135,212 | 158,727 | +17% | 13.0% |
| Tooele | 6,952 | 8,802 | +27% | 10.1% |
| Davis (for comparison) | – | 47,019 | – | 12.3% |
| Utah County (for comparison) | – | 67,099 | – | 8.8% |
Figures are July 1 estimates. Salt Lake County's total population rose from about 1.19 million to 1.22 million over the same period.
Where growth is happening
City-level age data is not part of the Census population estimates, but total population estimates show where people are moving. Grantsville, Magna, Tooele, Herriman, Bluffdale and South Jordan grew fastest between 2020 and 2025, while several established cities such as Taylorsville, Sandy and Cottonwood Heights lost population.
The two trends point in different directions. The fastest-growing cities skew young and have few licensed senior care settings; the older, stable cities on the east side and in the central valley are where many long-time homeowners are aging in place.
What it means for licensed capacity
Utah's DLBC lists 69 assisted living licenses with 4,439 beds and 36 nursing care facilities with about 3,170 beds in Salt Lake and Tooele counties. Against roughly 167,500 residents 65 and older in the two counties, that is about 27 assisted living beds per 1,000 older residents, a rough ratio that ignores age mix, private homes and people who move in from elsewhere.
Eleven of the 69 assisted living licenses were first regulated in 2020 or later, so new supply has been added, but not at the pace of the older population. Families should expect good buildings to have waiting lists, especially for secure memory care units.
The 85-and-older group
The estimates count 14,992 Salt Lake County residents aged 85 and older. That group is the most likely to need help with daily activities, to live alone after a spouse's death, and to need memory care. It is also the group most families are planning for when they start searching.
Why the older population is growing so fast
Two forces drive the trend. Large generations born in the late 1940s through the early 1960s are moving into their late 60s and 70s, and people are living longer. Utah's young median age masks that shift because families with children keep the overall population young, but the number of older residents is rising in absolute terms year after year.
The 85-and-older group grows more slowly at first and then quickly, as today's 75-year-olds age. That is the group whose needs drive demand for assisted living and memory care.
What the numbers do not show
County estimates do not show how many older adults live alone, how many have dementia or how many rely on family caregivers. They also do not show where people will choose to live; many retirees move closer to adult children, which can shift demand from one city to another in a few years.
Use the figures as context, not as a forecast for any single facility. The questions that matter for a family are still specific: what help does my parent need, which licensed settings near family can provide it, and how will we pay for it?
Housing stock and aging in place
Much of the valley's older housing is single-family homes with stairs, basements and long driveways. Those homes work well for families and less well for people with limited mobility, especially in winter. Home modifications, such as grab bars, a main-floor bedroom or a stair lift, can extend how long a parent stays home; the Aging Waiver lists environmental accessibility adaptations among its services for eligible people.
Planning steps for families
Start earlier than feels necessary. Put legal documents in place, learn the difference between Type I and Type II assisted living, and apply for programs with waiting lists, such as the Aging Waiver, before they are urgent. Tour two or three places even if a move is a year away; it makes a later decision faster and calmer.
Our city pages show licensed options in each city alongside its population trend, and the directory covers every license in both counties.
Frequently asked questions
How many seniors live in Salt Lake County?
Census Bureau estimates count 158,727 residents 65 and older on July 1, 2025.
Is Salt Lake County's older population growing?
Yes, by about 17% between mid-2020 and mid-2025, compared with about 3% growth in total population.
How many assisted living beds are there?
DLBC lists 4,439 licensed assisted living beds across 69 licenses in Salt Lake and Tooele counties.
Which cities are growing fastest?
Among the cities we cover, Grantsville, Magna, Tooele, Herriman and Bluffdale grew fastest between 2020 and 2025 in Census estimates.
Where do these population figures come from?
From the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 county population estimates by age and its incorporated-place totals, both published on census.gov.
