Housing decision brief
Utah County, UT Housing Market
Utah County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
26th lowest home value out of 29 Utah counties with data | 23rd lowest rent out of 29
Median home value
$489,200
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,441/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,720/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
5.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
28.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$279/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
28.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
What to Check
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- No strong fit signal was available in the current dataset.
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Utah County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $489,200 | $350,900 | $281,900 | 39% pressure39% above Utah county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,441 | $1,018 | $1,163 | 42% pressure42% above Utah county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,720 | $1,081 | $1,672 | 59% pressure59% above Utah county median |
Median household income | $96,877 | $75,000 | $74,755 | 29% favorable29% above Utah county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.46% | 0.49% | 1.02% | 7% favorable7% below Utah county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 28.00% | 25.00% | N/A | 12% pressure28.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$39,237
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$23,163
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Utah County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $1,441/month representing approximately 17.8% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 28.0%.
Rent vs own
Renters in Utah County pay $1,441/month on average, compared to $1,720/month for homeowners. This market favors renters by about 16%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $57,640/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $73,714/year. With a median household income of $96,877, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 28.0% of renter households in Utah County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Utah County sits 3% less expensive than Morgan County ($1,493/month) in terms of median gross rent.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County, UT | $484,500 | $1,493/mo | Same-state comparison near $484,500 home value and $1,493/mo rent. |
| Davis County, UT | $470,500 | $1,516/mo | Same-state comparison near $470,500 home value and $1,516/mo rent. |
| Washington County, UT | $465,600 | $1,464/mo | Same-state comparison near $465,600 home value and $1,464/mo rent. |
| Rappahannock County, VA | $490,200 | $1,384/mo | Out-of-state peer near $490,200 home value and $1,384/mo rent. |
| Weber County, UT | $389,200 | $1,269/mo | Same-state comparison near $389,200 home value and $1,269/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Utah County
Is Utah County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Utah County?
How much income do you need for housing in Utah County?
What should I double-check before moving to Utah County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.