1st Advantage MortgageIn Carbon County, Utah, the typical household earns $58,377 a year and the typical rent is $870. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Carbon County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Carbon County
- Household income in Carbon County
- The Carbon County job picture
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Carbon County
- More Carbon County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Carbon County
- Room for a loan payment in Carbon County
- Before you sign
- Utah rules that apply in Carbon County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Carbon County at a glance
Carbon County is home to about 20,517 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 29 county-level areas in Utah. It covers 1,479 square miles of land, or about 14 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Carbon County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Carbon County, Price leads by population with about 8,248; 5 of the 10 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Carbon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $870 in Carbon County versus $1,496 statewide. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $228,500, a typical Carbon County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. Half the housing stock was built before 1972.
| Housing | Carbon County | Utah statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $870/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $228,500 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Household income in Carbon County
At $58,377, the typical Carbon County household income is 11% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 27 Utah counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Carbon County | +/- vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.1% | +17.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.3% | +7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -15.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -9.7 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.0%, 9 points higher than the state's 8.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.443 here. A household earning below the $58,377 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
The Carbon County job picture
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.9% in Carbon County. About 78% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Carbon County | Difference from Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +4.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.2 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Duchesne County is closest, 43 miles from center to center; the sixth, Utah County, is 65 miles off. Wasatch County leads the group on income ($117,608), Sanpete County trails ($70,083), and Carbon County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | - | $58,377 | $870/mo | 68% |
| Duchesne County, UT | 43 mi | $78,445 | $1,009/mo | 79% |
| Emery County, UT | 46 mi | $74,291 | $739/mo | 80% |
| Wasatch County, UT | 55 mi | $117,608 | $2,000/mo | 80% |
| Sanpete County, UT | 57 mi | $70,083 | $954/mo | 74% |
| Uintah County, UT | 65 mi | $73,746 | $941/mo | 74% |
| Utah County, UT | 65 mi | $100,671 | $1,541/mo | 68% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Carbon County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Carbon County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 17,795 residents, leaving about 13% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,991 in East Carbon to $86,583 in West Wood. Live in one of these Carbon County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | city | 8,248 | $53,203 | $855 | 12 mi |
| Helper | city | 2,698 | $56,875 | $846 | 14 mi |
| Carbonville | CDP | 1,636 | $67,193 | $793 | 13 mi |
| Wellington | city | 1,624 | $61,466 | $888 | 12 mi |
| East Carbon | city | 1,336 | $37,991 | $1,010 | 13 mi |
| Spring Glen | CDP | 1,157 | $52,386 | $847 | 14 mi |
| West Wood | CDP | 962 | $86,583 | $1,509 | 14 mi |
| Kenilworth | CDP | 127 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Scofield | town | 7 | n/a | n/a | 31 mi |
| Clear Creek | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
More Carbon County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 6.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Carbon County | All of Utah | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.8% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Carbon County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Carbon County
What the Carbon County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Carbon County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Room for a loan payment in Carbon County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Carbon County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $58,377 a year is $4,865 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $870, takes 18% of that
- $833: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,319: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Carbon County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Carbon County borrowers:
- Price the Carbon County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Utah license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Carbon County credit union about member loans.
Utah rules that apply in Carbon County
Consumer lenders serving Carbon County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Utah that is the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Utah guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Utah guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Carbon County household make?
About $58,377 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 39% below the Utah median.
How much is rent in Carbon County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $870 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Carbon County?
By population: Price, Helper, Carbonville, Wellington, East Carbon. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Will a Carbon County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Utah as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Carbon County?
Start with the Utah Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.