1st Advantage MortgageAbout 70% of Grand County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $67,106. 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
- A quick profile of Grand County
- What Grand County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Grand County
- Housing costs in Grand County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grand County
- Regional comparison for Grand County
- Debt-to-income at Grand County's medians
- Reading the Grand County data as a borrower
- More Grand County figures
- Who licenses lenders for Grand County residents
- A Grand County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Grand County
With an estimated 9,754 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Grand County ranks 22nd of 29 in Utah for population. Land area is 3,673 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Moab, with about 5,312 residents, or 54% of the county. With so few households sampled, Grand County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Grand County households earn
Grand County households have a median income of $67,106 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 29 in Utah.
| Households earning | Grand County | +/- vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +10.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.6% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.0% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -8.0 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 13.3%, 5 points higher than the state's 8.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.450 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Grand County median.
Employment and commuting in Grand County
The biggest employer of Grand County residents, by industry, is arts, lodging and food service at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (17%). Arts, lodging and food service stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 8% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Where residents work | Grand County | Difference from Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, lodging and food service | 21.7% | +13.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.1% | -5.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.7% | -2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.8% | -3.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.2% | -0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Grand County
A typical Grand County rental runs $1,118 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Utah. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. Home values center on $538,700, or 8.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 70% of homes. Median construction year: 1988.
| Home costs | Grand County | Utah | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,118/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $538,700 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 43% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.1% | 2.9% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grand County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Grand County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 5,669 people, so roughly 42% of residents live outside any named place. No Grand County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moab | city | 5,312 | $61,667 | $969 | 28 mi |
| Castle Valley | town | 357 | $47,167 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Thompson Springs | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Regional comparison for Grand County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (60 to 91 miles). Income ranges from $58,377 in Carbon County to $79,024 in San Miguel County; 5 of these neighbors top Grand County's median. The list crosses into Colorado, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand County | - | $67,106 | $1,118/mo | 70% |
| Mesa County, CO | 60 mi | $73,658 | $1,182/mo | 72% |
| Emery County, UT | 62 mi | $74,291 | $739/mo | 80% |
| Carbon County, UT | 73 mi | $58,377 | $870/mo | 68% |
| Uintah County, UT | 80 mi | $73,746 | $941/mo | 74% |
| Montrose County, CO | 81 mi | $72,120 | $1,188/mo | 75% |
| San Miguel County, CO | 91 mi | $79,024 | $1,149/mo | 63% |
Debt-to-income at Grand County's medians
How much room does a median Grand County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,592 a month: gross income for a household at the Grand County median
- Median rent: $1,118, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,119: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,118, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Grand County data as a borrower
What the Grand County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Grand County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 15% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
More Grand County figures
Degree holders: 37% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Grand County | Utah | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.5% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.9% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 70.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Who licenses lenders for Grand County residents
Grand County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Utah guide.
A Grand County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Grand County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Utah.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Utah guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grand County a high-income county?
Its $67,106 median ranks 23rd of 29 Utah counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Grand County?
$1,118 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Which towns does the Grand County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Moab, Castle Valley, Thompson Springs.
Are Grand County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Grand County residents?
The Utah Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Utah; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.