1st Advantage MortgageAbout 68% of Iron County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $66,247. 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
- Who lives in Iron County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Iron County
- How much Iron County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Iron County
- Regional comparison for Iron County
- Towns and communities in Iron County
- A Iron County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Iron County
- Iron County households compared
- Steps before you apply in Iron County
- Licensing and complaints for Iron County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Iron County
With an estimated 62,252 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Iron County ranks 8th of 29 in Utah for population. Spread over 3,296 square miles, that works out to roughly 18.9 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Iron County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 11 Census places inside Iron County, Cedar City leads by population with about 38,524; 6 of the 11 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Iron County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,065 in Iron County versus $1,496 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $379,000, or 5.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 68% of homes.
| Measure | Iron County | Utah | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,065/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $379,000 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 8% | 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?
How much Iron County households make
Iron County households have a median income of $66,247 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 24th of 29 in Utah.
| Households earning | Iron County | +/- vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +8.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -10.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -6.3 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 13.8%, 5 points higher than the state's 8.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (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 Iron County median.
Jobs and commutes in Iron County
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Education and health care stands out: 28% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Iron County averages 3.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 73% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 3.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Iron County share | +/- vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.9% | +5.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.9% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -4.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Iron County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Iron County's, from 31 to 93 miles away. Washington County leads the group on income ($80,632), Piute County trails ($48,393), and Iron County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Nevada, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County | - | $66,247 | $1,065/mo | 68% |
| Beaver County, UT | 31 mi | $79,360 | $981/mo | 81% |
| Washington County, UT | 46 mi | $80,632 | $1,566/mo | 72% |
| Piute County, UT | 70 mi | $48,393 | $950/mo | 95% |
| Millard County, UT | 73 mi | $73,639 | $882/mo | 82% |
| Lincoln County, NV | 87 mi | $72,307 | $919/mo | 75% |
| Kane County, UT | 93 mi | $77,092 | $1,072/mo | 80% |
Towns and communities in Iron County
11 Census places fall mainly inside Iron County; the 11 biggest are below. They account for 51,282 residents, leaving about 18% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Enoch has the highest median household income on the list ($80,750) and Parowan the lowest ($53,145), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,013 in Parowan to $1,164 in Enoch. This guide covers each of the 11 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar City | city | 38,524 | $63,589 | $1,054 | 19 mi |
| Enoch | city | 8,144 | $80,750 | $1,164 | 17 mi |
| Parowan | city | 3,165 | $53,145 | $1,013 | 27 mi |
| Paragonah | town | 647 | $64,271 | $1,086 | 29 mi |
| Newcastle | CDP | 367 | $86,739 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Kanarraville | town | 257 | n/a | n/a | 27 mi |
| Summit | CDP | 104 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Brian Head | town | 74 | $75,125 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Beryl Junction | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| Cedar Highlands | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| Modena | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
A Iron County household budget, worked through
Iron County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Iron County: $5,521
- Rent at the median, $1,065, takes 19% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,374 total minus rent leaves $1,309
Two-income households and single earners in Iron County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Iron County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Iron County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Iron County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Iron County households compared
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. 10.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Iron County | Utah | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.2 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.6% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.8% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.3% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Steps before you apply in Iron County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Iron County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Iron County resident can confirm its license with the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Utah guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Utah guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iron County a high-income county?
Its $66,247 median ranks 24th of 29 Utah counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Iron County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,065 against $1,496 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Iron County?
By population: Cedar City, Enoch, Parowan, Paragonah, Newcastle. The county has 11 Census places in all.
Are Iron 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 Iron 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.