1st Advantage MortgageThe median San Juan County household earns $64,481, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- San Juan County by the numbers
- How San Juan County residents earn a living
- What San Juan County households earn
- San Juan County housing compared with Utah
- The communities that make up San Juan County
- How San Juan County compares with nearby counties
- A San Juan County household budget, worked through
- San Juan County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for San Juan County
- Four steps for San Juan County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Utah
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
San Juan County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts San Juan County's population at 14,483; only 16 of Utah's 29 county-level areas are larger. It covers 7,824 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, San Juan County is not part of any metropolitan area. Blanding is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 3,275 people (23% of the county total).
How San Juan County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 10%. Education and health care stands out: 35% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for San Juan County averages 12.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 72% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.7% of the total (4.1% statewide).
| Top industries | San Juan County share | +/- vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 35.3% | +12.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.6% | +8.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.9% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.9% | -4.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in San Juan County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What San Juan County households earn
At $64,481, the typical San Juan County household income is 2% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 26th among Utah's 29 county-level areas.
| Household income | San Juan County | vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +11.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.2% | -8.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -9.3 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. Census counts 18.1% of San Juan County residents in poverty, against 8.5% across Utah. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.462 here. For a borrower in San Juan County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
San Juan County housing compared with Utah
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $867 in San Juan County versus $1,496 statewide. 30% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 7% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $224,200, about 3.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 81%. Median construction year: 1986.
| Cost | San Juan County | Utah figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $867/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $224,200 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 30% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.9% | 2.9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like San Juan County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up San Juan County
14 Census places fall mainly inside San Juan County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 9,121 residents, leaving about 37% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Monticello has the highest median household income on the list ($72,969) and Oljato-Monument Valley the lowest ($30,227), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanding | city | 3,275 | $71,797 | $842 | 15 mi |
| Monticello | city | 2,200 | $72,969 | $1,159 | 31 mi |
| Spanish Valley | CDP | 756 | n/a | n/a | 64 mi |
| Oljato-Monument Valley | CDP | 676 | $30,227 | n/a | 47 mi |
| Navajo Mountain | CDP | 610 | n/a | $733 | 67 mi |
| La Sal | CDP | 373 | n/a | n/a | 56 mi |
| Aneth | CDP | 257 | $62,917 | $890 | 44 mi |
| Halchita | CDP | 254 | n/a | n/a | 32 mi |
| Montezuma Creek | CDP | 239 | n/a | n/a | 36 mi |
| Bluff | town | 233 | $56,042 | n/a | 24 mi |
| White Mesa | CDP | 124 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
| Tselakai Dezza | CDP | 104 | $34,000 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Mexican Hat | CDP | 20 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
| Halls Crossing | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 49 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How San Juan County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (68 to 96 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than San Juan County; San Miguel County is highest at $79,024 and Garfield County lowest at $61,875. The list crosses into Colorado, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan County | - | $64,481 | $867/mo | 81% |
| Montezuma County, CO | 68 mi | $65,244 | $942/mo | 76% |
| Dolores County, CO | 71 mi | $64,907 | $986/mo | 81% |
| Wayne County, UT | 80 mi | $76,607 | $884/mo | 79% |
| San Miguel County, CO | 80 mi | $79,024 | $1,149/mo | 63% |
| Garfield County, UT | 92 mi | $61,875 | $817/mo | 70% |
| Grand County, UT | 96 mi | $67,106 | $1,118/mo | 70% |
A San Juan County household budget, worked through
San Juan County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, San Juan County: $5,373
- 16% goes to median rent ($867)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,067 a month
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,444 a month
Two-income households and single earners in San Juan County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
San Juan County residents: age, schooling, coverage
20% of San Juan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 17% go without health insurance.
| San Juan County | Utah | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.5% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.0% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.5% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.7% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.1% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | San Juan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 13.5% |
Local borrowing considerations for San Juan County
Based on the San Juan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 17% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of San Juan County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Four steps for San Juan County borrowers
A short checklist for San Juan County borrowers:
- Price the San Juan County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Utah borrowers.
- Ask a San Juan County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Utah
San Juan County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Utah: Utah personal loans.
Related local guides
The Utah guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in San Juan County earn?
The median is $64,481; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is San Juan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $867 against $1,496 statewide, and 30% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small San Juan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Blanding, Monticello, Spanish Valley, Oljato-Monument Valley, Navajo Mountain and 9 more.
Is the fit check different in San Juan County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for San Juan 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.