1st Advantage MortgageSummit County households have a median income of $138,114 and median rent of $1,987 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Utah license first.
On this page
- Summit County at a glance
- Income in Summit County compared with Utah
- What it costs to live in Summit County
- Employment and commuting in Summit County
- Summit County and the counties next door
- Summit County towns compared
- People and households in Summit County
- Before borrowing in Summit County
- Budget math at the Summit County median
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Utah
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Summit County at a glance
Summit County is home to about 42,970 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 10th most populous of 29 county-level areas in Utah. It covers 1,871 square miles of land, or about 23 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Summit County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (5 incorporated, 11 census-designated); the largest is Summit Park, with about 8,537 residents, or 20% of the county.
Income in Summit County compared with Utah
Summit County households have a median income of $138,114 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 1st of 29 in Utah.
| Household income | Summit County | vs Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 9.5% | -4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.0% | -11.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.6% | -2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 32.9% | +19.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 63% of Summit County households make $100,000 or more, and 9% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 4.9%, 4 points lower than the state's 8.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.501 here. A household earning below the $138,114 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Summit County
Renters in Summit County pay a median of $1,987 a month, 33% above the Utah figure of $1,496. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,067,700, about 7.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. The median year built is 1995.
| Cost | Summit County | Utah figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,987/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $1,067,700 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.5% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 41% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Summit County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Employment and commuting in Summit County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Summit County residents work in education and health care and 16% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in arts, lodging and food service, at 14% locally and 8% for Utah. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.8% in Summit County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 25% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.0% of the total (4.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Summit County | Gap to Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.6% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 14.2% | +6.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.5% | +3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | +0.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Summit County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Summit County's, from 35 to 54 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than Summit County; Morgan County is highest at $130,929 and Duchesne County lowest at $78,445. Some neighbors are in Wyoming. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Summit County resident follows Utah rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit County | - | $138,114 | $1,987/mo | 80% |
| Morgan County, UT | 35 mi | $130,929 | $1,492/mo | 89% |
| Uinta County, WY | 36 mi | $82,980 | $900/mo | 77% |
| Wasatch County, UT | 38 mi | $117,608 | $2,000/mo | 80% |
| Duchesne County, UT | 49 mi | $78,445 | $1,009/mo | 79% |
| Salt Lake County, UT | 52 mi | $97,494 | $1,592/mo | 66% |
| Rich County, UT | 54 mi | $79,009 | $760/mo | 85% |
Summit County towns compared
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Summit County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 31,307 people, so roughly 27% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $64,643 in Hoytsville to $241,792 in Silver Summit. Rent is cheapest in Henefer ($955) and steepest in East Basin ($3,501). No Summit County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 16.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Park | CDP | 8,537 | $185,900 | $2,257 | 34 mi |
| Snyderville | CDP | 5,948 | $143,517 | $2,875 | 32 mi |
| East Basin | CDP | 4,002 | $145,678 | $3,501 | 28 mi |
| Kamas | city | 2,096 | $96,638 | $1,478 | 22 mi |
| Francis | town | 1,989 | $117,054 | $2,113 | 24 mi |
| Coalville | city | 1,881 | $95,729 | $1,426 | 24 mi |
| Oakley | city | 1,638 | $125,550 | $2,569 | 18 mi |
| Silver Summit | CDP | 1,476 | $241,792 | $3,250 | 30 mi |
| Henefer | town | 1,005 | $93,654 | $955 | 29 mi |
| Marion | CDP | 830 | $82,826 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Hoytsville | CDP | 800 | $64,643 | $1,229 | 22 mi |
| Woodland | CDP | 625 | $85,135 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Peoa | CDP | 203 | $198,594 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Wanship | CDP | 165 | $126,071 | n/a | 24 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
People and households in Summit County
60% of Summit County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.3%, against 8.4% for Utah.
| Indicator | Summit County | All of Utah | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 59.8% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.3% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.7% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 4.9% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Summit County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Before borrowing in Summit County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Summit County borrowers.
- Higher earners. 63% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Summit County borrower sees (free reports).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Budget math at the Summit County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Summit County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $11,510 a month: gross income for a household at the Summit County median
- Rent at the median, $1,987, takes 17% of that
- With a 35% ceiling, about $2,041 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $3,192 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,987, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Summit County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Utah borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Utah
Before sharing details with a lender, a Summit County resident can confirm its license with the Utah Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Utah: Utah personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Utah guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Summit County earn?
The median is $138,114; 63% earn $100,000 or more and 9% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Summit County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,987 against $1,496 statewide, and 36% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Summit County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Summit County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Summit Park?
Yes, along with the other 15 Census places in Summit County, such as Snyderville, East Basin, Kamas.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Summit County or elsewhere in Utah, the same rules apply.