The 84078 zip code in Vernal tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in Utah.
We looked at 89 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in Utah
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vernal 🥇 | 100.0 | $328,045 | $1,411 |
| 2 | Tooele 🥈 | 94.3 | $456,558 | $1,450 |
| 3 | Cedar City 🥉 | 91.9 | $395,934 | $1,302 |
| 4 | Roosevelt | 88.8 | $342,063 | $1,780 |
| 5 | Washington Terrace | 86.5 | $447,329 | $1,488 |
| 6 | West Valley City | 86.1 | $477,686 | $1,774 |
| 7 | Price | 84.3 | $288,743 | $1,780 |
| 8 | Ogden | 83.5 | $435,025 | $1,382 |
| 9 | American Fork | 82.5 | $590,050 | $1,638 |
| 10 | Orem | 82.1 | $466,417 | $1,427 |
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1. Vernal
Here's why the 84078 zip code in Vernal is Utah's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Vernal
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $328,045[1] | No. 2 | -$214,236.62 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.6 | No. 2 | -1.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 53.2%[2] | No. 63 | 2.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.4%[3] | No. 60 | 0.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,411[4] | No. 8 | -$369 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.00% | No. 54 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | $70,694[5] | No. 71 | -$20,699 |
| Property taxes | $1,490[6] | No. 3 | -$984 |
| Energy costs | $0.11 kWh[7] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
Vernal's 84078 zip code is the cheapest place to live in Utah, leading the 89 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $328,045, making it the 2nd-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 1.4% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,411 per month, which is the 54th cheapest amount in Utah.
The median property tax for homeowners in Vernal is $1,490 per household, the No. 3 ranked market in Utah.
Residents pay $0.11 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 1 among Utah markets.
2. Tooele
The 84074 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in Utah.
🔎 Key data about Tooele
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 94.3 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $456,558[8] | No. 26 | -$85,723.53 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.747654056 | No. 5 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5255601397[9] | No. 60 | 2.1% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[10] | No. 21 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,450[11] | No. 13 | -$331 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.51% | No. 4 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | 96165[12] | No. 32 | $4,772 |
| Property taxes | $2,290[13] | No. 38 | -$184 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[14] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
Tooele's 84074 zip code has a median home value of $456,558, which is the 21st-cheapest housing market in Utah. You can rent for an average of $1,450 per month. That's the 13th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is 96165, which ranks 32nd-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Tooele pay a median property tax of $2,290 per year, making it the 38th-most affordable market in Utah.
Tooele ranks No. 1 among Utah energy markets. You'll pay 0.1112983772 per kWh of electricity.
3. Cedar City
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in Utah is Cedar City's 84721 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Cedar City
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 91.9 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $395,934[15] | No. 4 | -$146,347.46 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.560405381 | No. 35 | -0.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5668126069[16] | No. 81 | 6.2% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.1%[17] | No. 56 | -0.1% |
| Rental costs | $1,302[18] | No. 2 | -$478 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.83% | No. 19 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | 71206[19] | No. 68 | -$20,187 |
| Property taxes | $1,411[20] | No. 2 | -$1,063 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[21] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The No. 4 cheapest housing market in Utah is Cedar City's 84721 zip code, with a median home value of $395,934. Rents in the market average $1,302 per month, making it the 2nd-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Cedar City is $1,411, which makes it the 2nd-cheapest place in Utah. Cedar City ranks No. 1 among Utah markets by energy costs. Residents pay 0.1112983772 per kWh of electricity.
4. Roosevelt
The 84066 zip code in Roosevelt comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in Utah.
🔎 Key data about Roosevelt
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 88.8 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $342,063[22] | No. 3 | -$200,218.47 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.830650815 | No. 7 | -1.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.6388187703[23] | No. 88 | 13.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.16519092%[24] | No. 59 | 0.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,780[25] | No. 41 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.95% | No. 31 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 70811[26] | No. 70 | -$20,582 |
| Property taxes | $1,676[27] | No. 6 | -$798 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[28] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The No. 3 cheapest housing market in Utah is Roosevelt's 84066 zip code, where the median home value is $342,063. Renters here pay an average of $1,780 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Roosevelt ranks 1st among Utah markets. Residents pay 0.1112983772 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $1,676, which makes it the 6th-cheapest market in Utah.
5. Washington Terrace
The 84405 zip code in Washington Terrace ranks No. 5 among Utah's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Washington Terrace
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 86.5 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $447,329[29] | No. 22 | -$94,952.89 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.278091296 | No. 19 | -0.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5088227763[30] | No. 44 | 0.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.5%[31] | No. 69 | 0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,488[32] | No. 15 | -$292 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.76% | No. 16 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | 84752[33] | No. 53 | -$6,641 |
| Property taxes | $2,192[34] | No. 29 | -$282 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[35] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
Washington Terrace's 84405 zip code has a median home value of $447,329, the 22nd-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a 1.5% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Washington Terrace is $2,192. It's the 29th-cheapest market by tax rate in Utah.
6. West Valley City
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in Utah is the 84128 zip code.
🔎 Key data about West Valley City
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 86.1 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $477,686[36] | No. 32 | -$64,595.34 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.708032011 | No. 4 | -1.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5154897915[37] | No. 51 | 1.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.9%[38] | No. 21 | -0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,774[39] | No. 40 | -$7 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.75% | No. 15 | -0.2% |
| Median household income | 101462[40] | No. 28 | $10,069 |
| Property taxes | $2,486[41] | No. 52 | $12 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[42] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with West Valley City's 84128 zip code, which has the 32nd-cheapest home values in Utah. The median home value is $477,686. Rents average $1,774 per month, making it the 40th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay 0.1112983772 per kWh of electricity. It's the 1st-cheapest energy market.
7. Price
Price's 84501 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in Utah.
🔎 Key data about Price
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 84.3 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $288,743[43] | No. 1 | -$253,538.58 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.471521013 | No. 31 | -0.5 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.6737667171[44] | No. 89 | 16.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 2.7%[45] | No. 87 | 1.5% |
| Rental costs | $1,780[46] | No. 41 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.95% | No. 31 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 52772[47] | No. 86 | -$38,621 |
| Property taxes | $1,383[48] | No. 1 | -$1,091 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[49] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
You'll find the 1st-cheapest home values in Utah in Price's 84501 zip code. The median value: $288,743. Renters in Price pay an average of $1,780 per month.
Homeowners in Price pay a median property tax of $1,383 per year, which is Utah's 1st-most affordable market.
The average household income is 52772, which ranks 86th-highest in the state.
8. Ogden
The 8th-cheapest place to live in Utah is Ogden's 84401 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Ogden
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 83.5 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $435,025[50] | No. 15 | -$107,256.80 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.880860293 | No. 46 | -0.1 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4963405494[51] | No. 36 | -0.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.5%[52] | No. 69 | 0.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,382[53] | No. 6 | -$399 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.87% | No. 25 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | 73973[54] | No. 65 | -$17,420 |
| Property taxes | $2,452[55] | No. 50 | -$22 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[56] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The 15th-cheapest housing market in Utah is Ogden's 84401 zip code, with a median home value of $435,025. Renters pay an average of $1,382 per month, the No. 6 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Ogden is $2,452, which makes it the 50th-cheapest place in Utah. The average household income of 73973 ranks 65th.
9. American Fork
American Fork's 84003 zip code sneaks into the top ten of Utah's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about American Fork
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 82.5 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $590,050[57] | No. 66 | $47,768.19 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.299579381 | No. 20 | -0.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4823754184[58] | No. 25 | -2.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.8%[59] | No. 1 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,638[60] | No. 26 | -$143 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.47% | No. 3 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | 111339[61] | No. 22 | $19,946 |
| Property taxes | $2,520[62] | No. 53 | $46 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[63] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The 66th-cheapest housing market in Utah is American Fork's 84003 zip code, where the median home value is $590,050. Renters pay an average of $1,638 per month. It's the state's 26th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $2,520, which makes it the 53rd-cheapest property tax rate in Utah.
10. Orem
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in Utah goes to the 84057 zip code in Orem.
🔎 Key data about Orem
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 89 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 82.1 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $466,417[64] | No. 29 | -$75,864.65 |
| Home affordability ratio | 6.258783031 | No. 56 | 0.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.4861483769[65] | No. 30 | -1.9% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 0.8%[66] | No. 1 | -0.4% |
| Rental costs | $1,427[67] | No. 10 | -$353 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.91% | No. 27 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 74522[68] | No. 64 | -$16,871 |
| Property taxes | $1,718[69] | No. 7 | -$756 |
| Energy costs | 0.1112983772 kWh[70] | No. 1 | $0.00 |
The 29th-most affordable market in Utah is Orem's 84057 zip code. The median home value is $466,417. Rent in the market costs $1,427 per month on average, making it the 10th-most affordable rental market in Utah.
The median property tax for households in Orem is $1,718, which is the 7th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Orem ranks No. 1 among Utah markets by energy costs, with households paying 0.1112983772 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in Utah
We evaluated 89 zip codes in Utah with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in Utah, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 23.8% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 23.8% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 11.9% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 4.8% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 11.9% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the Utah average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the Utah average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
