Emery County's 77.3 composite score substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 40th percentile of U.S. counties. This strong showing reflects exceptional affordability paired with minimal hazard exposure.
2 / 5
Among Utah's best
Emery County ranks at 77.3, well above Utah's state average of 72.1, making it one of the state's most livable counties. It competes favorably with only a handful of Utah counties.
3 / 5
Outstanding affordability and safety
Emery County scores 86.3 on cost with the lowest median rent at $696/month and median home values of just $197,100. Its risk score of 93.0 indicates exceptional resilience and minimal natural hazard concerns.
4 / 5
Income significantly lags
Emery County's income score of 29.1 and median household income of $69,956 substantially underperform state benchmarks. Health outcomes (67.8) also trail state averages, reflecting healthcare access challenges.
5 / 5
Ideal for cost-conscious pioneers
Emery County suits remote workers, retirees, and families who can secure income independently and prioritize dramatic cost savings. With the lowest housing costs and exceptional safety, it offers frontier-level affordability for committed residents.
Emery County's 77.3 composite score substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 40th percentile of U.S. counties. This strong showing reflects exceptional affordability paired with minimal hazard exposure.
Among Utah's best
Emery County ranks at 77.3, well above Utah's state average of 72.1, making it one of the state's most livable counties. It competes favorably with only a handful of Utah counties.
Outstanding affordability and safety
Emery County scores 86.3 on cost with the lowest median rent at $696/month and median home values of just $197,100. Its risk score of 93.0 indicates exceptional resilience and minimal natural hazard concerns.
Income significantly lags
Emery County's income score of 29.1 and median household income of $69,956 substantially underperform state benchmarks. Health outcomes (67.8) also trail state averages, reflecting healthcare access challenges.
Ideal for cost-conscious pioneers
Emery County suits remote workers, retirees, and families who can secure income independently and prioritize dramatic cost savings. With the lowest housing costs and exceptional safety, it offers frontier-level affordability for committed residents.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛85.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.584%, Emery's effective tax rate sits just below the national median of 0.590%, placing it near the middle of U.S. counties. The median annual tax of $1,151 remains less than half the national median of $2,690 due to lower home values.
Above-average taxes for Utah
Emery ranks 5th among Utah's 29 counties in effective tax rate at 0.584%—0.086% above the state average of 0.498%. The median annual tax of $1,151 runs $664 below the statewide median, but the rate itself places Emery among the state's higher-taxing counties.
Steeper than most southern Utah counties
Emery's 0.584% rate exceeds Rich (0.512%), Daggett (0.481%), and Piute (0.523%), making it the southern region's highest-taxed jurisdiction. Nearby San Juan (0.506%) and Kane (0.528%) counties offer slightly lower rates.
What Emery homeowners pay annually
A median Emery County home valued at $197,100 carries an annual property tax of $1,151. At roughly $96 per month, Emery residents pay one of Utah's steeper rates relative to home value, though modest absolute dollars.
Challenge your assessment if warranted
Given Emery's above-average tax rate, verifying that your home's assessment reflects current market value is important. If recent appraisals or comparable sales suggest your assessed value is inflated, filing a free appeal could provide meaningful savings.
Emery County's 11.9% rent-to-income ratio is exceptional—nearly half the implied national average—and its $696 monthly rent is the lowest in this entire survey. With median income of $69,956 below the national median, Emery's ultra-low housing costs create genuine affordability for lower-income households.
Utah's most affordable housing county
Emery County's 11.9% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among all eight counties and far below Utah's state average of 16.6%. At just $696 monthly rent, Emery offers unmatched affordability for tenants statewide.
Unbeaten rent prices regionally
Emery's $696 rent undercuts every county reviewed, including Daggett ($775) and Carbon ($828), while its $197,100 median home value ranks among the lowest regionally. For budget-conscious movers, Emery simply has no peers on price.
Ultra-low housing consumption
Renters spend just $696 monthly (11.9% of income)—remarkably lean—while homeowners pay $636 (10.8%), making ownership especially attractive. Emery's median income of $69,956 means even lower-wage workers maintain healthy financial flexibility.
Emery for affordability above all else
If housing cost is your dominant concern, Emery County has no rival in Utah among these eight counties. Move here if you're remote-employed, retired, or secure employment locally; otherwise, budget-conscious renters seeking job growth should consider Daggett or Duchesne.
Emery County's median household income of $69,956 falls $4,799 short of the national median of $74,755. This 6.4% gap places the county modestly below American average earnings.
Trails Utah's Income Average
Emery County's median household income of $69,956 trails Utah's state average of $80,176 by $10,220. The county ranks among Utah's lower-earning regions despite modest national performance.
Emery Outearns Immediate Peers
Emery's $69,956 income exceeds Carbon County ($53,673) and Daggett ($58,750) significantly, but lags Duchesne ($74,738). The county occupies a distinct middle position in the southeastern region.
Excellent Housing Affordability
Emery County's rent-to-income ratio of 11.9% is the most favorable in Utah, indicating housing costs consume minimal income. The median home value of $197,100 provides exceptional affordability relative to earnings.
Leverage Affordable Living Advantage
Emery County's exceptional housing affordability creates opportunity to direct more income toward savings and investments. Capitalize on this advantage by building emergency funds and exploring long-term wealth-building strategies.
Emery County residents live an average of 74.8 years, 4.1 years below the U.S. average of 78.9 years. Nearly one in five residents (18.6%) report poor or fair health, substantially exceeding the national rate of 15%.
Third-worst life expectancy in Utah
At 74.8 years, Emery County's life expectancy ranks third-lowest in Utah, trailing the state average of 77.9 by 3.1 years. The 18.6% poor/fair health rate signals concentrated health disadvantage in this rural county.
Struggling in rural southeastern Utah
Emery County's 74.8-year life expectancy ranks just above Carbon County's catastrophic 72.8 years and below Beaver County's 74.9 years. The southeastern region faces consistent health crises linked to economic and geographic isolation.
Critically sparse provider access
Emery County has just 10 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in the state—creating an acute care shortage. The uninsured rate of 10.1% sits near state average, but with only 89 mental health providers per 100,000, residents struggle to find any type of care.
Insurance plus advocacy needed
Emery County residents must secure coverage through healthcare.gov while advocating for rural health investment. Contact state representatives about expanding telehealth and mobile clinics to address the county's severe provider shortage.
Emery County faces exceptionally low U.S. disaster risk
With a composite risk score of 7.00, Emery County ranks among America's safest counties from natural disasters, earning a 'Very Low' rating. Your county experiences minimal hazard exposure compared to virtually all U.S. communities.
Utah's lowest disaster risk county
Emery County's 7.00 score is the lowest in the state, trailing far below Utah's average of 36.19. You live in the safest natural disaster zone in Utah.
Safest in the southeastern Utah region
Emery County's 7.00 score is lower than Daggett (3.69) and substantially lower than Carbon and Duchesne counties. It anchors southeastern Utah's low-hazard cluster.
Earthquake presents your only meaningful risk
Earthquake risk at 65.97 is your sole concern; wildfire at 59.29 is also moderate. Flood (12.40) and tornado (5.06) risks are negligible.
Earthquake coverage offers prudent protection
Given your county's exceptionally low overall risk, earthquake insurance represents your most sensible coverage choice. Other specialized policies are unlikely necessary for most Emery County residents.