CountyScore

Piute County

Utah · UT

#4 in Utah
76.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Piute County, Utah

Piute ranks highest among the eight counties

Piute County's composite score of 76.6 places it at approximately the 53rd percentile nationally, above the national median of 50.0. The county achieves top livability status through exceptional affordability and near-zero environmental risk.

State's top livability score in this cohort

At 76.6, Piute County scores highest among these eight Utah counties and exceeds the state average of 72.1 by 4.5 points. It represents the best overall livability in this group.

Ultra-affordable with exceptional safety

Piute County boasts a Cost Score of 84.1, with median home value of just $235,400 and rent at $792/month—among the lowest in the dataset. Its Risk Score of 99.1 is the highest across all eight counties, indicating virtually no environmental or natural hazards.

Very low incomes limit wealth building

The county's Income Score of just 12.5 and median household income of $44,650 are the lowest in this cohort—roughly half the state median. This severe income limitation restricts long-term wealth accumulation despite exceptional affordability.

Ideal for retirees and minimalist households

Piute County suits retirees living on fixed incomes, remote workers with stable external earnings, and minimalist families prioritizing ultra-low costs and maximum safety over income growth. It's the county of choice for those with means outside the local job market.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax90.2Cost84.1SafetyComing SoonHealth66.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome12.5Risk99.1WaterComing Soon
🏛90.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼12.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡99.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Piute County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Kittson County
Minnesota
76.6
Median income: $69,615
Catron County
New Mexico
76.6
Median income: $46,439
Wayne County
Utah
76.6
Median income: $70,074
Lexington city
Virginia
76.6
Median income: $89,598
Gilmer County
West Virginia
76.6
Median income: $50,991

Deep Dives

Piute County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Piute County

via TaxByCounty

Piute County taxes well below national median

Piute County's effective tax rate of 0.431% sits comfortably below the national median of 0.535%. The median property tax of $1,014 represents just 38% of the national median of $2,690.

Among Utah's most tax-friendly counties

Piute County's 0.431% effective rate falls well short of Utah's 0.498% state average, ranking it among the most affordable counties statewide. The median tax bill of $1,014 is $801 below Utah's median of $1,815.

Similar to Kane and Iron, much lower than Millard

Piute County's 0.431% rate closely aligns with Kane (0.419%) and Iron (0.421%) while dramatically undercutting Millard (0.535%). The median home value of $235,400 is the lowest in the region.

Median home pays $1,014 annually

The typical Piute County home valued at $235,400 carries an annual property tax of $1,014. Homeowners with mortgages pay $1,086, while those without mortgages pay $877.

Verify your assessment to confirm fairness

Even in low-tax Piute County, homeowners should confirm their assessments match current market values. A free assessment appeal is available if you believe your property is overvalued.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Piute County

via CostByCounty

Piute County housing strains lowest incomes

Piute County's 21.3% rent-to-income ratio is among the nation's worst, placing severe housing pressure on residents with the lowest median household income in this sample: just $44,650. At $792 per month, rent consumes over one-fifth of typical household earnings here.

Utah's most affordability-challenged county

Piute County ranks as Utah's least affordable county for renters, with a 21.3% rent-to-income ratio far above the state average of 16.6%. The combination of extremely low household incomes and moderate rents creates genuine hardship for residents here.

Lowest income, tightest budgets

Piute County's $792 rent is cheap in absolute dollars, but its $44,650 median income—the lowest by far among these counties—makes affordability the county's defining challenge. Even Garfield's $61,688 income looks wealthy by comparison, yet Piute's rent burden is still heavier.

Over one-fifth of income goes to rent

Renters dedicate a crushing 21.3% of their $44,650 income to rent ($792/month), while homeowners commit 17.8% to mortgage costs ($663/month). Piute County residents struggle with the nation's tightest housing affordability among this group, leaving minimal room for other expenses.

Relocating to Piute requires caution

Piute County's extreme affordability challenges make it unsuitable for relocators unless employment opportunities significantly exceed the area's median income. Consider Garfield or Millard—nearby alternatives with better income prospects and less housing strain.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Piute County

via IncomeByCounty

Piute County faces income challenge

Piute County's median household income of $44,650 is 40.3% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it among the lowest-earning counties nationwide. This reflects significant economic hardship in Utah's smallest and most remote county.

Utah's lowest-income county

Piute's $44,650 median is 44.3% below Utah's state average of $80,176, making it the state's lowest-earning county by a wide margin. The per capita income of $23,171 is 34% below the state average, indicating limited wealth across the population.

Significantly behind peers

Piute's $44,650 income trails every other county analyzed: Garfield ($61,688), Grand ($62,521), Iron ($65,527), Millard ($70,877), Kane ($75,000), Juab ($89,803), and Morgan ($126,092). The gap is substantial and multidimensional.

Rent absorbs too much income

Piute's rent-to-income ratio of 21.3% is the highest among these eight counties, signaling genuine affordability strain for renters. The median home value of $235,400 represents roughly five times annual median income, a challenging ratio for first-time buyers.

Seek support and training

Piute County residents should prioritize financial education and access to local resources: credit counseling, job training programs, and employer benefits enrollment. Even modest wealth-building—a savings account, employer match into a 401(k), or a small business—compounds over time and builds economic resilience.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Piute County

via HealthByCounty

Piute's health status demands attention

Piute County's 23.4% poor or fair health rate is among the nation's worst, more than double the U.S. average and signaling a severe public health crisis. While life expectancy data is limited, the high poor health rate suggests residents face significant chronic disease burden and unmet healthcare needs.

Utah's worst self-reported health

Piute County's 23.4% poor or fair health rate is the worst in Utah by a substantial margin, more than four percentage points above the second-worst county. This alarming metric suggests Piute residents experience the state's most severe chronic disease challenges and health system gaps.

Crisis-level outcomes compared to peers

Piute's 23.4% poor health rate dwarfs neighboring Millard (19.5%), Juab (15.2%), and all surrounding counties, marking Piute as Utah's health crisis epicenter. While mental health providers are abundant at 452 per 100K, data gaps on life expectancy and primary care access obscure the full extent of Piute's healthcare challenges.

Data gaps mask healthcare reality

Piute County's 11.9% uninsured rate approaches state averages, but limited data on life expectancy and primary care providers obscures whether the county faces severe access barriers or other drivers of poor health. The exceptional poor health rate suggests urgent investigation into what factors—chronic disease prevalence, behavioral health challenges, environmental factors—are driving Piute's health crisis.

Insurance is a lifeline in Piute

Faced with the state's worst health outcomes, every Piute resident—insured or not—deserves access to comprehensive care and preventive services. If you're uninsured, enrollment in coverage is a critical first step toward addressing the health conditions affecting more than one in five county residents.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Piute County

via RiskByCounty

Piute County is Utah's safest region

Piute County's composite risk score of 0.89 is the lowest in Utah and represents exceptional safety compared to the national average. This remote south-central county experiences minimal exposure to natural disasters.

Lowest-risk county in entire state

Piute County ranks definitively as Utah's safest county for natural disaster exposure, with a score 40 points below the state average of 36.19. Its isolation and benign geography create unparalleled protection from hazards.

Dramatically safer than all surrounding areas

Piute's 0.89 score makes it far safer than neighboring Millard (22.17), Juab (15.30), and Sevier County. It represents the lowest-risk county in its entire region of southwestern and central Utah.

Wildfire only meaningful natural hazard

Wildfire risk scores 58.72, representing Piute County's only significant natural hazard exposure; all other risks score well below state averages. Flood (3.44), tornado (1.34), and earthquake (49.17) risks remain minimal in this remote location.

Minimal disaster insurance needs here

Piute County's exceptional safety means standard homeowners insurance provides substantial protection for most residents. Only those in wildland-prone areas need to consider wildfire riders; earthquake and flood coverage are unnecessary given the county's minimal exposure to these hazards.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.