City Report · UT

Vernal

Pop. 10,392·50th most expensive in Utah·Rental market data updated monthly for Vernal, UT
Median rent (all units)
$1,473/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-2.5%
vs US Median
-$459
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Vernal · $1,473
More affordable than 77% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,473/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$59,000/yr
Local median income
$64,457/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Vernal's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$660
1 BR
$750
2 BR
$930
3 BR
$1,300
4 BR+
$1,580
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$930/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,473 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($64,457) is $1,611 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,580).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Vernal. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$17,676/yr
At $1,473/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -2.5% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Vernal, UT is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 14% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,392
Median income
$64,457
Median age
29.6
Renters
45.4%
Age distribution
33.2%
25.7%
24.7%
Under 1833.2%
18–3425.7%
35–5424.7%
55–647.9%
65+8.4%
Gender
54.5%
45.5%
Male54.5%
Female45.5%
Race & ethnicity
84.3%
White84.3%
Hispanic10.7%
Other4.6%
Education (25+)
12.6%
31.5%
41.8%
14%
No HS diploma12.6%
HS diploma31.5%
Some college41.8%
Bachelor's+14%
Housing tenure
54.6%
45.4%
Owner54.6%
Renter45.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Vernal, UT has changed in 5 years

Income
$50,692 → $64,457
up 27.2%
Population
10,037 → 10,392
up 3.5%
Renter share
49.9% → 45.4%
-4.5 pts
Bachelor's+
16.8% → 14%
-2.8 pts
Median age
30.5 → 29.6
-0.9 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $50,692 to $64,457 across the same window, up 27.2% versus 2021. Census counts show Vernal, UT adding about 355 residents over the five-year window, up 3.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 49.9% to 45.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 16.8% to 14% across the same window.

Community

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View Vernal rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Vernal on your salary?

At $1,473/mo, how Vernal rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Vernal rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Vernal. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Vernal

About renting in Vernal, UT

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Vernal is $1,473/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $660/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $750/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,300/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($64,457/yr), Vernal ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Vernal?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,473/mo in Vernal. The local median household income is $64,457/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Vernal?

Rent in Vernal has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Vernal rent compare to other cities in Utah?

Vernal is one of the more affordable among Utah cities for rent, ranking #50 of 55 tracked cities at $1,473/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Vernal?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Vernal ($1,473/mo) include Green River ($1,032/mo), and Rock Springs ($1,138/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,473/mo, rent takes ~27% of Vernal's median household income ($64,457/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Vernal 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4.55%
Run the Vernal affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Vernal, UT

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