What it's like to live in Payson
Payson is a small city in Utah with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Payson deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 55" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Payson compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Payson
Based on Payson's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,098
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,960 a year
- 41% of Payson renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$85,920
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $42,960
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,549/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,549 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $429,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $429,600 · 41% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Utah County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Utah County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 63% below US
121 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 551/100k · Payson Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 86°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (28 miles away).
Bottom line
Payson's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,549/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Payson
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