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Living in
Payson.
About
Life in Payson
Payson is a community of 22,205 people in Utah. The median household income is $89,905, median rent runs about $1,549 per month, and median home values are around $429,600. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Payson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.3%
Foreign-Born
7.2%
Broadband Internet
90.6%
of households
Population Growth
+16.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Payson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Payson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (64.5%), and 13.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
30.7%
of residents
65 and Older
10.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
11.6%
of households
Married Couples
65.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.35
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for UT
Rent, home values, and income in Payson
In Payson, home values are 12% below the UT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,019
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1997
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $472,126 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for UT
Unemployment in Payson and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Utah County, which includes Payson, is close to the UT average.
Unemployment rate
Payson: Utah County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Utah County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Payson is about 3% of Utah County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Payson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Provo-Orem, UT metro area
Commute23.1 min avg
How Payson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Payson, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Provo Municipal Airport (PVU)
Small hub531k passengers boarded in 2025
- 53 mi
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Major hub13.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 63% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Payson runs 63% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
121.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
551.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Payson Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Utah County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Utah County, which includes Payson, the most common type is heavy snow, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | High Wind | $616,000 |
| 2024 | 36 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2023 | 51 | Heavy Snow | $160,750 |
| 2022 | 29 | Heavy Snow | $30,500 |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $107,000 |
| 2020 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 6 | Flash Flood | $288,000 |
| 2018 | 3 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
20 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Utah County, county-wide
Payson is about 3% of Utah County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Utah County, which includes Payson, is typically good — 206 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
206
per year
Moderate Days
158
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Utah County, county-wide
Payson is about 3% of Utah County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Payson has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
18.4"
Annual Snowfall
55.1"
Hot Days/Year
50
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
74
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 20°F | 1.83" |
| Feb | 42°F | 24°F | 1.63" |
| Mar | 52°F | 31°F | 1.94" |
| Apr | 59°F | 36°F | 2.20" |
| May | 69°F | 44°F | 1.91" |
| Jun | 81°F | 53°F | 0.91" |
| Jul | 90°F | 63°F | 0.73" |
| Aug | 88°F | 61°F | 0.76" |
| Sep | 78°F | 51°F | 1.19" |
| Oct | 64°F | 38°F | 1.80" |
| Nov | 49°F | 28°F | 1.53" |
| Dec | 38°F | 20°F | 1.92" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Payson
Payson has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Mountain View Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Utah State Hospital
Psychiatric · ER available · 14.7 mi away · Provo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Payson
Payson's student/teacher ratio is 22.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Payson (within 15 miles)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 669 students · in-state tuition $16,606 · 65% graduate · median earnings $42,739 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Timpanogos Cave National Monument, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Payson
Payson has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Timpanogos Cave National Monument (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awayPublic Libraries in Payson
Payson City Library
66 South Main Street, Payson
Cities Near Payson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Payson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Payson FAQ
Is Payson, Utah affordable?⌄
Payson's median rent is $1,549/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $89,905/year. Median home value is $429,600.
Is Payson, Utah safe?⌄
Payson's violent crime rate was 121 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 551 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Payson, Utah?⌄
Utah County, which includes Payson, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Payson, Utah?⌄
The cost of living in Payson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,549/month and median household income is $89,905/year. The median home value is $429,600. About 41% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Payson, Utah?⌄
The average commute in Payson is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from