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Living in
Vernal.
About
Life in Vernal
Vernal is a community of 10,254 people in Utah. The median household income is $64,457, median rent runs about $900 per month, and median home values are around $252,700. Unemployment is low at 3.7%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Vernal at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
29.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.9%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
90.6%
of households
Population Growth
+5.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Vernal: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Vernal, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (44.7%), and 4.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
33.2%
of residents
65 and Older
8.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
47.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.9%
of households
Married Couples
44.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
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 38% below UT average
Rent, home values, and income in Vernal
In Vernal, rent runs 38% below the UT average, and home values are 48% below the UT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
13.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,332
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
17.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $296,499 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for UT
Unemployment in Vernal
Unemployment in Uintah County, which includes Vernal, is close to the UT average.
Unemployment rate
Vernal: Uintah County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Uintah County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Vernal Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.9 min avg
How Vernal residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Vernal, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Vernal Regional Airport (VEL)
Regional airport · few flights13k passengers boarded in 2025
- 131 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 29% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Vernal runs 29% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
423.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,961.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Vernal Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
4.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Uintah County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Uintah County, which includes Vernal, the most common type is winter weather, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 36 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2023 | 35 | Winter Weather | $330,000 |
| 2022 | 44 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 32 | Drought | $50,000 |
| 2020 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 30 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 33 | Winter Weather | None reported |
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.
41 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Uintah County, county-wide
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Uintah County, which includes Vernal, is typically good — 213 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
213
per year
Moderate Days
148
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Uintah County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Vernal has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/35°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
9.1"
Annual Snowfall
20.4"
Hot Days/Year
34
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
174
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
62
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 10°F | 0.62" |
| Feb | 37°F | 17°F | 0.56" |
| Mar | 51°F | 27°F | 0.68" |
| Apr | 60°F | 34°F | 0.75" |
| May | 70°F | 43°F | 1.04" |
| Jun | 81°F | 51°F | 0.59" |
| Jul | 89°F | 57°F | 0.54" |
| Aug | 86°F | 55°F | 0.81" |
| Sep | 76°F | 46°F | 1.22" |
| Oct | 61°F | 35°F | 1.15" |
| Nov | 46°F | 24°F | 0.51" |
| Dec | 31°F | 13°F | 0.61" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Vernal
Vernal has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
17.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Ashley Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education22.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Vernal
Vernal's student/teacher ratio is 22.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
14.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Dinosaur National Monument, 32 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Vernal
Vernal has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Dinosaur National Monument (32 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Dinosaur National Monument
National Monument
32 mi awayPublic Libraries in Vernal
Uintah County Library
204 East 100 North, Vernal
Uintah County Regional History Library
152 East 100 North, Vernal
Cities Near Vernal
The closest cities within 60 miles
No other cities we cover are within 60 miles of Vernal.
Planning a move to Vernal?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Vernal FAQ
Is Vernal, Utah affordable?⌄
Vernal's median rent is $934/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,457/year. Median home value is $252,700.
Is Vernal, Utah safe?⌄
Vernal's violent crime rate was 424 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1962 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Vernal, Utah?⌄
Uintah County, which includes Vernal, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Vernal, Utah?⌄
The cost of living in Vernal is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $934/month and median household income is $64,457/year. The median home value is $252,700. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Vernal, Utah?⌄
The average commute in Vernal is 16 minutes, which is shorter than 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