Most Americans have never been to small town Utah. However, as the Utahan who live there know, small town Utah is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Utah has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Beehive State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 73 of Utah’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Utah where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what is the worst small town to call home in Utah for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Wendover is the worst small town to live in Utah.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Wendover home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Utah or the worst places to live in Utah.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In Utah For 2024
1. Wendover
/10
Population: 1,163
Median Home Value: $215,964
Median Income: $41,989
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
2. East Carbon
/10
Population: 1,441
Median Home Value: $100,916
Median Income: $52,554
Unemployment Rate: 14.5%
3. Wellington
/10
Population: 1,506
Median Home Value: $190,078
Median Income: $54,063
Unemployment Rate: 7.4%
4. Ballard
/10
Population: 1,700
Median Home Value: $280,240
Median Income: $73,833
Unemployment Rate: 10.1%
5. Gunnison
/10
Population: 3,516
Median Home Value: $300,123
Median Income: $64,514
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
6. Salina
/10
Population: 2,500
Median Home Value: $283,308
Median Income: $61,742
Unemployment Rate: 10.0%
7. La Verkin
/10
Population: 4,360
Median Home Value: $423,660
Median Income: $56,392
Unemployment Rate: 3.8%
8. Hildale
/10
Population: 1,076
Median Home Value: $537,504
Median Income: $65,179
Unemployment Rate: 6.4%
9. Thatcher
Population: 1,056
Median Home Value: $351,520
Median Income: $74,500
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%
10. Blanding
/10
Population: 3,345
Median Home Value: $309,617
Median Income: $61,833
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Utah is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in Utah, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2018-2022 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 73 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2024, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Utah.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Utah
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Beehive State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in Utah are Wendover, East Carbon, Wellington, Ballard, Gunnison, Salina, La Verkin, Hildale, Thatcher, and Blanding.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Utah, according to science:
- Mendon (Pop. 1,475)
- Mountain Green (Pop. 3,646)
- Morgan (Pop. 4,173)
For more Utah reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In Utah
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wendover | 1,163 | 3.4% | $215,964 | $41,989 |
| 2 | East Carbon | 1,441 | 14.5% | $100,916 | $52,554 |
| 3 | Wellington | 1,506 | 7.4% | $190,078 | $54,063 |
| 4 | Ballard | 1,700 | 10.1% | $280,240 | $73,833 |
| 5 | Gunnison | 3,516 | 3.4% | $300,123 | $64,514 |
| 6 | Salina | 2,500 | 10.0% | $283,308 | $61,742 |
| 7 | La Verkin | 4,360 | 3.8% | $423,660 | $56,392 |
| 8 | Hildale | 1,076 | 6.4% | $537,504 | $65,179 |
| 9 | Thatcher | 1,056 | 0.0% | $351,520 | $74,500 |
| 10 | Blanding | 3,345 | 2.1% | $309,617 | $61,833 |
| 11 | Mount Pleasant | 3,676 | 4.3% | $347,308 | $61,441 |
| 12 | Fountain Green | 1,334 | 4.9% | $288,243 | $68,583 |
| 13 | Huntington | 2,079 | 4.9% | $248,021 | $66,833 |
| 14 | Fillmore | 2,572 | 5.9% | $325,144 | $71,250 |
| 15 | Apple Valley | 1,233 | 6.8% | $523,927 | $80,893 |
| 16 | Parowan | 3,036 | 8.2% | $372,899 | $47,974 |
| 17 | Spring Glen | 1,070 | 0.0% | $255,855 | $41,780 |
| 18 | Centerfield | 1,353 | 5.5% | $321,882 | $68,333 |
| 19 | Hideout | 1,066 | 0.0% | $1,030,050 | $73,472 |
| 20 | Castle Dale | 1,347 | 3.9% | $259,033 | $62,500 |
| 21 | Garland | 2,579 | 3.2% | $367,469 | $56,332 |
| 22 | Monroe | 2,530 | 3.0% | $331,165 | $62,361 |
| 23 | Duchesne | 1,883 | 2.0% | $288,794 | $72,202 |
| 24 | Maeser | 4,126 | 3.5% | $343,348 | $67,389 |
| 25 | Spring City | 1,108 | 12.0% | $305,501 | $62,679 |
| 26 | Delta | 3,636 | 3.6% | $294,980 | $68,110 |
| 27 | Ferron | 1,360 | 11.8% | $260,730 | $65,913 |
| 28 | Panguitch | 1,702 | 6.1% | $313,092 | $64,886 |
| 29 | Fairview | 1,288 | 4.1% | $289,369 | $57,391 |
| 30 | Benson | 1,816 | 7.5% | $493,868 | $69,188 |
| 31 | Helper | 2,482 | 5.1% | $212,740 | $59,323 |
| 32 | Moroni | 1,259 | 2.5% | $270,736 | $69,417 |
| 33 | Beaver | 3,587 | 1.1% | $326,903 | $80,313 |
| 34 | Coalville | 2,014 | 2.4% | $700,175 | $84,917 |
| 35 | Manti | 3,474 | 1.7% | $296,247 | $53,750 |
| 36 | Kanab | 4,817 | 2.6% | $409,098 | $70,737 |
| 37 | Honeyville | 1,601 | 2.3% | $501,261 | $88,393 |
| 38 | Enterprise | 1,519 | 2.9% | $420,270 | $69,083 |
| 39 | Milford | 1,786 | 6.7% | $222,797 | $83,783 |
| 40 | Riverside | 1,283 | 0.0% | $430,802 | $85,046 |
| 41 | Naples | 2,801 | 2.2% | $357,189 | $87,679 |
| 42 | Marriott-Slaterville | 2,041 | 1.4% | $563,857 | $82,098 |
| 43 | Lewiston | 2,185 | 0.8% | $431,511 | $71,857 |
| 44 | Elwood | 1,598 | 5.8% | $523,041 | $98,309 |
| 45 | Carbonville | 1,366 | 0.0% | $236,722 | $77,386 |
| 46 | Genola | 1,648 | 1.3% | $708,991 | $126,500 |
| 47 | Kamas | 2,411 | 0.9% | $1,137,105 | $81,341 |
| 48 | Monticello | 2,393 | 0.0% | $300,878 | $71,833 |
| 49 | Lake Shore | 1,235 | 13.9% | $744,932 | $91,912 |
| 50 | Silver Summit | 1,703 | 7.7% | $2,025,210 | $226,442 |
| 51 | Orangeville | 1,340 | 0.0% | $222,353 | $83,438 |
| 52 | Millville | 1,827 | 1.4% | $458,064 | $91,250 |
| 53 | Oakley | 1,744 | 4.1% | $710,776 | $119,231 |
| 54 | Willard | 1,753 | 0.8% | $546,016 | $92,434 |
| 55 | West Mountain | 1,267 | 4.9% | $972,036 | $103,365 |
| 56 | Erda | 3,124 | 14.0% | $692,216 | $143,125 |
| 57 | Mona | 1,742 | 0.0% | $514,838 | $98,594 |
| 58 | Toquerville | 2,034 | 3.5% | $566,281 | $87,344 |
| 59 | South Willard | 1,548 | 0.0% | $507,709 | $108,281 |
| 60 | Elk Ridge | 4,658 | 4.8% | $649,615 | $126,131 |
| 61 | Liberty | 1,216 | 0.0% | $727,800 | $114,423 |
| 62 | Richmond | 2,926 | 2.2% | $471,128 | $84,511 |
| 63 | Mantua | 1,348 | 2.0% | $602,068 | $127,563 |
| 64 | Wellsville | 4,078 | 0.7% | $529,988 | $102,581 |
| 65 | River Heights | 2,236 | 2.4% | $479,460 | $90,625 |
| 66 | Woodland Hills | 1,329 | 2.3% | $817,914 | $130,096 |
| 67 | Uintah | 1,611 | 2.8% | $541,290 | $106,528 |
| 68 | Daniel | 1,007 | 0.0% | $861,382 | $99,688 |
| 69 | Wolf Creek | 1,642 | 0.0% | $807,583 | $137,813 |
| 70 | Francis | 1,573 | 0.0% | $776,695 | $104,013 |
| 71 | Mendon | 1,475 | 0.0% | $613,979 | $124,375 |
| 72 | Mountain Green | 3,646 | 1.0% | $775,695 | $140,192 |
| 73 | Morgan | 4,173 | 2.7% | $651,385 | $112,232 |