Best counties to retire to in Utah
Best counties to retire to in Utah
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Utah based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Utah.
#25. Tooele County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 76,648
- Median household income: $101,846
- Median home value: $391,300
- Top places to live: Stansbury Park (B), Erda (C+), Tooele (C+)
#24. Beaver County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D-), cost of living (C+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 7,172
- Median household income: $85,603
- Median home value: $287,600
- Top places to live: Beaver (B-), Milford (B), Minersville (C+)
#23. San Juan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 14,466
- Median household income: $54,890
- Median home value: $189,900
- Top places to live: Blanding (B+), Monticello (B-), Montezuma Creek (C-)
#22. Uintah County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 36,458
- Median household income: $69,861
- Median home value: $270,200
- Top places to live: Naples (C+), Maeser (C+), Vernal (C+)
#21. Box Elder County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 59,725
- Median household income: $77,865
- Median home value: $357,400
- Top places to live: Brigham City (B), Perry (B), South Willard (B)
#20. Morgan County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 12,585
- Median household income: $126,092
- Median home value: $600,900
- Top places to live: Morgan (B), Mountain Green (B), Enterprise (C)
#19. Iron County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 60,201
- Median household income: $65,527
- Median home value: $342,900
- Top places to live: Cedar City (B), Enoch (B-), Parowan (C-)
#18. Sanpete County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 29,209
- Median household income: $67,459
- Median home value: $300,400
- Top places to live: Ephraim (B+), Manti (B-), Mount Pleasant (B-)
#17. Juab County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D+), cost of living (C), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 12,273
- Median household income: $89,803
- Median home value: $369,800
- Top places to live: Nephi (B-), Eureka (C+), Mona (C)
#16. Carbon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (D+), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 20,446
- Median household income: $53,673
- Median home value: $200,700
- Top places to live: Helper (C+), Price (C+), Carbonville (C+)
#15. Utah County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 683,622
- Median household income: $96,877
- Median home value: $489,200
- Top places to live: Highland (A), Cedar Hills (A-), Lehi (A-)
#14. Cache County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 137,031
- Median household income: $78,292
- Median home value: $392,800
- Top places to live: River Heights (A), Hyde Park (A), Providence (A-)
#13. Duchesne County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 19,932
- Median household income: $74,738
- Median home value: $253,600
- Top places to live: Roosevelt (B-), Altamont (B-), Myton (C)
#12. Millard County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 13,179
- Median household income: $70,877
- Median home value: $246,400
- Top places to live: Delta (B-), Fillmore (B), Hinckley (B)
#11. Wasatch County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (D+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 35,808
- Median household income: $115,146
- Median home value: $724,400
- Top places to live: Heber (B+), Midway (B+), Daniel (C)
#10. Garfield County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 5,170
- Median household income: $61,688
- Median home value: $285,800
- Top places to live: Bryce Canyon City (B), Panguitch (B-), Boulder (C+)
#9. Emery County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (B-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 9,968
- Median household income: $69,956
- Median home value: $197,100
- Top places to live: Castle Dale (B), Orangeville (B-), Emery (B-)
#8. Grand County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 9,697
- Median household income: $62,521
- Median home value: $480,900
- Top places to live: Moab (B-), Castle Valley (C-)
#7. Weber County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 266,183
- Median household income: $87,083
- Median home value: $389,200
- Top places to live: North Ogden (B+), Pleasant View (B+), South Ogden (B)
#6. Davis County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 366,742
- Median household income: $108,058
- Median home value: $470,500
- Top places to live: Kaysville (A), Centerville (A), Bountiful (A)
#5. Salt Lake County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C-), cost of living (D+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,184,689
- Median household income: $94,658
- Median home value: $484,500
- Top places to live: Central City/Liberty-Wells (A+), Greater Avenues (A+), Sugar House (A)
#4. Sevier County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 21,854
- Median household income: $73,765
- Median home value: $274,100
- Top places to live: Richfield (B+), Glenwood (B+), Aurora (B)
#3. Summit County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (D+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 42,709
- Median household income: $137,058
- Median home value: $1,000,400
- Top places to live: Park City (A), Snyderville (A-), Summit Park (A-)
#2. Kane County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 7,996
- Median household income: $75,000
- Median home value: $350,900
- Top places to live: Kanab (B+), Orderville (B+), Big Water (B-)
#1. Washington County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (D), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 189,827
- Median household income: $76,411
- Median home value: $465,600
- Top places to live: Santa Clara (B+), Washington (B), St. George (B)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
