Box Elder County
UT · Pop. 59,725 · Rural County
Box Elder County is a rural county in Utah, spanning 5,781 square miles with 59,725 residents at a density of 10.3 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, wheat, corn. The median home price is $357,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.51%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 133-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.4°F and average winter lows of 16.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 12 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Bear River Valley Hospital is 45.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.4% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.51% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 94.4% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A strong agricultural economy built on hay, wheat, corn means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- At 10.3 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.4% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A 133-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 12 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A median home price of $357,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
At a glance
Box Elder County, UT is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 27/100
- Median home price
- $357k
- Property tax
- 0.51%
- Growing season
- 133 days (zone 6a)
- Annual rainfall
- 12"
- Broadband
- 94.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Bear River Valley Hospital, 45.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Box Elder County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Box Elder County?
- Box Elder County is in USDA hardiness zone 6a with a 133-day growing season, average summer highs of 82.4°F, and average winter lows of 16.6°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $357,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.51%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 94.4% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Bear River Valley Hospital is 45.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Utah Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Utah
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The closest counties to Box Elder County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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