San Juan County
UT · Pop. 14,466 · Rural County
San Juan County sits in Utah across 7,824 square miles, home to 14,466 people at 1.8 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on wheat, hay, safflower. The median home price is $190,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.84%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 156-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.5°F and average winter lows of 20.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 12.9 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Blue Mountain Hospital is 16.9 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 54.8% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.84% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $190,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- At 1.8 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 156-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 12.9 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- Broadband reaches only 54.8% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- A poverty rate of 18.4% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
San Juan County, UT is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 29/100
- Median home price
- $190k
- Property tax
- 0.84%
- Growing season
- 156 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 12.9"
- Broadband
- 54.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Blue Mountain Hospital, 16.9 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in San Juan County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in San Juan County?
- San Juan County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 156-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.5°F, and average winter lows of 20.8°F. The established crops are wheat, hay, safflower.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $190,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.84%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 54.8% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Blue Mountain Hospital is 16.9 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Utah Resources
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More counties in Utah
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The closest counties to San Juan 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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