Unemployment in Carbon County, Utah, is higher than in 85% of U.S. counties
In Carbon County, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 85% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Carbon County's score
In Carbon County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 81.5. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 55.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Carbon County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Carbon County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a credit card behind (3.1%, August 2025) and people with a car or retail loan behind (2.8%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 81.5 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202685th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.9% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
-
- 55.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector20.0% · August 202537th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people194.1 · 202573rd percentile
-
- 52.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.5% · 202452nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.9% · 202448th percentile
- People with a disability19.2% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
- People without health insurance6.2% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,816 · 202449th percentile
-
- 48.0 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent21.9% · 2020 to 202472nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.2% · fiscal year 202723rd percentile
-
- 23.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.1% · August 202511th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.8% · August 202512th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.7% · second quarter of 202644th percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Carbon County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Carbon County, 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Carbon County
Utah
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Carbon County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 29.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Carbon County, Utah, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 29.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Carbon County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 14.5% in 2020 to 12.4% in 2021.
The share of households in Carbon County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 14.0%
Low on the chart: 12.3% in 2017. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Carbon County, Utah.
How Carbon County has changed
Carbon County's population had its largest rise, from 17,340 in 1974 to 22,063 in 1979.
Carbon County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 11% since
High on the chart: 23,170 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Carbon County, Utah.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Carbon County rose by about a fifth from 1990 to 2025, reaching 8,724, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 9,165 in 2010. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Carbon County, Utah.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.8% | 2025 4.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.4% | 2024 13.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,065 | 2024 $66,816 |
The table uses 4.5% for 2025; the score uses 5.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Carbon County's history
1883
Coal mines developed to fuel Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Wikipedia
1883
Price area became culturally diverse as people from many nationalities worked mines. Wikipedia
1888
Irrigation canal completed Price area 1888. Wikipedia
1894
Established effective March 8, 1894 from part of Emery County. Wikipedia
1950
The county's largest recorded population was the 1950 Census count of 24,901. The 2020 Census counted 20,412, 82% of the peak. Census Bureau
2006
A flash flood in July 2006 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
Lightning in July 2011 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
A flash flood in August 2014 did $2.75 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flash flood in September 2016 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1977
5 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Carbon County, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
Carbon County beside its neighbors
Carbon County scores higher than all six counties that border it. Of the group, Carbon County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (29.9%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County, UT | 53 | 13.5% | 29.9% |
| Grand County, UT | 47 | 10.3% | 17.5% |
| Uintah County, UT | 36 | 12.5% | 19.5% |
| Duchesne County, UT | 30 | 9.4% | 20.5% |
| Sanpete County, UT | 24 | 12.2% | 24.7% |
| Emery County, UT | 23 | 11.8% | 29.5% |
| Utah County, UT | 16 | 9.0% | 11.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Carbon County the poorest county in Utah?
No, Carbon County's poverty rate was 13.5% in 2024, 3rd highest of 29 in Utah (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is San Juan County, at 19.5%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Carbon County ranks 2nd of 29 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Carbon County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Utah Legal Services
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Carbon County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Carbon County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.