In Sevier County, Utah, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Sevier County, 16.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 87% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 66% of U.S. counties.
What drives Sevier County's score
In Sevier County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 60.3. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 22.4.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Sevier 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.
Sevier County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 60.3 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202662nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.9% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
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- 48.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector17.2% · August 202527th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people179 · 202569th percentile
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- 35.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line10.0% · 202422nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line12.1% · 202423rd percentile
- People with a disability15.0% · 2020 to 202440th percentile
- People without health insurance9.3% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$74,469 · 202430th percentile
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- 34.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.0% · August 202542nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.8% · August 202528th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.6% · second quarter of 202631st percentile
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- 22.4 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 rent15.1% · 2020 to 202432nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.9% · fiscal year 202712th percentile
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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 Sevier 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 Sevier County, 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Sevier County
Utah
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Sevier County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 27.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Sevier County, Utah, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 27.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Sevier County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.2% in 2011 to 12.4% in 2012.
The share of households in Sevier County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 6.5% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Sevier County, Utah.
How Sevier County has changed
Sevier County's population more than doubled to 22,520, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1974 to 1979, reaching 14,363. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Sevier County, Utah.
The number of jobs located in Sevier County had its largest rise, from 5,936 in 1995 to 7,174 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Sevier County doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 9,967, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2005 to 2010, reaching 7,831. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Sevier County, Utah.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.5% | 2025 4.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.3% | 2024 10.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,205 | 2024 $74,469 |
The table uses 4.0% for 2025; the score uses 4.3% 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 Sevier County's history
1865
January 16, 1865, created from Sanpete County. Wikipedia
1867
Abandoned in the Black Hawk War, 1867. Wikipedia
1997
A wildfire in July 1997 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flash flood in July 2018 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 21,522, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1977
8 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Sevier County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Sevier County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Sevier County, one scores higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Sevier County ranks 3rd of the seven; Beaver County is highest, at 32.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piute County, UT | 45 | 13.7% | 23.1% |
| Sevier County, UT | 33 | 10.0% | 27.0% |
| Sanpete County, UT | 24 | 12.2% | 24.7% |
| Emery County, UT | 23 | 11.8% | 29.5% |
| Millard County, UT | 13 | 10.3% | 21.5% |
| Wayne County, UT | 9 | 10.3% | 23.9% |
| Beaver County, UT | 5 | 9.5% | 32.2% |
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 Sevier County the poorest county in Utah?
No, Sevier County's poverty rate was 10.0% in 2024, 11th 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, Sevier County ranks 7th of 29 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Sevier 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.
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Utah Legal Services
Legal aid
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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 Sevier 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 Sevier County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.