Median Income
$52,385
household / year
Median Home Value
$411,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$963
gross / month
Cost of Living
95
national avg = 100

Is Moab, UT a Good Place to Live?

Moab is a small town of 5,329 in Utah, with a median household income of $52,385 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Moab stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Moab is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Moab city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.0

Moab's overall cost of living index is 95.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Moab costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric Moab, UT National Avg
Median Home Value $411,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $963 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 54.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $52,385 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Moab's violent crime rate is 734.3 per 100,000 residents — 93% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
734.3 /100k
Property Crime
1120.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Moab is served primarily by Grand District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Moab, UT National Avg
School District Grand District —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.6:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 33.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Moab sees average highs of 43.5°F in January and 99.2°F in July, with 9.1 inches of annual precipitation and 9.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricMoab, UT
Average High — January43.5°F
Average High — July99.2°F
Annual Precipitation9.1"
Annual Snowfall9.3"

Demographics

MetricMoab, UTNational Avg
Population5,329—
Median Age36.338.9
Unemployment Rate2.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time10.9 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)83.7%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino7.9%18.9%
Asian0.9%6.3%
Under 1817.9%22.2%
65 and over21.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Moab vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Moab's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Moab roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $411,900 and median rent is $963/month.
Moab's violent crime rate is 734.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1120.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Moab are operated by Grand District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 33.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Moab, UT has a population of 5,329, a median household income of $52,385, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Moab averages 43.5°F in January and 99.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.1 inches with about 9.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Moab, Utah is 5,329 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Moab: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $411,900, median household income $52,385, crime index 137 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Moab side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.