What are the schools like in Payson, UT?

Payson is served primarily by Nebo District. The district operates 30 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 26.9:1.

What is the median household income in Payson?

The median household income in Payson, UT is $81,387 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Payson, UT?

Payson has an average high temperature of 37.4°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 18.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 55.1 inches.

Payson, UT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Payson, UT affordable or expensive?

Payson's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Payson is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $339,400 and the median rent is $1,258 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Payson, UT?

Payson has a violent crime rate of 127.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 698.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Payson, UT a Good Place to Live?

Payson is a small city of 21,529 in Utah, with a median household income of $81,387 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Payson stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Payson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Payson 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: 96.2

Payson's overall cost of living index is 96.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Payson costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Payson, UT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$339,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,258	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,387	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Payson's violent crime rate is 127.7 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

127.7 /100k

Property Crime

698.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Payson is served primarily by Nebo District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 26.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Payson, UT	National Avg
School District	Nebo District	—
Elementary Schools	30	—
Middle Schools	10	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	26.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Payson sees average highs of 37.4°F in January and 90.0°F in July, with 18.4 inches of annual precipitation and 55.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Payson, UT
Average High — January	37.4°F
Average High — July	90.0°F
Annual Precipitation	18.4"
Annual Snowfall	55.1"

Demographics

Metric	Payson, UT	National Avg
Population	21,529	—
Median Age	27.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	31.4%	22.2%
65 and over	11.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Spring Lake, UT 2 mi West Mountain, UT 3 mi Elk Ridge, UT 4 mi Salem, UT 4 mi Benjamin, UT 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Payson

Payson, UT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

84651

Payson vs Other Cities

Payson, UT vs Spring Lake, UT Payson, UT vs West Mountain, UT Payson, UT vs Elk Ridge, UT Payson, UT vs Salem, UT Payson, UT vs Benjamin, UT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Payson, UT affordable or expensive?

Payson's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Payson roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $339,400 and median rent is $1,258/month.

What is the crime rate in Payson, UT?

Payson's violent crime rate is 127.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 698.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Payson?

Public schools in Payson are operated by Nebo District. The district has 30 elementary, 10 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 26.9:1. 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Payson, UT a good place to live?

Payson, UT has a population of 21,529, a median household income of $81,387, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Payson?

Payson averages 37.4°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.4 inches with about 55.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Payson?

Payson, UT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 84651.

What is the population of Payson?

The population of Payson, Utah is 21,529 with a median age of 27.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Payson?

Key numbers for living in Payson: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $339,400, median household income $81,387, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Payson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.