A report published September 12 by the University of Utah's Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute found that 91% of Utah renters were unable to afford a median-priced home in the first quarter of 2026.
According to the 2025–26 State of the State's Housing Market report, the median sale price for all housing varieties in Utah rose to $520,000 in the first quarter of 2026, increasing from $500,000 a year earlier.
Utah is currently ranked as the tenth most costly market for single-family properties, which had a median gross sales price of $559,900 in the first quarter of 2026. This follows a period of growth where the market increased by 3.6% across all housing types since 2024.
To afford a median-priced home in Utah with a 10% down fee in 2026, an annual income of $146,800 is required. This is significantly higher than Utah's median family income of $96,658. Furthermore, renter households in the state have a median income of $64,000, and the report found that only 4.9% of properties bought in 2025 were affordable to consumers at that income level.
While rents for single-family properties and townhomes increased by 8.5% and 8.3% respectively between March 2024 and March 2026, apartment asking costs saw a 2.3% decline during that same period. In 2025, there were 108 inexpensive rental models available for every 100 households with incomes no more than 80% of the space median income, an increase from 100 models available in 2023.
The Utah Housing Corporation backs the First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, which provides up to $20,000 for down funds, closing costs, and interest rate deductions for properties valued below $450,000. To qualify, consumers must have resided in Utah for at least one year before closing.
