The Town FilesMoab, Utah
City in Grand County · population 5,366 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $518,900
- Household income
- $61,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 99°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 35.8
Moab is a city of 5,366 people in Grand County, Utah. The median home is worth $518,900, above the typical Utah town ($457,300). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Utah towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Utah towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Utah towns.
How Moab ranks
Percentile among Utah towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Utah towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Moab is worth $518,900, above the typical Utah town ($457,300). Homes cost about 8.4 times the median household income of $61,667, which is more affordable than 4% of Utah towns. Median rent is $969 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moab | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $518,900 | $457,300 |
| Median rent | $969 | $1,395 |
| Median household income | $61,667 | $93,194 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.4× | 4.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 81.7% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1991 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Moab
| People | Moab | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 34.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 13.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.4% | 31.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 6.5% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 11.7 min | 22.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.3% | 94.3% |
Weather in Moab
July highs average 99.2°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 9.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.3 inches of snow (typical Utah town: 45.4 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moab since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Utah town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 18, 2000 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 14, 1968.
Severe weather in Grand County since 1996
Grand County has been included in 4 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, biological, coastal storm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4525: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3478: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3223: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 20, 1977 | Drought | EM-3024: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Grand County
Grand County had 6,934 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,058 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Moab itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Moab
5 public schools with 1,526 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helen M. Knight School | K-6 | 699 | 17.5 |
| Grand County High | 9-12 | 453 | 16.8 |
| Grand County Middle | 7-8 | 245 | 17.5 |
| Moab Charter School (charter) | K-6 | 75 | 15.0 |
| C R Sundwall Center | PK-PK | 54 | 27.0 |
Moab questions
Is Moab, Utah a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moab scores better for retirees than 93% of Utah towns and quieter than 69%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Moab?
The median owner-occupied home in Moab is valued at $518,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,667, so homes cost about 8.4 times income. Median rent is $969 a month.
What is the weather like in Moab?
July highs average 99.2°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.1 inches of precipitation a year and 9.3 inches of snow.
Does Moab get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moab since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 18, 2000. The typical Utah town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)