The Town FilesVernal, Utah
City in Uintah County · population 10,079 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,700
- Household income
- $64,457
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 29.6
Vernal is a city of 10,079 people in Uintah County, Utah. The median home is worth $252,700, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Utah towns, easier by car than 72% of Utah towns.
How Vernal 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 Vernal is worth $252,700, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $64,457, which is more affordable than 85% of Utah towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 54.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vernal | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,700 | $457,300 |
| Median rent | $934 | $1,395 |
| Median household income | $64,457 | $93,194 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.6% | 81.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1991 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Vernal
| People | Vernal | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 34.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 13.0% |
| Under 18 | 33.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 31.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.9% | 6.5% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 15.9 min | 22.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 94.3% |
Weather in Vernal
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 9.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.4 inches of snow (typical Utah town: 45.4 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernal since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Utah town. The strongest, an F1, struck on September 3, 1999 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2009.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 17, 2013.
Severe weather in Uintah County since 1996
Uintah County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4525: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3478: Covid-19 |
| August 8, 2011 | Flood | DR-4011: Flooding |
| June 30, 2007 | Fire | FM-2703: Neola North Fire |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3223: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Uintah County
Uintah County had 15,177 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,108 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Vernal itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Vernal
11 public schools with 7,061 students, about 24.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uintah High | 9-12 | 1,856 | 25.1 |
| Vernal Middle | 6-8 | 831 | 22.5 |
| Discovery School | K-5 | 675 | 24.1 |
| Terra Academy (charter) | K-12 | 622 | 20.1 |
| Uintah Middle School | 6-8 | 595 | 20.5 |
| Maeser School | K-5 | 541 | 22.5 |
| Ashley School | K-5 | 504 | 21.0 |
| Naples School | K-5 | 498 | 21.7 |
| Davis School | K-5 | 438 | 21.9 |
| Ashley Valley Educ. Ctr. | 8-12 | 297 | — |
| Uintah Specialized Preschool | PK-PK | 204 | 68.0 |
Towns near Vernal
- Maeser, UT2.5 mi · 4,081 people · home $341,200
- Roosevelt, UT26.3 mi · 6,747 people · home $282,500
Vernal questions
Is Vernal, Utah a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vernal scores better for retirees than 17% of Utah towns and quieter than 34%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.6).
How much does a house cost in Vernal?
The median owner-occupied home in Vernal is valued at $252,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,457, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Vernal?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 9.1 inches of precipitation a year and 20.4 inches of snow.
Does Vernal get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernal since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on September 3, 1999. 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)