Carbon County, Utah: commercial real estate data.
Carbon County, Utah had an estimated 20,613 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,407, across 1,478 square miles. County output reached $1.28 bn in 2024, 495 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 28 7(a) approvals worth $13.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Carbon County
How many people live in Carbon County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,517
- Households8,123
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$58,377
- Median age38.6
- Median gross rent$870 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$228,500
- Home value to household income3.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,558
- Population under 185,178
- Share under 1825.2 percent
- Population 65 and over3,979
- Share 65 and over19.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,360
- Civilian labor force9,017
- Unemployment rate5.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over58.8 percent
- Rank by population among Utah counties15th of 29
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1852nd of 3,222
Carbon County is the 15th largest of 29 Utah counties by population. A median home costs 3.9 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.2 percent against 19.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Carbon County
Is Carbon County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,613
- Census 2020 base population20,407
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.01 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20246
- Births, 2024225
- Deaths, 2024267
- Natural change, 2024-42
- Net domestic migration, 202440
- Net international migration, 20246
- Total net migration, 202446
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024330
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1483rd of 3,144
The county has grown 1.01 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Carbon County
Where are people moving to Carbon County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving510
- People arriving, from those returns1,012
- Tax returns filed by households leaving420
- Net household movement90
- Adjusted gross income arriving$25.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$5.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$50,020
- Average income of a leaving household$48,833
- Largest single originSalt Lake County (96 households)
- Largest single destinationSalt Lake County (64 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake County | 96 | 150 | $6.2 m |
| Utah County | 72 | 139 | $3.2 m |
| Emery County | 52 | 94 | $1.7 m |
| Washington County | 21 | 53 | $1.0 m |
| Davis County | 20 | 52 | $931,000 |
Households arriving report $1,187 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Salt Lake County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Carbon County
What is the Carbon County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.28 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.45 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-11.4 percent
- GDP change over five years7.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Utah areas BEA publishes18th of 29
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1644th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$62,565
Output grew -11.4 percent in the latest year and 7.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Carbon County
Employment by industry in Carbon County
- Covered employment, annual average8,653
- Establishments reporting644
- Average annual pay$50,378
- Average weekly wage$969
- Retail trade, employment1,082
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,058
- Accommodation and food services, employment722
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,196
- Manufacturing, employment596
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$68,592
- Transportation and warehousing, employment355
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$68,217
- Other services, except public administration, employment340
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment334
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,082 | 75 | $32,058 |
| Accommodation and food services | 722 | 51 | $18,196 |
| Manufacturing | 596 | 28 | $68,592 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 355 | 23 | $68,217 |
| Other services, except public administration | 340 | 41 | $50,018 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 334 | 25 | $43,495 |
| Wholesale trade | 313 | 35 | $71,847 |
| Construction | 312 | 50 | $60,406 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,082 jobs, 12.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Carbon County
How many businesses are in Carbon County?
- Establishments, all industries495
- Employment at those establishments5,906
- Annual payroll$287.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Carbon County
Building permits in Carbon County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024196
- Declared construction value permitted$39.7 m
- Single family units authorized28
- Multifamily units authorized168
- Multifamily share of units85.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$202,765
- Units authorized per 1,000 households24.1
Multifamily is 85.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Carbon County
SBA loans in Carbon County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded28
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$13.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$478,964
- Median 7(a) approval$205,300
- 10th percentile approval$30,000
- 90th percentile approval$960,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)338
- Jobs per approval12.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals20
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer42.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms12
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter15
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals3.6 percent
- Most active lenderMountain America FCU (7)
- 504 approvals recorded26
- 504 gross approval dollars$17.9 m
- Average 504 approval$687,231
- Median 504 approval$355,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval10.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.3
- Most active CDCMountain West Small Business Finance (17)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$31.3 m
The average approval of $478,964 sits well above the median of $205,300, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 42.9 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Carbon County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Carbon County
Do SBA loans in Carbon County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure18
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Carbon County
SBA lending by place in Carbon County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Price, approvals19
- Helper, approvals7
- Wellington, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 19 | $5,976,500 |
| Helper | 7 | $2,084,500 |
| Wellington | 2 | $5,350,000 |
Price accounts for 19 approvals against 7 in Helper. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Carbon County
How large is Carbon County?
- Land area1,478 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Utah counties20th of 29
- Width, east to west72.5 mi
- Height, north to south23.9 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land14
- Establishments per square mile0.33
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Carbon County
Flood risk in Carbon County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Carbon County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 490032
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate71.4 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Carbon County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Carbon County (community 490032), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Carbon County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 71.4 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Carbon County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Carbon County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,517
- Households8,123
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$58,377
- Median age38.6
Common questions
Carbon County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Carbon County, Utah?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,613 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 20,517, in 8,123 households, ranking 15th of 29 Utah counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Carbon County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.01 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,407, to 20,613 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 225 births against 267 deaths, with net migration of 46. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Carbon County?
$58,377. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $228,500, which is 3.9 times income, and median gross rent is $870 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Carbon County?
495 establishments, employing 5,906 people with an annual payroll of $287.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Carbon County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,082 jobs, 12.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,653 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,378, or $969 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Carbon County?
28 7(a) approvals totaling $13.4 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $205,300, plus 26 504 approvals worth $17.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Carbon County?
196 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $39.7 m. Multifamily was 85.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Carbon County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Carbon County come from?
The largest single origin is Salt Lake County, with 96 households. Arriving households report an average income of $50,020 against $48,833 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Carbon County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Carbon County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Carbon County
Cities and places in Carbon.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Carbon County. 9 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | city | 8,248 | 19 | Wholly in this county |
| Helper | city | 2,698 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Carbonville | CDP | 1,636 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wellington | city | 1,624 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| East Carbon | city | 1,336 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Glen | CDP | 1,157 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| West Wood | CDP | 962 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kenilworth | CDP | 127 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Scofield | town | 7 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Clear Creek | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby