Vernal, UT — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Utah·Vernal

Uintah County · Vernal · population 10,698

First-time buyersInvestorsSmall-town feel
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77
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Vernal stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 4.3% in the last year. averaging 8.6% annual growth over 5 years.

Median home $292,812
1-year +4.3%
5-yr CAGR +8.6%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.5%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$293k$135k$191k$248k$305k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
66/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 17.7
Lean buy

At a 17.7 price-to-rent ratio, Vernal is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
72 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
82 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
73 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
59 · w10%
Long thesis

Vernal has averaged 8.6% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+4.3% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Vernal's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Vernal

Vernal is a city in Uintah County, Utah, with an estimated population of 10,698. The population grew 1.5% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Vernal is $292,812 as of 2026-04, up 4.3% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Vernal average $1,375 per month. The composite momentum score is 77 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.6% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
Quiet strength: +4.3% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
Net positive migration: population up 1.5% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

Bear case

Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Uintah County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Uintah County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Vernal

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
36° / 20°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
92° / 64°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
226
~62% of year
Annual precip
12″ rain
53″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
High
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Vernal listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Vernal area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
51%
Dry climate
Median household income
$89,100
Utah state median
Top industries (state-level)
Tech (SL Valley)HealthcareTourism

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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