Utah is often recognized for its strong economy, high quality of life, and low statewide poverty rate. Yet, like every state, Utah has communities that face significant economic hardship. According to the most recent data and widely cited rankings, the town named the poorest in Utah is Logan-though the answer can vary depending on whether you focus on cities, small towns, or unincorporated communities.
Logan: The Poorest City in Utah
Logan, located in Cache Valley, consistently ranks as the poorest city in Utah among those with significant populations. According to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by Stacker and other outlets, 26.8% of Logan’s residents live below the poverty line, which is more than triple the state average of 8.5% and well above the national average of 12.5%. The median household income in Logan is just $41,833, the lowest among Utah’s larger cities.
The poverty rate is even more striking among children: nearly 30% of Logan residents under 18 live in poverty. This means that more than 3,500 children in Logan are growing up in households that struggle to meet basic needs. The city’s high poverty rate is partly attributed to its status as a college town-Utah State University is located in Logan-which means a large student population with low incomes. However, the data also reflect broader economic challenges for working families and the unemployed in the area.
Other Notably Impoverished Communities
While Logan is the poorest city by population and poverty rate, several small towns and unincorporated communities in Utah experience even higher rates of poverty, though with much smaller populations. For example, Mexican Hat in San Juan County has a reported poverty rate of 100%, but its population is extremely small, making it less representative in statewide discussions.
Other small towns with high poverty rates include Garden (72.4%), Navajo Mountain (71.5%), and White rocks (66%). These communities, many of which are located in rural or tribal areas, face unique economic challenges, including limited access to jobs, services, and infrastructure.
Economic Distress in Rural Utah
Recent analyses of economic distress in Utah highlight that the highest levels of hardship are found in rural areas, especially in counties with economies historically tied to oil, gas, or mining. Uintah and Duchesne counties, for example, have seen significant increases in economic distress due to declines in these industries. San Juan County, home to many of the state’s poorest small towns, is also noted as the most economically distressed county in Utah.
Why Is Logan So Poor?
Several factors contribute to Logan’s high poverty rate:
- Student Population: The presence of Utah State University means many residents are students with little or no income, which skews poverty statistics upward.
- Low Wages: Many jobs in the area are in retail, service, or agriculture, which tend to pay lower wages.
- Cost of Living: While housing is more affordable than in Utah’s urban centers, wage growth has not kept pace with rising costs for many families.
Logan stands out as the poorest city in Utah when considering both population size and poverty rate, with more than a quarter of residents living below the poverty line and a median household income far below the state average. While some smaller towns have even higher poverty rates, Logan’s size and demographic makeup make it the most prominent example of economic hardship in the state. Rural and tribal communities also face acute challenges, underscoring the diversity of economic realities across Utah.
Sources
[1] https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-01-28-you-may-be-surprised-to-see-the-richest-and-poorest-cities-in-utah/
[2] https://stacker.com/stories/utah/cities-utah-most-living-poverty
[3] https://zipatlas.com/us/ut/city-comparison/highest-poverty.htm
[4] https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/03/12/utah-economic-distress-gas-oil-mining-rural-counties
[5] https://247wallst.com/income/2025/01/17/the-poorest-town-in-every-state-in-america/
