The honest answer to "how much house can I afford" in Utah County is a calculation, so this page does it in the open, with published numbers you can check: the county's median household income, this week's national mortgage rate, Fannie Mae's debt-to-income limits and Utah County's tax rates. Every input below was read on October 20, 2026. Your own answer depends on your income, debts and down payment; our home affordability calculator runs the same math for you.
This is an illustration, not a loan approval. A lender's answer also depends on your credit, reserves and the loan type.
The inputs
| Input | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Utah County median household income | $100,611 (2024) | U.S. Census Bureau SAIPE, via FRED |
| 30-year fixed rate | 7.40% | Freddie Mac PMMS, week of October 15, 2026 (national average) |
| Debt-to-income limits | 36%, 45%, 50% | Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-6-02 |
| Property tax | 2025 rate for Provo's main tax area (110-0000), 1.0019%, on 55% of value | Utah State Tax Commission; Utah Code 59-2-103 |
| Utah County median list price | $569,950 (September 2026) | Realtor.com via FRED |
Utah is a non-disclosure state, so sale prices are not public; the median list price is the closest public measure. Insurance, mortgage insurance and HOA dues are left out because no official source publishes a typical Utah County figure; each would lower the price you can afford.
What the median income supports
Debt-to-income (DTI) is your total monthly debt payments, including the new mortgage, divided by your gross monthly income. On $100,611 a year with no other debts:
| DTI limit | Monthly payment allowed | 5% down | 10% down | 20% down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36% (Fannie Mae manual underwriting) | $3,018 | about $429,000 | about $451,000 | about $503,000 |
| 45% (with strong credit and reserves) | $3,773 | about $536,000 | about $564,000 | about $629,000 |
Each figure is the price where principal, interest and Provo-rate property tax add up to the allowed payment. A car payment or student loan comes straight out of the allowed payment: $400 a month of other debt at the 36% limit drops the 5%-down price by about $57,000.
What the median listing requires
For the $569,950 median listing at 7.40%:
| Down payment | Principal and interest | Property tax (Provo rate, exempt) | Total | Income needed at 36% DTI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% ($28,498) | $3,749 | $262 | $4,011 | about $133,700 |
| 10% ($56,995) | $3,552 | $262 | $3,813 | about $127,100 |
| 20% ($113,990) | $3,157 | $262 | $3,419 | about $114,000 |
The gap between those incomes and the $100,611 median is the affordability problem in one line. The levers that close it are below: a lower price point, a bigger down payment, fewer other debts, a lower-tax city, or help from a program or family.
What moves the number most
- The rate. Every point matters. At 7.40% the monthly principal and interest on a $100,000 loan is about $692.
- Other debts. Paying off a car before applying raises your price more than almost anything else you control.
- The down payment. It lowers the loan and, at 20% on a conventional loan, removes private mortgage insurance. See down payment assistance in Utah and buying with parents.
- The city. 2025 tax rates differ across the county (for example, 0.7964% in Orem and 0.8373% in Lehi's main area versus 1.0019% in Provo's main tax area; the part of Provo inside Alpine School District is 0.8871%); our property tax guide explains how it works.
Next steps
- Run your own numbers in the home affordability calculator.
- Compare renting and buying for your timeline with our rent vs buy guide.
- Talk to two or three lenders; our mortgage lender guide explains how to compare Loan Estimates.
- If your income is in a specific field, our Provo salary guide puts it in local context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much house can a median Utah County household afford?
What income do you need for the median-priced Utah County listing?
What debt-to-income ratio do lenders use?
How does Utah's residential exemption affect affordability?
Does a bigger down payment help much?
Are there programs for first-time buyers in Utah?
Why use list prices instead of sale prices?
Can I run these numbers for my own situation?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- 2025 Tax Rates by Tax Area (Report 600), Utah State Tax Commission. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Residential exemption, Utah County Assessor. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Selling Guide B3-6-02, Debt-to-Income Ratios, Fannie Mae. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Estimate of Median Household Income for Utah County, UT (SAIPE), Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) / U.S. Census Bureau. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Primary Mortgage Market Survey, Freddie Mac. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Housing Inventory: Median Listing Price in Utah County, UT, FRED / Realtor.com. Checked October 20, 2026.
