RANK #22 / 1001 NAT · POP 62,252
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +41%
Iron County, Utah, is often recognized for Cedar Breaks National Monument, a vast natural amphitheater with colorful rock formations resembling a smaller Bryce Canyon. Located in southwestern Utah, it sits approximately 180 miles from Las Vegas and 260 miles from Salt Lake City, with Cedar City serving as its largest community and a regional hub. The county's landscape transitions from arid deserts in the west to forested plateaus in the east, offering diverse outdoor recreation including hiking, mountain biking, skiing at Brian Head Resort, and exploring petroglyphs at Parowan Gap. Commutes within the county are generally short, averaging under 17 minutes.
Life in Iron County blends small-town community with access to outdoor activities. The Iron County School District serves over 8,500 students across numerous elementary and secondary schools, and Southern Utah University provides higher education opportunities. The economy, historically tied to mining and agriculture, is diversifying. Recent developments include investments in advanced manufacturing, construction, and logistics, with an expanded Iron Springs Project Area aiming to attract new businesses and coordinate infrastructure. Government and education also remain significant employment sectors.
Iron County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.7% YoY, population +3.4%, wages +3.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 18.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Zion Solar Project (Solar + Battery Storage)
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$755M | Proposed |
|
Honeycomb Energy Storage Project (4 BESS facilities)
Clearway Energy Group
|
$605M | Under Construction |
|
Antelope Data Center (Proposed AI Data Center)
Pronghorn Development
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Appaloosa Solar I
Greenbacker
|
$200M | Operating |
|
American Pacific Corporation Expansion
American Pacific Corporation (AMPAC)
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Iron Springs Inland Port Project Area (Railroad Transload Facilities)
Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA), Savage
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Iron County ranks #22 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 98/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +4.3% and a median household income of $66,247 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Iron County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $379,000 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.17 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,065/month on average.
Iron County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.4% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +4.3% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.7% over the past 12 months.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.88% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Iron County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.