USDA eligibility map: Utah
About 96.6% of Utah's area is in USDA-eligible rural areas, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA Rural Development's published eligibility map, the 24th highest share among the 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico. 21 of 29 counties have no ineligible area at all, and Davis County and Salt Lake County are entirely ineligible. 80 Census places in Utah lie mostly inside ineligible areas, including Layton city, Salt Lake City city, Hooper city, Eagle Mountain city and St. George city.
Check a Utah address
USDA eligible area by county
The share of each county's area that is USDA eligible, and the places (cities, towns and census-designated places) at least half inside ineligible areas. These are estimates; check any single property with the lookup.
| county | Area eligible | Mostly ineligible places |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Box Elder County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Cache County | 97.0% | Logan city, North Logan city, Providence city, River Heights city |
| Carbon County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Daggett County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Davis County | 0% | Layton city, Bountiful city, Kaysville city, Syracuse city, Farmington city, North Salt Lake city, Clearfield city, West Point city, and 7 more |
| Duchesne County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Emery County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Garfield County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Grand County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Iron County | 98.6% | Cedar City city |
| Juab County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Kane County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Millard County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Morgan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Piute County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Rich County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Salt Lake County | 0% | Salt Lake City city, Magna metro township, West Valley City city, West Jordan city, Draper city, South Jordan city, Sandy city, Herriman city, and 16 more |
| San Juan County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Sanpete County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Sevier County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Summit County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Tooele County | 99.7% | Tooele city |
| Uintah County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Utah County | 59.4% | Eagle Mountain city, Provo city, Lehi city, Saratoga Springs city, Orem city, Spanish Fork city, Springville city, Mapleton city, and 10 more |
| Wasatch County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Washington County | 95.0% | St. George city, Washington city, Santa Clara city |
| Wayne County | 100% | None: the whole county is eligible |
| Weber County | 49.3% | Hooper city, Ogden city, Plain City city, West Haven city, Roy city, North Ogden city, Marriott-Slaterville city, Pleasant View city, and 6 more |
How USDA decides what is rural
The rural-area definition is section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490): open country and places not part of or associated with an urban area with up to 2,500 people, up to 10,000 if rural in character, or up to 20,000 outside a metropolitan statistical area with a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families. Areas that lost rural status in the 1990 to 2020 censuses stay rural until 2030 census data arrive if they have 10,000 to 35,000 people and meet the same conditions. Income is a separate test, applied to the household by the lender and USDA.
For other address-level designations in Utah, the free census tract lookup shows the income level and QCT and DDA status, and Utah has 46 designated Opportunity Zone tracts (Opportunity Zone lookup).
Questions
Is Utah eligible for USDA loans?
Much of it is. About 96.6% of the state's area is outside USDA's ineligible areas (2,869 of about 84,823 square miles are ineligible). 21 counties are entirely eligible. Most people live in the larger towns, which are often ineligible, so check the specific address.
Which Utah counties have the least USDA eligible area?
Davis County (0% eligible), Salt Lake County (0% eligible), Weber County (49.3% eligible), Utah County (59.4% eligible), Washington County (95.0% eligible). The share is of land area, by HeritageDeed's estimate from USDA's map; eligibility is decided for each property.
Which Utah towns are not eligible for USDA loans?
Places USDA's map shows as mostly inside an ineligible area include Layton city, Salt Lake City city, Hooper city, Eagle Mountain city, St. George city, Logan city, Cedar City city and Tooele city. The county table on this page lists every place that is mostly ineligible. Edges matter: part of a town, or land just outside it, can be on the other side of the line, so check the address.
How do I check a Utah address for USDA eligibility?
Enter the street address in the lookup on this page. It locates the address and checks it against USDA's published rural eligibility map. It is a screening: Rural Development makes the final determination on a complete application, and household income is a separate test (USDA's income eligibility tool).
When was the USDA eligibility map for Utah last updated?
The ineligible areas on USDA's map for Utah carry an effective date of July 25, 2023. USDA updates the map from ineligible-area changes sent in by its state offices. The statute keeps formerly rural areas of 10,000 to 35,000 people rural until data from the 2030 census arrive, if they still meet its conditions.
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Legal references
- 42 U.S.C. 1490, definition of rural area (Housing Act of 1949, section 520)
Areas are computed by HeritageDeed: estimates, not USDA figures. USDA's map is not a final determination; Rural Development decides on a complete application. HeritageDeed is not affiliated with USDA.
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