The Town FilesMonticello, Utah
City in San Juan County · population 1,824 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $301,400
- Household income
- $72,969
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 36.6
Monticello is a city of 1,824 people in San Juan County, Utah. The median home is worth $301,400, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Utah towns, quieter than 75% of Utah towns.
How Monticello ranks
Percentile among Utah towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Utah towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monticello is worth $301,400, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $72,969, which is more affordable than 80% of Utah towns. Median rent is $1,159 a month. 79.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monticello | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $301,400 | $457,300 |
| Median rent | $1,159 | $1,395 |
| Median household income | $72,969 | $93,194 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.8× |
| Homeownership | 79.3% | 81.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1991 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Monticello
| People | Monticello | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 34.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 13.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 31.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 6.5% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 22.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 94.3% |
Weather in Monticello
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 15.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.2 inches of snow (typical Utah town: 45.4 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Utah town. The strongest, an EFU, struck on July 20, 2024 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 6, 2020.
Severe weather in San Juan County since 1996
San Juan County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2025 | Fire | FM-5598: Deer Creek Fire |
| June 10, 2021 | Fire | FM-5391: Pack Creek Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4525: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3478: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3223: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in San Juan County
San Juan County had 4,647 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,715 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Monticello itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Monticello
2 public schools with 522 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello School | PK-6 | 305 | 20.3 |
| Monticello High | 7-12 | 217 | 16.7 |
Towns near Monticello
- Blanding, UT19.5 mi · 3,394 people · home $305,800
- Dove Creek, CO24.4 mi · 635 people · home $149,600
Monticello questions
Is Monticello, Utah a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monticello scores better for retirees than 91% of Utah towns and quieter than 75%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.6).
How much does a house cost in Monticello?
The median owner-occupied home in Monticello is valued at $301,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,969, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,159 a month.
What is the weather like in Monticello?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 64.2 inches of snow.
Does Monticello get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EFU on July 20, 2024. The typical Utah town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)