What it's like to live in Cedar City
Cedar City is a small city in Utah with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cedar City deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 60" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Cedar City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cedar City
Based on Cedar City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,108
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,160 a year
- 52% of Cedar City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$75,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,700
- Homes cost 5.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 25% below US
$1,054/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,054 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices run above average, with a median around $377,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $377,000 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 26% below US
3.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.2%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 61% below US
130 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 524/100k · Cedar City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 48% below US
13 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 13.4 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
13 public schools inside the boundary
There are 13 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cedar Breaks National Monument (14 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cedar City's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,054/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Cedar City
All Utah guides →Moving to Hurricane →
39 mi away · pop. 22,771
Rent $1,426/mo · Income $75,016
Compare with Cedar City →Moving to Washington →
44 mi away · pop. 32,348
Rent $1,614/mo · Income $91,853
Compare with Cedar City →Moving to St. George →
49 mi away · pop. 101,995
Rent $1,545/mo · Income $76,508
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