What it's like to live in Centerville
Centerville is a small city in Utah with county unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above 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. Centerville deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 119" per year
How Centerville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Centerville
Based on Centerville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,836
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,720 a year
- 47% of Centerville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$106,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $53,120
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 36% above US
$1,918/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,918 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $531,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $531,200 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Davis County is 3.3%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Davis County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 72% below US
91 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 910/100k · Centerville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 23% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 24°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 42% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 24:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Timpanogos Cave National Monument (35 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Centerville's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,918/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (23% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Centerville
All Utah guides →Moving to Bountiful →
4 mi away · pop. 45,023
Rent $1,565/mo · Income $104,785
Compare with Centerville →Moving to Farmington →
4 mi away · pop. 25,389
Rent $1,769/mo · Income $127,338
Compare with Centerville →Moving to Woods Cross →
4 mi away · pop. 11,531
Rent $1,771/mo · Income $120,543
Compare with Centerville →Moving to North Salt Lake →
6 mi away · pop. 23,474
Rent $1,667/mo · Income $101,447
Compare with Centerville →Not sure Centerville is the one?
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