What it's like to live in Ogden
Ogden is a smaller city in Utah with rent 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. Ogden deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Heavy snowfall — 108" per year
How Ogden compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ogden
Based on Ogden's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,432
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $48,640 a year
- 44% of Ogden renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$71,120
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,560
- Homes cost 4.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 14% below US
$1,216/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,216 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $355,600. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $355,600 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.1%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 35% above US
445 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1627/100k · Ogden Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 28% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
31 public schools inside the boundary
There are 31 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Golden Spike National Historical Park (40 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ogden's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,216/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.
Other places near Ogden
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