What it's like to live in Smithfield
Smithfield 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. Smithfield deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 62" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Smithfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Smithfield
Based on Smithfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,622
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $52,440 a year
- 29% of Smithfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$90,040
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,020
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,311/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,311 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $450,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $450,200 · 29% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.1% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cache County is 3.1%, 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.
Cache County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 88% below US
39 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 111/100k · Smithfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 17°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 19% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 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 Golden Spike National Historical Park (39 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Smithfield's strongest points are county unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,311/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low), anyone prioritizing low crime, and remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home). It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Smithfield
All Utah guides →Moving to North Logan →
4 mi away · pop. 11,460
Rent $1,658/mo · Income $89,891
Compare with Smithfield →Moving to Tremonton →
20 mi away · pop. 11,477
Rent $1,220/mo · Income $74,741
Compare with Smithfield →Not sure Smithfield is the one?
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