What it's like to live in South Ogden
South Ogden is a small city in Utah with county unemployment below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. South Ogden deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How South Ogden compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to South Ogden
Based on South Ogden's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,852
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,040 a year
- 48% of South Ogden renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$81,560
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,780
- Homes cost 5.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,426/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,426 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $407,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $407,800 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Weber County is 3.6%, 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.
Weber County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 18% below US
269 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1050/100k · South Ogden Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
24 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.5 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 23°F and snow a regular occurrence. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% 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
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 3 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 (43 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
South Ogden's strongest point is county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold winters. A year of median rent ($1,426/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (16% of workers here already work from home).
Other places near South Ogden
All Utah guides →Moving to West Haven →
6 mi away · pop. 21,563
Rent $1,702/mo · Income $101,012
Compare with South Ogden →Moving to Clearfield →
6 mi away · pop. 33,523
Rent $1,579/mo · Income $75,495
Compare with South Ogden →Not sure South Ogden is the one?
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