What it's like to live in St. George
St. George is a mid-size city in Utah with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020.
Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next. The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Very hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How St. George compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to St. George
Based on St. George's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,090
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,800 a year
- 55% of St. George renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$99,220
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $49,610
- Homes cost 6.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,545/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,545 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $496,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $496,100 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 42% below US
191 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 830/100k · St. George Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 34% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.2 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; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 99°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°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 5.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
37% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 37% 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
37 public schools inside the boundary
There are 37 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Zion National Park (34 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
St. George's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,545/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near St. George
All Utah guides →Moving to Washington →
6 mi away · pop. 32,348
Rent $1,614/mo · Income $91,853
Compare with St. George →Moving to Hurricane →
13 mi away · pop. 22,771
Rent $1,426/mo · Income $75,016
Compare with St. George →Moving to Cedar City →
50 mi away · pop. 38,524
Rent $1,054/mo · Income $63,589
Compare with St. George →Not sure St. George is the one?
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