What You Need to Know Before Living In St. George, Utah

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Located in Southern Utah, St.George is known for its red-rock scenery, so stunning you’ll question whether you’re looking at a painting or a real-life desertscape. 

Sunny with biking and hiking trails aplenty, St. George is a very nature-focused city where many residents spend more time outdoors than they do inside. If you’re drawn to the views and clear skies that St. George promises, don’t whip out the moving tape and boxes just yet. You’ll need to consider a few things before picking up and relocating to the Beehive state.

This guide to moving to St. George, Utah, will highlight the pros and cons of life in the Red Rock City. By the end, you should have a better understanding as to whether or not St. George is the place for you. 

Moving to St. George: Overview

St. George is a thriving city that experiences a population increase of 2.23% per year. The World Population Review reports that St. George, UT is home to 107,197 people as of 2024. and over 26,939 households. 

Personal Experiences From People Living in St. George

Neighbor has partnered with Lifey to provide you with grass-roots information regarding St. George, Utah. Lifey compiles hundreds of personal experiences, tips, tricks, pros, cons, random facts, and much more from residents of the area. To read all about life in Red Rock City from the perspective of people who live there, check out Lifey’s Guide to St. George

#1: The Job Market In St. George

Best Places reports that the average resident in St. George, UT, makes approximately $22,230 per year.  While this salary average falls far behind the national average, St. George is known for its thriving retirement community–meaning these Southern Utah retirees, currently living off their retirement funds, weigh down the city’s average. 

Rest assured, in terms of median household income, the average family brings in a total of $63,604 annually. Also, the minimum wage in St. George is $7.25 per hour.

Here are the top 10 most common job positions in St. George: 

  • General and operations managers 
  • Fast food workers 
  • Retail workers 
  • Cashiers 
  • Customer service representatives 
  • Stock fulfillment workers 
  • Registered nurses 
  • Office clerks 
  • Construction workers 
  • Secretaries or assistants 

When you look at St. George, UT, through the eyes of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, recent data from December 2023 shows that 91.1% of employed residents of St. George are part of the civilian labor force. Approximately 88.6% of people are employed, and the unemployment rate was reportedly 2.7% as of 2023. The unemployment rate of St. George is about 1% less than the national average rate of 3.7%, according to Statista

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#2: Best Neighborhoods in St. George 

Deciding to move to St. George is one thing, but have you considered which neighborhood in the Red Rock City best suits you and your lifestyle? According to the Multiple Listing Service of St. George, you have 23 neighborhoods to choose from when moving to St. George, UT: 

  • Bloomington 
  • Bloomington Hills 
  • Bloomington Ranches
  • Desert Hills 
  • Dixie Downs
  • Downtown 
  • Entrada
  • Foremaster 
  • Green Valley
  • Hidden Valley 
  • Ivins
  • Little Valley 
  • Middleton 
  • Red Cliffs 
  • Santa Clara 
  • Snow Canyon 
  • Southgate 
  • Stone Cliff
  • Sunbrook 
  • SunRiver
  • The Ledges 
  • Tonaquint Terrace
  • Winchester Hills

According to the Kurby Real Estate AI Blog, the most luxurious neighborhoods include Entrada and Stone Cliff. If affordability is a more important driving factor, you’ll want to explore Bloomington instead. As for those outdoorsy folks, Green Valley is in close proximity to several national parks.  

For those in search of family-friendly areas, check out neighborhoods like Little Valley and Santa Clara. For new-build fans, you’ll love the modern construction of homes in Washington Fields. Meanwhile, for people in favor of laidback neighbors, to-die-for views, and quiet communities, Ivins and SunRiver will likely be up your alley. 

#3: St. George Crime Rates

According to data from AreaVibes, the city of St. George has a crime rating of A. Because St. George experiences 46% less crime than the national average, the Red Rock City earns top marks in safety. More specifically, violent crime rates in St. George are 56% lower than the national average, and property crime rates are 44% lower than in other parts of the country. 

#4: St. George Schools & Stats

St. George, Utah, is located in Washington County. The local school district comprises 9 preschools, 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 6 high schools. You can visit Niche.com to explore K-12 schools and public schools in St. George more in-depth.

There are also six colleges in St. George, UT

  • Dixie Technical College 
  • Evans Hairstyling College 
  • Paul Mitchell The School 
  • Taylor Andrews Academy 
  • Utah Tech University 
  • Zion Massage College 

#5: Homes for Sale in St. George

The average home value in St. George is approximately $499,485. According to Zillow, this is 0.4% less than the average home value in the past year. 

Currently, there are an estimated 592 houses for sale in St. George. While the median sale price hovers around $479,720, the average list price of houses in St. George is about $578,667

Movoto states that the average sale price of condominiums and townhomes in St. George is approximately $574,900. The same resource mentions that more people are looking to purchase a home in St. George than people selling homes in the area. 

You can peruse Zillow’s Home Buying Guide to understand the step-by-step process of buying a home in St. George, UT. Feel free to utilize the homebuying calculators below as you explore the housing market and compare prices. 

Homebuying calculators

#6: Apartments in St. George

Apartments.com reports that the average rent prices for apartments in St. George, Utah, hover around $1,335 per month. This is for a one-bedroom unit of 714 square feet.

Here are other rent estimates for apartments of various sizes: 

  • Studio apartment
    • 493 square feet
    • $1,171 per month
  • Two-bedroom unit 
    • 996 square feet 
    • $1,406 per month 
  • Three-bedroom unit 
    • 1,295 square feet
    • $1,631 per month

    Feel free to use Zillow’s Rent Affordability Calculator if you’re not sure what you can realistically afford to pay for housing. This tool asks you to input your monthly net income, expenses, savings, and debts. 

    From there, you can select how much of your gross income you are comfortable putting towards rent. With your information in mind, Zillow will tell you what you can afford to pay for housing. 

    #7: St. George’s Cost of Living

    The cost of living in St. George is almost perfectly on par with the national average. In fact, the COL of St. George, UT, is only 2% lower than the national average. The same is true of housing prices. 

    Meanwhile, utilities and groceries cost about 1% more in St. George compared to the average cost of these basic needs across the U.S. To look more closely at how the cost of living in St. George compares to the COL in your current city, make use of PayScale’s Cost of Living Calculator

    #8: Things To Do in St. George, Utah

    Here are museums, parks, hiking trails, biking trails, and rodeos worth visiting in the Red Rock City.  

    Museums

    • St. George Art Museum 
    • Sears Art Museum 
    • Arrowhead Gallery 
    • Daughters of Utah Pioneers
    • St. George Children’s Museum
    • Rosenbruch World Wildlife Museum

    Parks

    • Red Hills Desert Garden 
    • Pioneer Park 
    • Thunder Junction All Abilities Park 
    • Red Cliffs National Conservation Area 
    • Town Square Park 
    • Little Black Mountain Petroglyph Site

    Hiking trails 

    • Turtle Wall Hiking Trail 
    • Yellow Knolls Trail 
    • Chuckwalla Trail Head 
    • Man O War Trailhead 
    • Temple Quarry Trailhead 
    • Virgin River Trailhead

    Biking trails 

    • St. George Bike Trail 
    • Snake Hollow Bike Park 
    • The Gap Trailhead 
    • Crosby Family Confluence Park 
    • Slick Rock Park 
    • Paradise Rim Trail

    Rodeos 

    • Dixie Roundup Rodeo 
    • Spring Roundup Rodeo
    • Dixie Sun Bowl

    #9: St. George Commuting & Public Transit

    In Utah, there are various modes of public transportation. But in St. George specifically, the public transportation system is known as SunTran. You can visit the public transit system’s online website to gather information about fares, bus schedules, and more. 

    Now, if you plan to commute and operate your own vehicle instead, you’ll be pleased to learn that gas prices in St. George are relatively reasonable: 

    Gas Price Rundown

    • Regular: $3.095
    • Mid-Grade: $3.324
    • Premium: $3.524
    • Diesel: $4.075

    A Quick Guide to the Pros And Cons of Living in St George

    According to a Pew Research Center Survey, 37% of Americans have moved away from their hometown, while 57% have never lived anywhere other than their home state. If you want to venture outside of this statistic and move to St. George, make sure you weigh the pros and cons before you relocate

    Pros

    • Low crime rate 
    • Great schools
    • Home to reputable colleges  
    • Affordable cost of living 
    • Abundance of outdoor activities  
    • Friendly and neighborly location 
    • Urban area with a rural vibe

    Cons

    • High rates of radiation 
    • Costly housing prices 
    • Potential for flooding 
    • Restrictive liquor laws 

    Final Thoughts

    Deciding to move to St. George is one thing, but relocating and actually moving to a new city is another. After all, house hunting in St. George can take time. 

    If you are moving, you should seriously consider renting a self storage unit to keep your valuables safe as you get situated. Storage through marketplaces like Neighbor is the answer if you need something flexible, affordable, and conveniently located. Compared to traditional storage options, Neighbor is up to 50% cheaper (and is located in all 50 states, plus hundreds of cities – including St. George).

    Average Price of Storage in St. George

    Let’s compare cost estimates for storage units in St. George, UT. 

    Traditional Storage Units: 

    • 5 x 5: $21
    • 5 x 10: $33
    • 10 x 10: $40
    • 10 x 15: $77
    • 10 x 20: $45
    • 10 x 20+: $1,305 

    Neighbor Storage Units: 

    • 5 x 5: $9
    • 5 x 10: $25
    • 10 x 10: $40
    • 10 x 15: $35
    • 10 x 20: $40
    • 10 x 20+: $45

    As you can see, peer-to-peer storage marketplaces like Neighbor can help you locate secure and affordable storage units. You can either find cheap St. George self storage to lease or rent out your own local storage spaces for extra income.

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