Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 16 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 102°F
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,335)
Smaller class sizes — 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,024 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
St. George, UT
Pros
76% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $43k less ($415,200 vs $458,600)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 40°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $3,024/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$3,024
$72,357 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
76% lower
210.0 vs 864.2 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$43k less
$415,200 vs $458,600
St. George
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 16 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City wins 7 and St. George wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Salt Lake City to St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $415,200 median home), income ($72,357 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and St. George, UT are about 270 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.