Ogden vs St. George
Compare Ogden, UT and St. George, UT on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,254/mo in Ogden and $1,321/mo in St. George, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,350/mo and $1,355/mo. Across the four public-data screens St. George comes out ahead (237 vs 223 summed points), though Ogden still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 88°F and 92°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Ogden screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (52 vs 9/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Ogden; if walkable daily life matters more, Ogden screens stronger on the walkability proxy (17 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Ogden leads 59 to 50 on the cost and climate screen.
St. George leads 79 to 74 on the work screen.
St. George leads 53 to 40 on the daily life screen.
St. George leads 55 to 50 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Ogden is roughly $85,000 in St. George using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Ogden | St. George | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,254/mo | $1,321/mo | Ogden |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,350/mo | $1,355/mo | Ogden |
| Median home value | $385,000 | $417,000 | Ogden |
| State income tax | 4.5% | 4.5% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 19.8 min | St. George |
| Safety score | 54/100 | 57/100 | St. George |
| School score | 6/10 | 7/10 | St. George |
| Walkability estimate | 17/100 | 4/100 | Ogden |
| Outdoor score | 8/10 | 9/10 | St. George |
| Restaurants per 100k | 127.0 | 198.0 | St. George |
| Mountain distance | 7 mi | 30 mi | Ogden |
| Coast distance | 552 mi | 342 mi | St. George |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 52/100 | 9/100 | Ogden |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 0th | 95th | Ogden |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 78th | 29th | St. George |
| Earthquake risk percentile (NRI) | 90th | 58th | St. George |
What stands out
Ogden stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 2 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 6 miles
Ogden tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
St. George stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 14 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 50 miles
St. George tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- Higher natural disaster risk
Common questions
Is Ogden cheaper than St. George?
On public benchmarks Ogden is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,254/mo in Ogden vs $1,321/mo in St. George; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,350/mo vs $1,355/mo; state income tax is 4.5% vs 4.5%.
Is Ogden or St. George safer?
St. George screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 54/100 for Ogden and 57/100 for St. George (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Ogden or St. George?
School screens show 6/10 for Ogden vs 7/10 for St. George, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Ogden and St. George?
Ogden: summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 17°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. St. George: 92°F / 17°F, disaster-risk band 3/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
Start City Match