A fast-growing city renowned for its parks and Pine Valley Mountain scenery
Warm weather and striking parks continue to bring newcomers to St. George, Utah — a city in the Mojave Desert directly south of the Pine Valley Mountains. “The biggest reasons to move here are the weather, the outside beauty and all the outdoor adventures,” says Realtor Jake Peart, who works with KW St George, Keller Williams Realty and has over a decade of experience in the area. St. George has proximity to state parks and national parks, plus activities like rock climbing, mountain biking and swimming. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city grew dramatically; brand new subdivisions have added more housing as the city continues to grow. It now has a population of about 100,000, but its Main Street historic district maintains a small-town vibe.
Get the family together and enjoy the outdoors at Pioneer Park in St. George, Utah.
Snow Canyon State Park is a popular choice for a day trip from St. George.
As part of downtown St. George, Main St. contains historic buildings catering to visitors.
St. George is surrounded by the beautiful Pine Valley mountains.
1/4
Recreation hubs includes Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hollow State Park and Zion National Park
St. George is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. “There are tons of different bike trails, the city bike trails as well as the mountain bike trails that a lot of people love to go on. Five national parks are close by, and we have lots of state parks. And there are side-by-side and Jeep trails,” Peart says. The St. George 2040 Vision includes plans to connect the trails and parks throughout the city, while protecting the best viewpoints. One of the most popular parks is Snow Canyon State Park, which features about 40 miles of trails and rock climbing through lava tubes and sand dunes. Sand Hollow State Park has red sandstone cliffs around the Sand Hollow Reservoir, where many visitors cliff jump, swim and boat. Located about thirty miles northeast of St. George, Zion National Park offers nearly 150,000 acres of hiking and camping, with stunning scenery of slot canyons beside the Virgin River. “Another reason people like St. George is lots of golf courses. The Black Desert Golf Course will be having the PGA Tour in October,” Peart says.
With a desert setting, the city allows residents to spend time outdoors year-round, although the summers can be hot with an average high in the 90s. The severe heat risk is monitored by Utah State Parks, which posts about safety online. There’s also severe wildfire risk, which the county mitigates with prevention education from its fire departments.
Snow Canyon State Park is a St. George outdoor enthusiasts's favorite.
The Black Desert Golf Course is massive golf course where St. George locals can practice golfing
St. George is full of bike trails for bikers and hikers alike.
Many of the state parks have lakes and reservoirs that St George locals can enjoy.
1/4
Historic and midcentury options, with a bounty of new construction in St. George
Downtown St. George is at the heart of the city, with grid-style blocks of historic homes, some built in the 1910s. Here a Craftsman bungalow may cost around $400,000. From there, the city expands into looser blocks of midcentury houses, with many ranch-style homes priced around $600,000. Recently, the area has seen rapid growth due to COVID-19, which increased the number of people moving from urban areas to more rural communities like St. George was. The city’s property values increased as did the number of new subdivisions, including many HOA gated communities and golf course communities. These have new construction homes, which can cost around $2 million in an HOA community and about $4 million in a golf course community. “There are still a lot of people coming this way. We have a good consistent market right now, and it will probably stay the same unless interest rates go down or up,” Peart says. For that reason, the city continues to build new housing. On average, homes stay on the market for 50 days in contrast to the national average of 44 days, with a median sales price of around $500,000.
St. George has many new constructions that sit in quieter areas.
Historic homes still sit in the downtown area in St. George.
Ranch-style homes are the most prominent in St. George.
Bungalows are another popular type of home found in St. George.
1/4
Washington County School District, Utah Tech University and more
The city is served by the Washington County School District, which has a B-plus rating on Niche. It has an A-plus rating for administration and A ratings for its teachers and clubs and activities. Serving about 38,000 students, the district’s student-teacher ratio is 26-to-1. For higher education, there’s Utah Tech University in St. George and Southern Utah University in Cedar City.
Bloomington Hills Elementary School is ranked #184 in Utah Elementary Schools.
Desert Hills High School is loved by its students.
Desert Hills Middle School serves grades 8 to 9.
Sunrise Ridge Intermediate is part of the Washington County School District in Utah.
1/4
Historic downtown St. George and more retail
The city’s main retail hub is downtown St. George, a classic Main Street-stye group of city blocks with of theaters, local shops, galleries and restaurants. It retains a small-town atmosphere despite the city’s growth, hosting community events like the St. George Art Festival and the St. George Christmas Village. The St. George Utah Temple is also located in downtown for those who practice the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There’s more shopping at strip malls throughout the city, most heavily on Red Cliffs Drive and Sunset Boulevard.
The St. George Utah Temple stands tall above all else in St. George.
Art galleries are a common finding in St. George.
The Green Gate Village in St. George is a popular area in downtown to explore local shops.
Downtown St. George stretches a few blocks with visitors finding shops, galleries and eateries.
1/4
Athletic events like the St. George Marathon and the Ironman
Not only is there plenty of recreation available in the nearby state parks, the city itself hosts athletic events throughout the year, from 5Ks to triathlons. “There are busier times with events like the Ironman and the St. George Marathon, but it’s kind of a smaller town feel at the same time,” Peart says. Most recently, the St. George Marathon sold out in 2024; the race has been going strong since 1977. The yearly event, usually in early October, also includes a half marathon and walking events that appeal to many residents. The Ironman course starts with a swim in the reservoir at Sand Hollow State Park, transitions to biking through Snow Canyon State Park and ends with a run in downtown St. George.
The Ironman is a popular annual event in St. George.
Events such as marathons pass through downtown St. George.
St. George has plenty of trails throughout for Ironman and marathon competitors to practice.
5K's and triathlons commonly run through different state parks near St. George.
1/4
The closest big cities to St. George, the SunTran Bus System and more logistics
St. George is about 120 miles from Las Vegas, and residents can get there going southwest on Interstate 15, which takes around 2 hours. Provo, north on I-15, is about 260 miles away, a drive of several hours. Many residents work within St. George at the city’s biggest employers: SkyWest Airlines, Intermountain Health and Wilson Electronics. For public transportation, the town is served by the SunTran Bus System. St. George Regional Hospital River Road is centrally located in the area. The closest airport is the St. George Regional Airport, and the closest major airport is the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.
The crime rates in St. George
According to data from the FBI, St. George’s reported violent crime rate is slightly higher than the statewide rate, and the property crime rate is significantly lower than the state figure. Between 2022 and 2023, the violent crime rate increased by nearly 26%, and property crime rates dropped by about 3%. The police department offers S.P.E.A.R. Academy, a free summer program for middle school students to learn about police work and safety.
With 25+ years of experience, Daniel Porter leads a dynamic team of agents specializing in new construction and buyer representation. We offer cutting-edge technology including 3D walk-throughs and real-time transaction updates. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition in the industry. Beyond real estate, we're passionate about community involvement and personal fulfillment. Experience the Daniel Porter difference today.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
