Thinking About Moving to St. George? Read This First
People move here for the winters, then meet their first July. An honest look at the heat, the growth, and what to sort out before you come.
People move to St. George for the winters and then meet their first July. So let's start there.
The heat is real, but it's dry
July and August run 102 to 105 most days, with the odd stretch over 110. Coming from Phoenix or Vegas, you'll shrug. Coming from Seattle, give yourself a summer to adjust. The payoff is the reason everyone's here in the first place: winters are genuinely beautiful — sunny, 60s, and yes, you'll golf in January.
It's growing fast, and that cuts both ways
The metro area is pushing 200,000 and building constantly out toward Little Valley, Washington Fields, and Hurricane. Traffic on the main corridors has become an actual thing, and home prices climbed right along with the crowds — the median sits in the mid-$500s now and rentals are tight. Come with your housing figured out or a short-term plan in your back pocket.
What you actually need to know
- Healthcare is better than you'd expect for a city this size. Intermountain's St. George Regional Hospital is the anchor and the area's biggest employer.
- Flying anywhere serious usually means Las Vegas, about an hour and forty-five down I-15. The local airport has limited service to a few hubs.
- Water is the long-term question hanging over everything out here — it shapes landscaping rules, the growth debates, and eventually your own yard. Plan on desert landscaping and you'll save money and grief.
- Sundays are slow. This is a heavily LDS area, so a lot of places keep shorter hours and the town is quieter than a city this size usually is.
Come visit in July before you sign anything. If you still want in after that, you'll fit right in.
Frequently asked questions
How hot does it get in St. George in summer?
July and August average highs of 102 to 105 F, with occasional stretches above 110. It is dry heat, and winters are mild and sunny.
Do I have to fly out of Las Vegas?
For most destinations, yes. Harry Reid International in Las Vegas is about 1 hour 45 minutes away. St. George Regional Airport has limited flights to a few hubs.