Top Ten Reasons to Retire in St. George, Utah
Opinions From Those Who Have
Presented by Julie Millett, market specialist and top-producing broker with more than 25 years of luxury real estate experience.
Serving Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.
Over the past several years, St. George, Utah, has become one of the most desirable places for individuals and couples to retire. With its desert climate, stunning landscape and wide array of entertainment and outdoor recreation, St. George provides a wonderful retirement lifestyle.
We conducted an informal survey amongst those who have already retired in St. George to find out what drew them to the area and why it has been the perfect retirement location for them.
Here are the Top Ten Reasons to Retire in St. George - From Those Who Have.
10-Great Senior Communities
St. George is home to a thriving adult atmosphere. With golf course communities such as Sun River; luxury age-in-place communities like Snow Canyon Retirement Community; independent living communities such as Ovation, Sienna Hills and Legacy Village of St. George; and the Active Adult Community of Brio, one can easily find a home where others share their interests, passions and activity preferences in retirement.
As a fantastic place for retirees to meet and foster new friendships, you can also find groups of retirees that meet up for golf outings, hiking excursions, and enjoying the arts available in the St. George area.
9-Entertainment/Arts
Theater, live music, art festivals, and outdoor markets abound in and around St. George, with nearly every weekend offering a chance to get out and enjoy the talented individuals within the community. If participation in theater or other live entertainment is your fancy, there are ample opportunities for you to share your own talents as well!
A highlight of the area is Tuacahn Amphitheatre, nestled into the beautiful red rocks of Ivins, UT, bringing both outside and local talent to its spectacular venue. Here you can enjoy concerts, comedians, and world-class live theater under the stars.
Kayenta Art Village features unique shops from local artisans that bring the beauty of desert living to artful pieces for your home collection or to gift to others.
If casinos, fine dining and golf interest you, St. George is a short 30-minute drive to Mesquite, Nevada, and just a two-hour drive to Las Vegas, where you can also enjoy world-class dining and a diverse range of entertainment.
8-Conservative Values
Many retirees are looking for places that share the more conservative values and politics they grew up on. Here in St. George, individuals of any age can find others who openly share a deep love and devotion for God, family and country.
7-Low Crime Rates
According to AreaVibes, St. George gains a safety rating of A. With violent crime 56% lower than the national average, property crimes lower than 44% of the national average, and total crime lower than 46% of the national average, residents of the area feel safe to live their lives without threat of crime. While this is important to everyone, it is especially valuable to retirees.
6-Healthcare
St. George is known for its excellent healthcare system, with St. George Regional Hospital, a part of Intermountain Healthcare and a Level 2 Trauma Center, at the crux of its care. Additional specialized medical facilities ensure there is a broad range of services to meet community needs. Retirees can be confident they will receive the best possible care available within close proximity to where they live.
5-Cost of Living
While the cost of living is on the rise everywhere, St. George remains one of the more affordable retirement communities in the West, easily edging out overall cost of living in states such as Washington, California and Idaho. With low cost utilities for those south of the Virgin River and on Dixie Power, low property tax rates for primary home owners, and low cost of groceries, and everyday sundries, living in St. George can help stretch your retirement dollars.
4-Natural Beauty
From the rich red rock, deep black lava rock, stunning white rock, sweeping mountain views, desert greenery, and clear blue skies, St. George is truly a magnificent place of beauty and wonder. Many have mentioned that they find living amongst the red rock to be healing and grounding, and there is never a shortage of visual grandeur to behold! Thoughtfully designed communities fit right into the natural beauty.
Living in St. George puts you just a day drive - or less - away from some of the most well-known National Parks, including Zion National Park, Bryce National Park, and the Grand Canyon North Rim. Enjoy hiking in Gunlock and Snow Canyon State Parks, and cool off in the crystal blue waters of the reservoirs at Sand Hollow and Quail Creek State Parks. With so many State and National parks nearby, there is always an abundance of beauty to explore.
3-Friendly People & Family
St. George has some of the friendliest people you could ever meet. Service is kind and respectful, with individuals committed to helping you have a great experience. People are welcoming and eager to make new friends, allowing retirees to quickly ease into the community.
An amazing place to raise a family, many retirees find themselves moving to the St. George area to be closer to their children, grandchildren and other loved ones.
2-Weather
Boasting a dry and sunny climate, St. George enjoys more than 300 days a year of sunshine with moderate temperatures for nine months of the year. While some retirees leave to escape the hot summer months, many stay to bask in the warm, dry air that Southern Utah has to offer. Spring and fall bring exceptional weather with plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures that lend themselves to full enjoyment of the outdoor activities available in the area.
1-Outdoor Recreation
The variety of outdoor recreation available in St. George is consistently the biggest draw to moving to the area. In addition to close proximity to many National and State Parks, St. George boasts the best golf courses in Utah including Sky Mountain, Sand Hollow, Ledges, and the recently opened Black Desert Resort, host to the Fall 2024 PGA and Spring 2025 LPGA.
St. George is also home to world-class ATVing, an abundance of pickleball courts, an extensive bike and walking path infrastructure, and incredible hiking, climbing and rappelling, all within just minutes of any place in the area.
Look for Toquer Reservoir to be completed in 2026 to bring additional non-motorized boating activities, paddle boarding and camping to the area.
Proud host to the St. George Marathon, Huntsman Senior Games, Ironman Championship, Trail Hero ATV Event, 4x4 Jamboree, and the Red Bull Rampage, St. George is an ideal place for the sports and outdoor enthusiast.
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Whether you are most interested in entertainment and arts, outdoor adventure, good cost of living or a community of welcoming and friendly people, it all comes down to one thing… Quality of Life.
So come to St. George, where the quality of life is second to none and there is sure to be something to fulfill the retirement lifestyle of your dreams.
Interested in exploring the 55+ and other retirement communities in St. George, Utah?
Ask Julie Millett, your relocation and luxury home expert. Serving some of the sunniest locations in the continental US, Julie specializes in retirement, gated and golf communities and has extensive real estate experience in Southern Utah; Cave Creek and Wickenburg, Arizona; and Southern Nevada.
With unparalleled market knowledge and a commitment to personalized service, Julie is the premier choice for discerning buyers and sellers of luxury homes.
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