Cedar City sits in southern Utah at about 5,800 feet, an hour north of St. George on I-15 and built around Southern Utah University and the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival. It is the seat of Iron County and southern Utah’s other college town, cooler and more affordable than St. George, with its own seasonal rhythm tied to the university calendar and the summer festival crowd. This brief covers what homes cost across Cedar City’s neighborhoods in 2026, how SUU and the festival economy shape demand, and how the city compares to St. George down the freeway. Figures below are approximations drawn from the sources at the end. Verify against current Redfin or Zillow data before pricing or making an offer.
What is the median home price in Cedar City, Utah?
Cedar City’s approximate median sale price sat in the mid-$400,000s in early 2026, with the figure swinging by month and home-type mix. The Redfin Cedar City market page tracks it monthly and is the cleanest place to confirm the current number. Inventory has rebuilt to several hundred active listings, putting the market closer to balance than the seller-dominated stretch of a few years ago. The headline for buyers is affordability relative to St. George and the Wasatch Front. Cedar City’s entry price point draws first-time buyers, SUU-affiliated households, and out-of-state relocators looking for a milder-summer alternative to the Mojave heat down south. The offset is a smaller job market outside the university, regional healthcare, and tourism.
How do Cedar City and Iron County neighborhoods differ?
Prices step up from the older downtown core toward the newer subdivisions and the foothill and canyon-edge areas.
Ranges are illustrative based on cited sources. Specific homes vary by lot, vintage, and condition.
How do SUU and the festival economy shape demand?
Southern Utah University drives the rental market the way every college anchors its town: demand concentrates near campus and peaks ahead of fall semester. The older downtown and SUU-adjacent neighborhoods hold most of the student rentals, and an investor’s return there depends on buying close to campus and confirming the city’s occupancy and rental-licensing rules with Cedar City before underwriting. Layered on top is the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the summer tourism season, which fill short-term lodging from roughly late spring through early fall. That seasonality supports some short-term-rental demand, but short-term rentals are zoning-dependent, so verify what a specific property and zone actually allow rather than assuming a nightly-rental income stream.
How does Cedar City compare to St. George?
The two southern Utah markets are often weighed against each other, and the trade-offs are clear.
- Price: Cedar City generally runs more affordable than St. George at the median.
- Climate: At about 5,800 feet, Cedar City is noticeably cooler than St. George, with real winters and snow; St. George stays mild and hot.
- Economy: Cedar City leans on SUU, regional services, and tourism; St. George is a larger, faster-growing metro with deeper healthcare and retail.
- Commute: The two are about an hour apart on I-15, so some buyers split the difference depending on work and lifestyle.
Buyer-agent compensation is independently negotiable and may vary based on market conditions and buyer representation agreements, a line worth watching as you build a budget.
What listing options exist for Cedar City sellers?
Iron County sellers have the same three broad listing models available statewide: percentage-based agent listings (some commission structures may total around 5–6%, though commissions are fully negotiable), flat-fee brokerages (a single flat fee regardless of sale price), and for-sale-by-owner. All three list on the same statewide MLS and syndicate to the major portals identically. For a $440,000 Cedar City home, an illustrative 3% listing-side commission would be $13,200 (illustrative only; rates vary and are negotiable). Flat-fee listing models replace that percentage with a fixed dollar amount. Current pricing for Homie’s flat-fee listing is at homie.com/sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my Cedar City home worth?
Run a free automated valuation on Zillow, Redfin, or Homie’s home value report for a Cedar City-specific estimate, then adjust for recent sold comps within a quarter-mile and for proximity to SUU and the foothills. For a high-confidence figure, hire a Utah-licensed appraiser, typically $400–$600.
Is Cedar City cheaper than St. George?
Generally yes. Cedar City’s median sale price typically runs below St. George, which is one of the main reasons buyers look an hour north. Cedar City is also cooler year-round because of its higher elevation.
Is Cedar City a good place to buy a rental?
Cedar City has steady SUU-driven rental demand at a low entry price, plus seasonal festival and tourism demand. Returns hinge on buying near campus, confirming occupancy zoning, and verifying short-term-rental rules before relying on nightly income.
What is the weather like in Cedar City compared to southern Utah’s desert?
At about 5,800 feet, Cedar City has four distinct seasons with real winter snow, unlike St. George’s mild desert climate an hour south. Summers are warm but cooler than the Mojave-influenced markets.
How long are homes taking to sell in Cedar City?
Homes have been selling in a roughly balanced market in early 2026, with inventory rebuilt to several hundred active listings. Check the Redfin Cedar City page for the current days-on-market figure.
That’s the read on Cedar City. If you want to know what your current home might actually sell for before the next SUU leasing season or festival summer, a free estimate at homie.com/home-value-report takes about 30 seconds. We’re a licensed Utah brokerage that watches the southern markets too, not just the Wasatch Front. The figures here are approximations, so double-check them against Redfin or Zillow before you price anything for real.
— The Homie Team
- Redfin Cedar City Housing Market
- Zillow Cedar City Home Values
- Cedar City (zoning and rental licensing)
- FRED, Median Listing Price in Cedar City (CBSA)
- Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah housing data
*All brokerage fees, including listing and buyer agent compensation, are fully negotiable and determined solely by the seller and service provider. *Flat-fee pricing and service availability may vary by location and are subject to change over time. Verify current pricing before listing. *Past performance is not indicative of future results. *Examples and potential savings are for illustrative purposes only.