The Town FilesCentral, Utah
Community in Washington County · population 656 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $368,800
- Household income
- $115,486
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 53.5
Central is a community of 656 people in Washington County, Utah. The median home is worth $368,800, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Utah towns, quieter than 95% of Utah towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of Utah towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Utah
- #12 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Utah
- #16 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Utah
- #18 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Utah
- #26 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
- #26 in The 50 Best Places for Young Families in America
How Central ranks
Percentile among Utah towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Utah towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Central is worth $368,800, below the typical Utah town ($457,300). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $115,486, which is more affordable than 93% of Utah towns. 90.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $368,800 | $457,300 |
| Median rent | — | $1,395 |
| Median household income | $115,486 | $93,194 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.5% | 81.7% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1991 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.7% | — |
Who lives in Central
| People | Central | Typical Utah town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 34.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 13.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.7% | 31.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 6.5% |
| Veterans | 12.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 26.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 35.8 min | 22.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 94.3% |
Weather in Central
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 28.2°F. About 14.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.8 inches of snow (typical Utah town: 45.4 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Central since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on May 27, 1992.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 20, 2025 | Fire | FM-5591: Forsyth Fire |
| July 13, 2020 | Fire | FM-5321: Veyo West Fire |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4525: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3478: Covid-19 |
| June 21, 2016 | Fire | FM-5130: Saddle Fire |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 86,508 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,688 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Central itself the ACS puts it at 9.7%.
Towns near Central
- Veyo, UT6.5 mi · 586 people · home $440,900
- Dammeron Valley, UT8.0 mi · 871 people · home $821,100
- Enterprise, UT12.6 mi · 2,027 people · home $378,300
- Ivins, UT16.9 mi · 8,978 people · home $594,000
- Leeds, UT19.7 mi · 864 people · home $480,600
- Santa Clara, UT19.7 mi · 7,553 people · home $558,100
- Toquerville, UT20.9 mi · 1,870 people · home $563,200
- Washington, UT21.3 mi · 27,993 people · home $570,400
Central questions
Is Central, Utah a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central scores better for retirees than 92% of Utah towns and quieter than 95%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Central?
The median owner-occupied home in Central is valued at $368,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,486, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Central?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 28.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.2 inches of precipitation a year and 10.8 inches of snow.
Does Central get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Central in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)