Is Clearfield, Utah a Good Place to Live? An Honest Local Guide

Is Clearfield, Utah a good place to live? For a lot of Hill AFB families and buyers on a budget, yes. It is one of the cheapest ways into Davis County, as long as you know the trade-offs.

Is Clearfield, Utah a good place to live?

Yes, for the right buyer. Clearfield offers some of Davis County's lowest home prices, a short drive to Hill AFB, and a FrontRunner station. The trade-offs are older homes, smaller lots, and uneven blocks.

Clearfield is a working town. It is not trying to be Farmington or Kaysville, and that is exactly why people move here.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates, Clearfield has 33,523 residents, a median home value of $373,900, and a median household income of $75,495. That home value is the lowest of any Davis County city in our comparison set.

So the honest short answer: Clearfield is a good place to live if you value location and price over polish. If you want a newer home on a quiet half-acre, you will likely be happier a few miles south or west. You can get the full city overview on our Clearfield community page.

Where Clearfield sits and why location is its biggest selling point

Clearfield sits in north Davis County along I-15, bordering Hill Air Force Base to the east. It is close to Layton, Syracuse, Roy, and Sunset, with a FrontRunner commuter rail station.

Location is Clearfield's superpower. The city wraps along the west side of Hill Air Force Base, one of the largest employers in the state. For many airmen and civilian workers, the drive to work is short and avoids most of the I-15 crush.

You also get I-15 access and a FrontRunner station, which runs commuter rail north to Ogden and south toward Salt Lake City. That matters for a spouse who works downtown and would rather read than drive.

Clearfield is also home to the Freeport Center, a large industrial and distribution park that grew out of a World War II naval supply depot. It brings jobs, but also truck traffic on the streets around it.

Neighbors matter too. Layton is next door for big-box shopping and dining, and Syracuse sits to the west on the way to Antelope Island.

What homes cost in Clearfield compared to nearby cities

Clearfield's 2024 Census median home value is $373,900. That is below Roy ($383,000), Layton ($477,700), and Bountiful ($532,200), and far below Kaysville ($623,700) and Farmington ($650,700).

Price is the main reason buyers look at Clearfield. Per the U.S. Census Bureau, Clearfield's median home value of $373,900 is about $103,800 less than Layton's $477,700. Against Farmington's $650,700, the gap is roughly $276,800.

Keep in mind what a median is. It is the middle value of all homes, including older ranches and small condos. A newer two-story in Clearfield will cost more than $373,900, and a dated townhome will cost less.

Census estimates also lag the live market. For what is actually for sale today, browse current Clearfield listings on the MLS.

The honest affordability picture: lower prices, but also lower incomes

Clearfield homes are cheaper, but local incomes are lower too. Its 2024 median home value is about 4.95 times median household income, close to Ogden's ratio and higher than Roy's or Layton's.

Here is a detail most "cheap suburb" articles skip. Clearfield's median household income of $75,495 is lower than Roy ($91,282), Layton ($102,480), or Kaysville ($133,026), per the Census Bureau's ACS 2024 data.

Divide the median home value by median income and Clearfield lands around 4.95. Roy is about 4.20 and Layton about 4.66. In plain terms, Clearfield is cheaper in dollars, but not dramatically easier for the typical local household to afford.

Why does this matter to you? If your income is set by military pay or a job elsewhere, you are not tied to Clearfield's median. A household earning like a typical Layton family can buy in Clearfield with more breathing room in the monthly budget.

Renting in Clearfield: what the numbers say

Clearfield's 2024 Census median gross rent is $1,579 a month. That is higher than Ogden ($1,216) and slightly higher than Layton and Kaysville ($1,538), even though home values are lower.

Rent is the surprise in Clearfield's data. According to the Census Bureau, median gross rent here is $1,579, which is $363 more than Ogden and a bit above Layton.

The likely reason is demand. Steady rental demand from base personnel, contractors, and Freeport Center workers keeps rents firm. Gross rent also includes utilities, so the housing mix plays a role.

That cuts two ways:

• If you are renting: Clearfield is not the bargain for renters that it is for buyers. Compare monthly rent against a mortgage payment before signing a lease.
• If you plan to rent the home out after a PCS: lower purchase prices plus solid rents is the math landlords like. Run real numbers on a specific property, not on medians.

Is Clearfield, Utah a safe place to live?

Clearfield is a normal suburban city where safety depends heavily on the block. Some streets feel quiet and family-oriented; others near busy corridors see more activity. Check official police data and visit at night.

This is the question we hear most, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a made-up ranking. Online "safest cities" lists use inconsistent methods, so we do not repeat them here.

What we can tell you as locals: Clearfield's feel changes from block to block. Neighborhoods tucked off main roads tend to be quieter. Areas along busy commercial corridors, near apartment clusters, and around the industrial zone see more traffic and more calls for service.

How to check a specific street yourself:

1. Look up incident data through the Clearfield Police Department or the public safety pages on Davis County's official site.
2. Drive the street on a weeknight and a weekend evening.
3. Talk to a neighbor. People in Clearfield are usually happy to tell you how the street really is.
4. Ask base housing or your sponsor where coworkers live and why.

If an area feels off to you, trust that. There is usually another option a mile away at a similar price.

What the houses are actually like, plus the jet noise question

Much of Clearfield's housing is older, smaller ranch and split-level homes, mixed with townhomes, apartments, and some newer pockets. Homes near Hill AFB's flight path will hear jet noise.

Clearfield grew up around the base and the wartime supply depot. That means a lot of mid-century ranches and split-levels on modest lots, plus townhomes and apartment complexes. Newer construction exists, but it is the exception, not the rule.

What that means in practice:

• Budget for updates: roofs, windows, furnaces, and electrical panels on older homes.
• Get a thorough inspection, including the sewer line on older properties.
• Expect smaller garages and yards than in Syracuse or West Point.

Jet noise is real. Hill AFB flies fighter aircraft, and homes under the approach and departure paths hear it. Some people stop noticing within weeks; others never do. Visit during a weekday flying window before you commit, and check the noise information published by Hill AFB.

Daily life: schools, parks, shopping, and getting outside

Clearfield is served by Davis School District, has city parks and a recreation center, and relies on nearby Layton for most big shopping. Antelope Island and the Wasatch foothills are both a short drive.

Schools: Clearfield is part of Davis School District, including Clearfield High School. School performance varies by school, so look up the specific schools tied to an address on the district's site and the state's school report cards rather than relying on city-wide labels.

Shopping and errands: You will find groceries and everyday stores in town. For malls, big-box stores, and more restaurants, most residents head a few minutes south to Layton.

Outdoors: This is where Northern Utah shines. Antelope Island State Park is reached through Syracuse to the west. The mountains east of the base offer hiking, and Ogden-area ski resorts are within reach for winter weekends.

For a broader look at the area, our Davis County community guide covers the surrounding cities.

Why Clearfield works for Hill AFB military families

Clearfield's proximity to Hill AFB, lower purchase prices, and steady rental demand make it a practical PCS choice, especially for families who may keep the home as a rental after their next move.

For military families, Clearfield checks three boxes at once: a short drive to base, a lower entry price, and a deep pool of future renters when orders come again.

Many buyers here use a VA loan. That is its own topic, so we will just say this: VA financing can work well on Clearfield's price points, and you can read the basics on the VA's home loan page.

One PCS-specific tip: think like a future landlord now. A home with a functional layout, a garage, and a quiet street will rent faster and with fewer headaches when you are stationed elsewhere.

Our Hill AFB PCS relocation guide walks through timing, house hunting from out of state, and gate access.

Who Clearfield is right for, and who it is not

Clearfield fits first-time buyers, Hill AFB families, commuters using FrontRunner, and future landlords. It fits less well for buyers wanting newer homes, large lots, quiet skies, or top-dollar resale.

Clearfield is a strong fit if you:

• Work on Hill AFB or at the Freeport Center and want a short commute.
• Are buying your first home and want into Davis County without Layton or Kaysville prices.
• Plan to rent the home out after a PCS.
• Commute to Salt Lake or Ogden and want a FrontRunner stop nearby.

Clearfield is probably not right for you if you:

• Want a newer home with a big yard. Look at Syracuse, West Point, or Kaysville.
• Are sensitive to aircraft noise and cannot find a home off the flight path.
• Want maximum appreciation and resale prestige. Higher-priced cities tend to attract a different buyer pool.
• Do not want to take on updates to an older house.

We would rather you buy in the right town than in Clearfield for the wrong reasons.

Clearfield vs. Roy, Layton, and other nearby cities

Compared with its neighbors, Clearfield has the lowest median home value in Davis County's set, mid-range rent, and lower median income. Roy is the closest match on price with higher incomes.

Here is how Clearfield stacks up on the U.S. Census Bureau's ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates:

Roy is Clearfield's closest twin. It also borders Hill AFB, costs only about $9,100 more at the median, and shows higher household incomes. Many buyers tour both before deciding.

Layton costs more but offers more shopping and newer subdivisions. Ogden is slightly cheaper and has much lower median rent, but sits farther from the base's south side.

How to shop for a home in Clearfield the smart way

Pick your street, not just your city. Check the flight path, inspect older systems carefully, compare rent versus buy, and tour Clearfield alongside Roy and Layton before you commit.

1. Map your commute first. Know which base gate you will use, then shop the neighborhoods that make that drive easy.
2. Check noise and traffic. Visit during flying hours and rush hour. Note truck routes near the Freeport Center.
3. Inspect older homes thoroughly. Ask about roof age, furnace and water heater age, and sewer line condition.
4. Run rental math if you might PCS. Compare likely rent to your full payment, including taxes, insurance, and a maintenance reserve.
5. Tour comparison homes. Seeing a similar home in Roy or Layton the same day sharpens your sense of value.

If you are relocating from out of state, grab our free 208-page PCS and relocation guide. It covers every city around Hill AFB in more depth than any single post can.

Donald I. Gomez

Broker · The DIG Team at Elevation RE · Weber & Davis County

Donald helps buyers, sellers, and PCSing military families move across Northern Utah — from Ogden to the Wasatch. A longtime Hill AFB-area local, he tours new builds and resale homes every week on his YouTube channel.

Full bio → YouTube Call (801) 603-5213