Moving for Hill Air Force Base can feel like a race against the clock. You are trying to learn a new area, compare housing options, and make smart decisions without wasting time or money. If Clearfield is on your list, this guide will help you understand why so many relocating households consider it, what the housing mix looks like, and how to plan your move with more confidence. Let’s dive in.
Why Clearfield stands out
Clearfield is one of the communities closest to Hill Air Force Base, which makes it a practical place to start your search. Hill AFB is also Utah’s largest single-site employer, with more than 26,000 military and civilian employees, so nearby housing decisions affect a lot of relocating households.
Another point in Clearfield’s favor is access. The South Gate at Hill AFB is open 24/7, while the West and North gates have more limited hours. That means your work schedule and your preferred gate may shape which part of Clearfield feels most convenient for you.
For many buyers and renters, the real appeal is flexibility. You can look at areas with quick car access to I-15 and Hill Field Road, or you can weigh homes near transit if you want another commuting option.
Clearfield commute options
One of Clearfield’s biggest practical advantages is its FrontRunner station. UTA’s FrontRunner runs from Ogden to Provo, serves 15 stations, and offers 30-minute weekday peak service plus 60-minute non-peak and Saturday service. The Clearfield station is located at 1250 S. State St.
That regional rail access gives you another way to think about location. If you want to stay connected to other parts of northern Utah, living near the station may be appealing. FrontRunner also serves as a transit anchor for the city and connects with other UTA services.
If you plan to drive most days, your search will likely focus on road access and gate patterns. If you want the option to mix driving with transit, Clearfield gives you a setup that many nearby communities do not match in quite the same way.
What housing looks like in Clearfield
Clearfield offers a mix of established suburban neighborhoods and newer infill or station-area housing. That matters if you are relocating because it gives you more than one path depending on your timeline, budget, and preferred home style.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Clearfield’s 2024 population estimate was 34,778, with 11,268 households. The owner-occupied housing rate was 58.6%, the median owner-occupied home value was $373,900, and the median monthly rent was $1,579.
In simple terms, Clearfield is not just one type of housing market. The city’s planning documents and development pipeline show apartments, townhomes, mixed-use housing, and single-family projects all playing a role in the local inventory.
Newer and established home options
If you want a more traditional suburban feel, you can focus on established single-family areas and newer detached-home developments. City reporting also points to single-family projects such as Wilcox Farms and Heritage East as part of the housing pipeline.
If you prefer lower-maintenance living or want something closer to transit and newer mixed-use areas, there are also townhome and apartment options in the city’s station-area and downtown planning efforts. Examples named in city materials include Clearfield Station, Lotus Anthem, Indigo 880, and Union Townhomes.
This range can be especially helpful during a PCS move. Some households want to buy a detached home right away, while others prefer to rent first, learn the area, and make a purchase later.
Everyday life in Clearfield
Relocation is not only about the house. It is also about what daily life feels like once the moving boxes are gone.
Clearfield has a strong lineup of parks, trails, and public amenities that make day-to-day living easier. City parks include North Steed Park and Pond, South Steed Park, Bernard F. Fisher Park, Jesse D. Barlow Park, and Island View Park.
The city also highlights the D&RGW Rail Trail, the Canal Trail, and the 200 South Trail. In addition, Clearfield notes amenities such as a dog park, pickleball courts, fishing and paddleboarding at Steed Pond, and trail connections into the broader Golden Spoke network.
Recreation and local services
The Clearfield Aquatic & Fitness Center is a major local amenity, especially if you value year-round recreation. Located at 825 S. State Street, it includes an indoor leisure pool with a lazy river, lap pool, hot tub, outdoor splash pad, weight room, cardio equipment, indoor track, basketball courts, group fitness, and on-site childcare.
For everyday services, the Davis County Clearfield Branch library at 1 N Main offers hold pickup, Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, public internet, early literacy learning, 3D printing, Adobe Creative Suite, OneButtonStudio, and equipment checkout. The Davis County Health Department’s main campus is also in Clearfield at 22 S State St.
Those details may sound small when you are house hunting, but they matter once you live there. Easy access to parks, fitness space, library resources, and county services can make a new city feel familiar faster.
Shopping and growth in Clearfield
Clearfield is also seeing continued investment around its downtown and station area. City planning and reporting point to more commercial, retail, office, and public open space around Clearfield Station, along with mixed-use projects and additional housing.
For you, that can mean a city that is still evolving. If you like the idea of living in a community with both established neighborhoods and areas seeing new development, Clearfield offers that mix.
It also means your home search may come down to lifestyle preference. Some buyers want a quieter established neighborhood, while others want to be closer to newer projects and future growth corridors.
Buying from out of state
If you are relocating from another state, the buying process often starts before your move is fully locked in. Military OneSource notes that you may receive PCS notification before official orders arrive, but you cannot schedule your move until official orders are in hand.
Hill AFB’s relocation office offers PCS planning consultations, Plan My Move, workshops, predeparture briefings, settling-in services, and newcomer orientation. Those resources can help you organize the move itself while you work through your housing options.
When you are shopping remotely, it helps to separate research from final decisions. Virtual tours can be a great screening tool, but they work best as a first filter rather than a substitute for in-person due diligence.
Smart remote-buying steps
If you are considering buying in Clearfield from out of state, keep your process simple and disciplined.
- Start with your budget and financing plan early.
- Narrow your search by commute route, gate access, and home type.
- Use virtual showings to eliminate homes that do not fit.
- Include a financing contingency and an inspection contingency in your offer when appropriate.
- Schedule an independent home inspection as soon as possible.
- Attend the inspection if you can.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says lenders evaluate income, assets, employment, savings, debt payments, your credit report, and your credit score. The same guidance also recommends making offers contingent on financing and a satisfactory inspection, then scheduling an independent inspection quickly.
Renting first during a PCS
Buying right away is not the best move for every household. Sometimes renting first gives you time to learn commute patterns, compare neighborhoods, and get more comfortable with the area before you make a long-term purchase.
That can be a smart option in a market where housing choices include apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes. Clearfield’s range of housing types makes that flexibility easier than in places with a narrower housing mix.
If your plans change after you rent, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act can matter. It allows lease termination when PCS orders are received or when the service member is deployed for 90 days or more, with written notice and a copy of orders.
Budgeting for the move
Housing costs are only part of the relocation picture. The U.S. Census Bureau reports a median monthly rent of $1,579 in Clearfield, while the median owner-occupied home value is $373,900, which gives you a useful baseline as you compare rent-versus-buy scenarios.
For military households, BAH can help with planning, but it is important to treat it as a budgeting tool rather than a guarantee that every housing cost will be fully covered. DoD guidance notes that BAH varies by location, rank, and dependency status and is meant to help cover housing costs rather than replace them.
Clearfield’s mean travel time to work is 21.8 minutes, according to Census data. That stat is not specific to Hill AFB, but it does offer a general snapshot of local commuting patterns as you build your monthly budget and schedule.
How to decide if Clearfield fits
Clearfield makes sense for many Hill AFB relocations because it checks several practical boxes at once. It is close to the base, connected to regional transit, and offers a mix of home types from established single-family neighborhoods to newer townhome and apartment communities.
It also gives you solid everyday infrastructure. Parks, trails, fitness amenities, library resources, county services, and growing commercial areas all add to the city’s convenience.
If your goal is to make a smart move with fewer surprises, Clearfield deserves a close look. And if you want local guidance as you compare commute patterns, home styles, and timing, working with a team that knows Davis County can make the process feel a lot more manageable.
If you are planning a move near Hill Air Force Base and want practical, low-pressure help sorting through Clearfield housing options, Doxey Real Estate Group can help you explore your choices with local insight and responsive support.
FAQs
Is Clearfield a good place to live for Hill Air Force Base commuters?
- Clearfield is one of the communities closest to Hill AFB, and many relocating households consider it because of its access to the base, I-15, Hill Field Road, and the Clearfield FrontRunner station.
What types of homes are available in Clearfield, Utah?
- Clearfield offers a mix of established single-family neighborhoods plus newer apartments, townhomes, and mixed-use housing in downtown and station-area developments.
What is the median home value in Clearfield, Utah?
- The U.S. Census Bureau reports a median owner-occupied home value of $373,900 in Clearfield.
What is the median rent in Clearfield, Utah?
- The U.S. Census Bureau reports a median monthly rent of $1,579 in Clearfield.
Does Clearfield have public transit for commuters?
- Yes. UTA’s FrontRunner serves Clearfield at 1250 S. State St. and provides regional rail service from Ogden to Provo, with weekday peak and non-peak service patterns.
Should military buyers use virtual tours when relocating to Clearfield?
- Yes, but virtual tours are best used to screen homes before an in-person visit or independent inspection rather than as a replacement for final due diligence.
