LOCAL NEWS

Survey: Quality of life in Utah is in decline

Jun 29, 2022, 6:21 PM | Updated: 7:30 pm

SALT LAKE CITY – Despite a booming economy, a new survey reveals that housing prices and inflation are taking a toll on the quality of life in Utah.

The Utah Foundation’s Community Quality of Life Index dropped to 64 this year out of a possible 100 points. Since the survey was first conducted in 2011 the index has hovered between 70 and 73 points.

“The big headline in terms of community quality of life is that our community quality of life is going down,” Shawn Teigen, director of research for the Utah Foundation said. He said the main reasons for the decline are inflationary: housing affordability and other increasing costs of living like food and utilities.

Utah Quality of Life Index

“It’s our cost of living that has drawn down this quality of life by a substantial margin,” Teigen said in an interview with KSL TV.

“Utah’s rapidly rising housing costs have made many Utahns feel like rents and ownership are no longer affordable,” the report states. “And inflation is causing angst among many Utahns.”

The survey, which was conducted last month, asks Utahns to rate their communities based on 20 factors.

“We saw a big nose dive and it’s kind of surprising to us,” Teigen said. “We figured that it would go down a little bit but it didn’t realize that it would go down this far.”

Besides the cost of housing and other living costs, the other main issues the survey said are dragging down quality of life are traffic, availability of recreational and social programs, quality of public schools, and the quality of air and water.

Over the previous decade, 18 of the 20 factors have seen a downward trend. The category about having family nearby did not change significantly while the category about good job opportunities experienced a positive trend.

“The availability of good jobs is the only factor on Utah Foundation’s Community Quality of Life Index that has trended upward during the past decade,” the report said.

Utah Quality of Life Index

The Utah Foundation said this survey sends a clear message to policy makers that affordable housing is a top concern that needs to be addressed. Those with a religious affiliation, those with more education, older residents, men, and those with higher incomes reported a better quality of life, the report said.

“Among the most striking findings in this study is the tight linkage between religious affiliation and a significantly higher community quality of life,” the researchers write. “In fact, those respondents who identified with a religion indicated a higher quality of life on 12 of 20 aspects of the community index.”

The researchers also note that having post-secondary education was also closely linked to respondents indicating a higher quality of life in 11 of the 20 factors.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Autumn Mercado, who was found dead in her home on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025....

Garna Mejia

Charges pending in case of West Jordan mother found dead, family seeks justice and protection for children

Nearly a month after the discovery of a West Jordan woman's body during a welfare check, charges in the case have yet to be filed.

8 hours ago

FILE - A police vehicle flashes its lights. (Matt Rourke, Associated Press) FILE: police lights. On...

Michael Houck

Pedestrian killed after being hit by a vehicle, Santa Clara-Ivins police say

A woman was fatally hit by a vehicle Friday evening, Santa Clara-Ivins police say.

8 hours ago

An Orem home that was scheduled to be demolished on fire on Feb. 4, 2025....

Brian Carlson

Massive Orem house fire being investigated as arson

A fire that destroyed an empty Orem home in a wooded area of the city is now being investigated as arson.

9 hours ago

Nancy Duncan and Nick Jenderko behind Sabrina Carpenter at the 2025 Grammy Awards show....

Mike Anderson

Utahns sat among stars at the Grammys

Some Utahns earned some bragging rights after a night at the Grammy Awards.

10 hours ago

FILE: On the same day the Utah’s Senate unanimously passed a resolution to bring an NHL franchise...

Daniella Rivera

‘You are inviting rapists to Utah’: Survivor urges lawmakers to consider consent bill

Year after year, Utah lawmakers have resisted or ignored efforts to close what experts and advocates say is a gap in the state’s sexual assault laws. The lawmaker behind those efforts hopes this year will be different.

11 hours ago

Over a thousand people filled the state Capitol rotunda Friday pleading for Gov. Spencer Cox to vet...

Shara Park

Thousands gather at Capitol Hill to protest against controversial union bill

Over a thousand people filled the Utah State Capitol rotunda Friday pleading for Gov. Spencer Cox to veto HB267.

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Survey: Quality of life in Utah is in decline