Written by: Dan Bammes
In the second of two podcasts surveying the general plans of counties and municipal governments in Utah on their provisions for aging Utahns, Utah Foundation Research Analyst Ashley Marshall-Cantor looks at some of the specific ideas reflected in those plans. A roundtable discussion follows, including Utah Foundation staff and leaders of agencies serving Utah’s aging population.
Written by: Staff
Most of us have heard that population growth is slowing across the United States. Many of us also know that Utah is a high-growth state. So how does Utah compare to other states? From 2024 to 2025, population growth slowed in 48 states. Four states even saw a population decrease.1 While this means the population of most states grew, that growth is slower than in the past. Slower growth may result from lower birth rates, … Continued
Written by: Dan Bammes
A new Utah Foundation report examines plans to serve Utah’s aging population in communities across the state. Researcher Ashley Marshall-Cantor outlines her findings, followed by a roundtable conversation with representatives of agencies serving older Utahns and their families. The podcast includes a conversation with: Ashley Marshall-Cantor, Utah Foundation Researcher Jimmy Golding, Mountainland Association of Governments Paul Leggett, Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services Joe Hirabayashi, AARP Linda Cole, Mountainland Association of Governments … Continued
Written by: Shawn Teigen
The Pew Charitable Trust’s State Fiscal Health project shows that Utah’s fertility rate declined the most of any state — by far — when comparing 2023 with the 2011-2020 average.* Fertility rates are the number of babies born per 1,000 women. Utah women averaged 75 babies per year between 2011 and 2020. That dropped to about 60 by 2023. Utah was second only to South Dakota during 2011-2020. Now Utah is eighth in the nation. … Continued
Written by: Peter Reichard
When we think of growth, we often picture developers buying an old farm or ranch and building a subdivision. We picture a growing civilizational footprint, turning what was once green into something gray. But Utah can look within the existing footprint for opportunities to grow. That means identifying sites within developed areas that are vacant or underutilized. Development of these sites is known as “infill.” Multiple factors are now converging in Utah to make infill … Continued
Written by: Peter Reichard
In this edition of Utah Thrives, Utah Foundation Vice President Shawn Teigen and President Peter Reichard sit down to discuss the new report, Filling in the Blanks: How Utah Communities Can Deploy Infill Development to Advance Quality of Life.
Written by: Peter Reichard
In this edition of Utah Thrives, Senior Analyst Christopher Collard and President Peter Reichard discuss the May 2022 Utah Foundation report, The Flowering of Youth: The Next Generation in Utah. The report is the sixth installment in the Utah Social Capital Series. The report revealed some surprising trends nationally, but also in a state that takes pride in its focus on youth.
Written by: Christopher Collard
Population Growth – Should we Stop It? Attitudes around limiting grow vary according to religious affiliation. Figure 1: Whether voters agreed or disagreed with the statement, “Utah Should Take Action to Slow its Population Growth in Urban Areas” As outlined in Part III, much of the Utah Foundation’s work directly or indirectly addresses the problems created by Utah’s population growth. We often examine ways to address these problems. However, in the Utah Priorities Project survey, … Continued
Written by: Christopher Collard
Growth and Transportation Infrastructure Utah has a history of robust investment in transportation infrastructure. Utah’s investment in transportation went to a new level after 2020; the state budget for transportation in 2022 is nearly twice that of its 2012-2020, even after accounting for inflation and population growth. While traffic decreased during the pandemic, it recovered by January 2021, and while Utah is among the top five states for remote workers, it is not clear to … Continued
Written by: Christopher Collard
Utah’s rapid growth means the state can expect to continue seeing a growing economy and increased national prominence. But it would be a mistake to assume that this growth can come without a price. Certainly, survey respondents to the Utah Foundation’s 2020 Utah Priorities Project have concerns. When thinking about population growth, most Utah voters were concerned about infrastructure for roads and water. Those that were more concerned with roads tended to be affiliated with … Continued