In 2011, the Utah Foundation created a comprehensive survey to understand how Utahns feel about their quality of life. In 2026, the Utah Foundation, in partnership with the Utah Chamber and the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, administered the statewide Quality of Life Index survey for the sixth time. The survey asks respondents to rate factors that contribute to their community’s quality of life. The Utah Community Quality of Life Index draws on Utahns’ ratings of their community, or the areas within 30 minutes of their home, across a series of 20 factors.
The Utah Community Quality of Life Index measured 63 out of 100 in 2026. This is the lowest point since the survey began in 2011.
KEY FINDINGS
- Long-Term Downward Trend – In 2026, the Utah Community Quality of Life Index reached an all-time low of 63, a 10-point decline over the previous 13 years.
- Driving the Decline – While housing affordability and the cost of living declined the most, all but two factors have significantly dropped since 2013.
- Decreasing Good Job Opportunities – Utahns’ rating of opportunities for good jobs was the only factor to decline significantly from 2022 to 2026.
- Community Support Importance – Community support stands out as the most important factor in a community’s overall quality-of-life rating.
- Divergent Experiences – Actively religious Utahns rate their communities eight points higher on the Index, and those earning $79,000 or more report a quality of life four points higher than their respective counterparts.