Community Characteristics
The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute produces insights for communities throughout the state and state-level insights into our changing household and population.
Featured Research
Utah Demographic Characteristics: Religious Affiliation
Religious adherents and congregations by state provide an indication of religious affiliation in Utah. Utah has the largest share of religious adherents of any state with an estimated 76% of the population.
Utah Demographic Characteristics: Disability
National surveys estimate that between 12% and 25% of Utah adults have a disability. A new summary analysis from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute finds that data across different surveys show that Utahns with a disability are more likely to have less income, lower education attainment, higher housing cost burdens, lower access to health coverage, and poor health.
Utah Demographic Characteristics: Age
Despite Utah’s standing as the youngest state in the nation, its population also continues to age. In 1980, less than 8% of Utah residents were over 65, but by 2020, this share increased to nearly 12%. Projections indicate the state’s retirement-age population will likely be more than 20% of Utah’s population by 2060.
Shifting Households: Decadal Growth and Change in Salt Lake City
More renters, fewer family households, and more people living alone continue to distinguish the capital city from the rest of the state.
Salt Lake City: Utah’s Thriving Urban Center
Salt Lake City is the foremost flourishing center for commerce, sports, entertainment, culture, and education in the Mountain West. Utah’s capital defies the trends of many urban centers as the forces of decentralization pull people, jobs, and commerce away from the urban core, resulting in urban decay. In the next decade, even as Utah’s capital city grapples with growth challenges, Salt Lake City will welcome thousands of new residents who will benefit from a new Temple Square, may secure a new professional sports franchise(s), will host a second Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and will grow entertainment, cultural offerings, and [...]
A Look into the 2010-2020 Decline in Salt Lake City’s Youth Population
Salt Lake City's under-18 population decreased by almost 5,000 residents last decade, while its adult population continued to grow.
Salt Lake City’s Foreign-Born Residents: Demographics of a Dynamic Population
Changes in the composition and characteristics of Salt Lake City’s foreign-born population have resulted in an older, more educated, and more globally diverse population than in previous decades.
Race and Ethnicity in the 2021 Wasatch Front Labor Force: An Equal Employment Opportunity Analysis
Current data reveals 22.5% of Utahns identify as racial minorities, rising 3.1% from 2020 to 2021.1 This is a faster increase than the comparable 1.7% year-over growth rate of the total population. Racial and ethnic diversity continues to increase across the nation and in Utah
Salt Lake City Data Book: 2022
Utah's capital city demographic resource.
The Changing Dynamics of the Wasatch Front Apartment Market
The demand for rental housing increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in higher rental rates across the Wasatch Front.
