Recent Research
Recently Published
The most recent research published by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Subcounty Population Estimates: Comparing Census Bureau and Utah Population Committee, 2020-2023
The Census Bureau and Utah Population Committee (UPC) produce annual population estimates at the subcounty (city and town) level. Several differences exist between each estimate source, influencing which data should be used for different purposes.
U.S. Census Bureau Estimates for Cities and Housing Units, 2023
On May 16th, 2024, the Census Bureau released population estimates for incorporated places (cities and towns) and housing units at the state and county level for July 1, 2023.
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.
Wasatch Front Subcounty Estimates, 2020-2023
Utah added 55,989 residents in 2023, and three-quarters of this growth occurred in communities along the Wasatch Front in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber counties.
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.
April 2024 Utah Consumer Sentiment
Utah’s consumer sentiment decreased by 2.2% in April 2024 (from 78.0 in March to 76.3), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment.
Economic Development Case Study: Utah’s Engineering and Computer Science Initiative
Utah has realized the following outcomes and benefits since the launch of Utah's engineering and computer science initiative more than two decades ago.
Weber and Davis Counties: Demographic and Economic Profile
This profile focuses on Weber and Davis counties, a multi-county area within the Greater Salt Lake region. While the Greater Salt Lake region accounts for 90.3% of Utah's economy, these two counties account for 13.9% of Utah's economy.