Utah Foundation’s Quality of Life Index declines despite economy

Utahns continue to worry about their cost of housing and that has resulted in a drop in the Utah Foundation’s Quality of Life Index. The index is down a point from last year and three points over the past five years, standing at 70 out of 100.

The “Quality of Life Index: Measuring Utahns’ Perceptions of their Communities, Personal Lives” measures both community and personal quality of life perceptions among the state’s residents.

The availability of good jobs was the only component of the community index that improved from 2015 to 2018. Affordable housing is a growing concern and financial security was the lowest- performing factor.

In addition to affordable housing, air quality, streetscapes, traffic and good parks and recreation are also among Utahn’s biggest concerns.

Utahns living along the Wasatch Front, those who are religiously affiliated and those with higher incomes all reported better community quality of life. Those respondents who identified with a religion indicated a higher community quality of life on 19 of 20 aspects on the index.

Those with higher incomes indicated a higher rating on all seven aspects of the Personal Quality of Life Index. Those who are religiously affiliated and younger Utahns also reported better personal quality of life.

“Not surprisingly, income, age and location play a part in Utahns’ perceptions of quality of life,” said Peter Reichard, president of Utah Foundation. “Religious affiliation is also one of the most consistent pillars of community satisfaction and personal happiness in our state but the findings also reveal significant areas of concern, including affordable housing, air quality, community appeal and traffic.”