Utah's quality of life remains strong due to community and natural assets, but economic pressures are causing the state's quality of life index to decline, according to a press release from the Utah Chamber.
The 2026 Utah Community Quality of Life Index, administered by the Utah Foundation in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and Utah Chamber, shows the overall index reached 63.2 out of 100, a decrease from the 64.1 recorded in 2022.
Housing affordability was identified as the greatest quality-of-life concern, receiving the lowest rating of 2.1 out of 5. At the start of 2026, Utah's median single-family home price ranked among the 10 most expensive in the nation. Additionally, 91% of renters were priced out of a median-priced home, compared to 59% in 2015.
Cost-of-living pressures also ranked as the second-lowest factor with a rating of 2.7 out of 5. The index noted that the rating for good-job opportunities fell from 3.5 in 2022 to 3.1 in 2026, which was the only statistically significant change among the 20 measured factors during that period. This specific decline accounted for approximately half a point of the overall index decrease.
Despite these pressures, Utah maintains high ratings for spiritual or religious activities, natural surroundings, and parks and recreation spaces. Residents identified housing and growth as the most common area for community improvement, cited by 47% of respondents. Other cited areas for improvement included transportation and infrastructure at 38%, the economy and cost of living at 21%, and environment and natural resources at 20%.
Spencer P. Eccles, Chair of the Utah Rising Steering Committee, stated that making livability a priority is a powerful economic advantage for the state. Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, noted that Utah's success depends on addressing pressures like housing affordability and cost of living while protecting valued community assets.
The Utah Foundation has produced the Utah Community Quality of Life Index for 15 years to gauge the state's livability. The Utah Chamber represents more than 80,000 employers and employees across the state. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, located at the University of Utah, provides economic and demographic research.
