Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

When the United Way of Utah County completed their community needs assessment, there were three major takeaways — Utah County is becoming more diverse, it remains the youngest county in the nation with 1/3 of the population under 18 and the top worry for residents is housing.

Whether by examining data or taking a look around their cities and surrounding areas, residents are aware of the impact growth has on Utah Valley.

“Growth and housing costs are greatest concerns,” said Michael Call, founder of Civicus Consultants, creator of the assessment. “These public policy issues have, in many ways, overtaken traditional issues such as education, crime and jobs as the most worrisome.”

From housing costs to schools and from culture to emotional well-being, life in Utah County is changing at a rapid pace, Call noted.

In 2000, the county population was 371,648; in 2021, it was 665,665 — an increase of 79%. In the 2010s, the state of Utah saw an 18.6% increase in population. In that same time period, Utah County’s population increased by 27.9% according to assessment data.

Harrison Epstein, Daily Herald

“To add perspective, Salt Lake County grew by 14.6% and Davis County by 19.1%. Utah County accounts for 27.4% of the state’s overall population growth in the 2010s,” Call said. “This 21-year growth has been spurred on by strong local economic conditions which outpace national trends, a highly educated workforce pool, low crime rates, a culture of assiduousness and industriousness, a young and healthy population, myriad outdoor and recreational amenities, and an affable family environment.”

Rapid growth brings about rapid change. Roads must be built and maintained; public water, sewer, and power infrastructures need to be expanded; zoning codes modified; education systems improved; and hundreds of other community components have to be reevaluated and revamped.

“Respondents to our telephone survey had more to say about the best and worst things in Utah County than ever before,” Call said. “In 2015, 2018, and 2021, our survey asked the open-ended question, ‘What are the most pressing issues in Utah County?’ Respondents were probed for up to five issues by being asked, ‘Any other issues?’ Housing costs and growth in general have been at the forefront of respondent’s minds in the past, being mentioned by 14.8% and 11.3%, respectively. However, in 2021, a massive 71% of respondents indicated growth in general is one of the most pressing issues — and 43.9% said traffic or traffic congestion.”

Other concerns by residents, including education and neighborhood community, are all affected by growth. Call noted that other issues raised from those surveyed are important and cannot be ignored.

“We have 9.5% of our population under 5 years-old,” said Barbara Leavitt, vice president of community impact for United Way of Utah County. “We are looking at issues very differently than the rest of the country.”

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald file photo

While there is an emphasis on youth and younger populations, seniors still make up a sizable portion of Utah County.

“Utah County’s senior population of those age 65 or older will increase in both number and percentage of the total population,” Call said. “Today, this demographic is about 8% of the population; by 2060, it will be 16.7%.”

In 2020, nearly 31,000 people moved into Utah County, with about half of these (14,957) coming from other western states. Just over 6,000 moved to the valley from outside the U.S., but 4,524 of these were people returning to America. Almost 6,000 people moved here from the Census Bureau’s South Region along with 2,848 from the midwest. Only 1,111 relocated from the Northeast, according to assessment data.

Utah County’s population is expected to continue to grow, although the rate of projected increase has slowed since the 2018 assessment. According to the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Public Policy Institute, Utah County’s population will exceed 750,000 by 2025 and will reach 1 million by 2039.

According to current population estimates, Provo remains the largest city in the county (116,886 residents), followed by Orem (97,883) and Lehi (66,980.5), according to Call. These residents and any in the future are all impacted, as well, by housing.

“Of those who have moved to a new residence in Utah County in the past year, those who move from within Utah are the most likely to own their home. Those who moved to Utah County from abroad are most likely to rent their home,” Call said.

Growth is the topic of discussion in nearly every city council in the county, while the future of housing options is a close second. No matter what, people are coming and individual cities, along with the county, have to figure out how best to prepare for them.

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