Utah has been named the best state in the U.S. This has mainly to do with high education levels and economic stability. Nebraska, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Idaho not falling much behind.
How did this happen?
- State testing scores rising
- healthcare
- Economic stability
- Rising population
What does this mean for Utah?
Utah in the last 10 years has experienced an extreme change for a better future. Utah has had a 5.56% increase since 2019. This is amazing for Utah’s growing economy because we gain a larger workforce. And with the Olympics coming to town in less than 10 years this progress is amazing for Utah. Even though Utah’s quality of life may be one of the best in the United States Utah continues to struggle in things like housing, homeless population, and air pollution.
Housing has been a growing crisis in Utah with a 28% growth in price in just one year. Although this may be a battle with time our lawmakers are doing everything possible to end this crisis. FYT5 is a bill moving through the legislature that approves the 150 million dollar bill that 35,000 starter homes will be built in Utah by 2028.
Homeless population
With the cost of living rising homeless rates rise as well. Since the pandemic in 2020, thousands of Utahns have called the streets their home with the percentage moving up 4% each year Spence 2020. This Is mainly a problem in Salt Lake City. With Utah homeless shelters being at max capacity law lawmakers have been pushing for more mobile homes and shelters to be built and also working on other resources like code blue which is a code where when the weather gets too harsh all homeless shelters will welcome someone.
Air pollution
Air pollution is a given living in a state like Utah 80,000+ people driving on Utah roads each day there is no way around it. Air pollution in Utah is extremely bad because our mountains cause inversion pollutants to mix with the emissions from gasoline causing Utah’s air population problem to only rise. Lawmakers are trying their best by adding limitations to some gasses.
Even Utah may have its ups and downs Utah Is still the beautiful state that more than 3 million people call home.
Family homelessness is a growing problem in Utah. What should be done?
https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2024-03-19/policy-is-everything-when-it-comes-to-acting-on-utahs-air-quality
https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2024/05/07/utah-ranked-best-state-us-news-world-report