Delta Wellbeing Survey Findings 2024
By Dr. Courtney Flint and Team

Contact Information
Dr. Courtney Flint
courtney.flint@usu.edu
435-797-8635
Summary
Delta is one of 51 cities participating in the Utah Wellbeing Survey Project in 2024. This project is designed to assess the wellbeing and local perspectives of city residents and to provide information to city leaders to inform general planning processes. Additional analysis is underway and this report may be updated over time.
We are grateful to all those who took the survey and to our city partners who helped to make this possible. We are grateful to a number of entities for funding: the Utah League of Cities and Towns, USU Extension, USU’s Institute for Land Water and Air, the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, and the cities of Alpine, Cedar Hills, Draper, Millcreek, Nephi, North Salt Lake, Ogden, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Providence, Springdale, Tremonton, West Bountiful, and West Valley City.
This report describes findings from the 2024 Delta survey and comparative information with other project cities. In March 2024, Delta City advertised the survey for residents primarily through social media. All city residents age 18+ were encouraged to take the online Qualtrics survey.
How many people responded?
- 127 viable surveys were recorded in this 2024 survey effort.
- The Delta 2022 survey had 77 responses and the Delta 2021 survey had 90 responses and the Delta 2020 survey had 88 responses.
- The adult population of Delta was estimated at 2,470, based on the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census. The 127 survey responses in 2024 represent 5.1% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 8.47%.
Survey Respondent Characteristics
| Resident Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Full Time Residents of Delta | 94.5% |
| Part Time Residents of Delta | 5.5% |
| Length of Residency — Range | 1-72 years |
| Length of Residency — Average | 21.9 years |
| Length of Residency — Median | 20 years |
| Length of Residency 5 Years or less | 20.5% |
Demographic characteristics of the survey respondents were compared below with U.S. Census information from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey. In the graph below, gray bars indicate differences between the American Community Survey estimates and the Utah Wellbeing Project surveys. The wider the gray bars, the larger the differences. Also note that estimates for religious affiliation, adult non-conforming or non-binary gender, disability, and chronic conditions are unavailable from the census data. There can also be a variable margin of error in the American Community Survey estimates, and caution should be used when comparing estimates. Not all respondents provided demographic information. As the graph shows, 2024 survey respondents were not fully representative of Delta. People who are age 40-49, are married, have children under 18 in their household, and are employed were overrepresented while those who are not employed for various reasons were underrepresented.

Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Delta
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Delta. These wellbeing indicators were both measured on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in Delta was 3.78 with 68% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Delta was 3.43 with 53% of respondents indicating community wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.


When comparing survey data from Delta over the years as shown in the information below, we can see that the average personal wellbeing score has fluctuated over the years. The average community wellbeing score has remained fairly consistent over the survey years. Note that the number of respondents differed between years, there is no tracking of individuals from one year to the next, and the low end of the scale was "Poor" in 2024 but "Very Poor" in prior years which may account for differences in scores over time.

Comparing Wellbeing Across Utah Cities
The Utah League of Cities and Towns clusters cities and towns into five different categories based on size and growth rates. We utilize these clusters in our analysis. Delta is classified as a Traditional Rural Community (and we have combined these with the Rural Hub/Resort Communities). Some cities may fit within more than one cluster.
Within the Rural city cluster, Delta was below the average overall personal wellbeing score and close to the average overall community wellbeing score.


Wellbeing Domains in Delta
According to national and international entities that track wellbeing, there are a number of common dimensions or domains of wellbeing. Survey respondents rated twelve domains on a 5-point scale from poor to excellent. They were also asked to indicate the importance of each domain to their overall personal wellbeing on a 5-point scale from not at all important to very important. The highest rated wellbeing domains for respondents in Delta were Family Life (69%), Safety and Security (66%), Connection with Nature (59%), Living Standards (58%), and Local Environmental Quality (58%). The most important wellbeing domains were Family Life (98%), Safety and Security (98%), and Mental Health (97%).

Wellbeing Matrix for Delta
The graph below illustrates the relationship between the average rating and the average importance of wellbeing domains for survey respondents from Delta. Family Life, Living Standards, Mental Health, Physical Health, and Safety and Security were highly important and rated above average among the domains. Leisure Time fell in the “red zone” of higher importance and lower ratings.

Wellbeing Domains Over Time in Delta
The graphs below show how the domains were rated over the years by Delta residents. The number of respondents changed over time. Note that the two domains Family Life and Transportation were new categories in the 2024 survey and were not measured in previous years. Safety and Security, Local Environmental Quality, Connection with Nature, and Living Standards were consistently the highest rated domains over the years. Education saw the largest decrease in ratings, while Physical Health and Cultural Opportunities saw the largest increase in ratings from 2022 to 2024.

Community Connection in Delta
Survey participants were asked about how connected they feel to Delta on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5), and the average score of all respondents was 3.39.

When comparing survey data from Delta over the years as shown in the information below, we can see that the average community connection score was higher in 2022 and 2024 than it was in 2020 and 2021.

A positive relationship was found between individuals’ community connection and overall personal wellbeing as well as mental health.


The graph below shows how Wellbeing Project cities and towns compare on feelings of community connection based on the percentage of respondents who answered 4 or a 5 on a 5-point scale from “not at all” to “a great deal” connected to their city or town. Delta ranked 12 out of the 51 cities that participated.

Participation in Recreation and Nature-Related Activities
Respondents were asked to indicate whether or not they participated in various activities in the last 12 months. The most popular activities were walking or biking in your neighborhood or city (88%), community events (82%), and gardening at home (76%).

None of the recreation activities above were significantly related to higher ratings of personal wellbeing, community wellbeing, or community connection.
Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development
The largest proportion of respondents in Delta indicated that they felt the population growth was too fast (47%). For the pace of economic development, the majority of respondents indicated that it was too slow (52%).


The graphs below show how perceptions of population growth and economic development in Delta have varied across recent years of Wellbeing Surveys. The majority of respondents indicated that the pace of economic development has been too slow in each survey year since 2020. From 2020-2022, the majority of respondents indicated that the rate of population growth was just right, but significantly dropped in 2024, and the largest proportion of respondents indicated in 2024 that it is too fast.


The graphs below show perceptions of population growth and economic development for Delta compared to other participating cities and towns in the Rural cluster.


The graph below illustrates how many respondents perceived the pace of economic development as too slow, just right, too fast, or had no opinion, with additional breakdowns for the number of respondents who provided comments.

The 52% of respondents who rated the pace of economic growth as “too slow” were further asked what aspects of the local economy they would like to see more of in Delta. Respondents indicated they would like to see a little bit more of everything from entertainment, to job opportunities, to shopping, to educational opportunities, housing, and recreation.
Additionally, the 16% of respondents who rated the pace of economic growth as “too fast” were further asked what aspects of the local economy they feel are growing too quickly in Delta. Most comments centered around the power plant and its effects on Delta. People expressed concern about construction, contractors, housing availability, increasing prices, and lagging infrastructure.
Transportation in Delta
Respondents were asked to indicate all of their primary modes of transportation on a regular basis in Delta. The most popular modes of transportation were personal car (99%) and walking (26%).

Respondents were asked to indicate the most common barriers to transportation in Delta. The most problematic barriers were Cost (54%) and Travel time (48%).

Respondents were asked to indicate the importance of a set of possible transportation developments in Delta. The most important development to respondents were Improving road surfaces (71%), Enhancing safety (63%), Improving walkability (42%), and Connecting communities (42%).

Respondents were asked to indicate how frequently various activities take them out of Delta to another city or town. The most commonly indicated reasons for traveling to another city or town at least sometimes or once a month were Groceries (82%), Friends and Family (75%), and Eating Out (67%).

Concerns in Delta
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of Delta. Affordable Housing (85%), Opportunities for Youth (82%), and Shopping Opportunities (70%) were the top concerns. Since 2022, moderate or major concern about public safety (+18%), access to health care (+12%), access to healthy/quality food (+11%), recreation opportunities (+10%), and shopping opportunities (+10%) notably increased, while concern about water supply (-12%) and climate change (-10%) notably decreased.

Additional Questions for Delta
Trail Development Interest in Delta
Survey participants were asked about their interest in trail development in Delta on a scale from 1 (Not at all interested) to 5 (Very interested). Responses were mixed, but the most common response was a 5, very interested (31%).

Open Comments
All open comments collected in the survey were shared with city leaders. General observations and themes are shared here.
What Respondents Value Most in Delta
Survey respondents were asked to comment on what they value most about Delta. The most common words and phrases from all city comments are included in the word cloud below. It is possible that negative or unrelated words may appear since these words have been taken out of context, and they may not indicate the respondent’s intended meaning. Above all else, people value the community feeling and the closeness they have to friends and family. People also appreciate the smallness of the town, the peace and quiet, and open spaces.

Local Environmental Quality in Delta
The 42% of respondents who rated the Local Environmental Quality domain as 1, 2, or 3 (Poor, Fair, or Moderate) were further asked if there are specific aspects of local environmental quality that they feel are problematic. Most comments expressed concerns about trash, rundown houses and yards, and waste from the power plant. Other comments discussed frustration with construction workers and power plant workers when referring to growth in Delta.
Improving Wellbeing in Delta
Survey respondents were asked if there is anything that could be done to improve wellbeing in Delta. Many people would like to see the IPP project done and the contractors gone. There was also a plea for more affordable housing and improved roads and sidewalks.
Additional Comments
Respondents were also asked if they had any additional comments on wellbeing in Delta. Comments varied more in this section and spanned topics such as asking for better healthcare, more housing options, more things to do and places to shop in town, and increased road safety.