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

Contact Information
Dr. Courtney Flint
courtney.flint@usu.edu
435-797-8635
Summary
Monticello 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 Monticello survey and comparative information with other project cities. In April and May 2024, Monticello City advertised the survey for residents largely through social media and flyers. All city residents age 18+ were encouraged to take the online Qualtrics survey.
How many people responded?
- 28 viable surveys were recorded in this 2024 survey effort.
- The adult population of Monticello was estimated at 1,695, based on the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census. The 28 survey responses in 2024 represent 1.7% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 18.37%. Due to the low number of respondents and the high conservative margin of error, caution should be used when interpreting these survey results.
Survey Respondent Characteristics
| Resident Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Full Time Residents of Monticello | 92.9% |
| Part Time Residents of Monticello | 7.1% |
| Length of Residency — Range | 2-70 years |
| Length of Residency — Average | 22.5 years |
| Length of Residency — Median | 17.5 years |
| Length of Residency 5 Years or less | 21.4% |
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 Monticello. People who are age 40-49, have children under 18 in their household, are employed, and own their homes were overrepresented while those who are age 18-29, are not employed for various reasons, and are renters were underrepresented.

Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Monticello
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Monticello. These wellbeing indicators were both measured on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in Monticello was 3.71 with 75% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Monticello was 3.11 with 36% of respondents indicating community wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.


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. Monticello 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, Monticello was below the average overall personal wellbeing score and below the average overall community wellbeing score.


Wellbeing Domains in Monticello
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 Monticello were Physical Health (78%), Connection with Nature (74%), and Safety and Security (67%). The most important wellbeing domains were Mental Health (96%), Physical Health (96%), Leisure Time (92%), and Safety and Security (92%).

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

Community Connection in Monticello
Survey participants were asked about how connected they feel to Monticello on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5), and the average score of all respondents was 3.04.

No clear relationship was found between community connection and overall personal wellbeing, but a positive relationship was found between individuals’ community connection and 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. Monticello ranked 38 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 community events (84%), gardening at home (84%), and walking or biking in your neighborhood or city (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 majority of respondents in Monticello indicated that they felt the population growth was too slow (58%). For the pace of economic development, the majority of respondents indicated that it was too slow (76%).


The graphs below show perceptions of population growth and economic development for Monticello 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 76% 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 Monticello. Comments expressed the desire for more stores and things to do in town. A few people mentioned that they feel they can’t shop at the grocery store because the quality is low. Other comments mainly focus on a desire for more job opportunities.
No respondents or comments in Monticello indicated the pace of economic growth as “too fast.”
Transportation in Monticello
Respondents were asked to indicate all of their primary modes of transportation on a regular basis in Monticello. The most popular modes of transportation were personal car (100%) and walking (36%). Note that the options did not include hitchhiking.

Respondents were asked to indicate the most common barriers to transportation in Monticello. The most problematic barriers were Cost (52%) and Travel time (36%).

Respondents were asked to indicate the importance of a set of possible transportation developments in Monticello. The most important development to respondents were Enhancing safety (76%), Improving road surfaces (63%), Adding road capacity (42%), and Improving walkability (42%).

Respondents were asked to indicate how frequently various activities take them out of Monticello 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 (80%), Other Services (70%), Eating Out (67%), and Friends and Family (67%).

Concerns in Monticello
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of Monticello. Affordable Housing (84%), Access to Healthy/Quality Food (80%), and Water Supply (80%) were the top concerns.

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 Monticello
Survey respondents were asked to comment on what they value most about Monticello. 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. Respondents from Monticello valued the safety they feel as well as the peace and quiet of the small town. A few others also mention enjoying the beauty and nature in the area.

Local Environmental Quality in Monticello
The 50% 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. The dominant concern was trash and junk in yards and around the city. There were a few other comments made about windmills and recycling as well.
Improving Wellbeing in Monticello
Survey respondents were asked if there is anything that could be done to improve wellbeing in Monticello. Comments varied quite a bit regarding how to improve wellbeing, but some requests that came up more than once were desires for more places to shop, less semi-truck traffic, better access to healthcare, and a more welcoming social environment.
Additional Comments
Respondents were also asked if they had any additional comments on wellbeing in Monticello. Respondents mentioned a desire for a more welcoming and friendly social environment and also wanting Monticello to not become like other cities, but to maintain its character and size.