Cedar City Wellbeing Survey Findings 2026
By Dr. Courtney Flint, Nicolas Holden, and Team

Contact Information
Dr. Courtney Flint
courtney.flint@usu.edu
435-797-8635
Summary
Cedar City is one of 57 cities and towns participating in the Utah Wellbeing Survey Project in 2026. 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 make this possible. A special thank you goes to the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the following cities for funding this project: Cedar City, Delta, Heber, La Verkin, South Weber, Vernal, West Bountiful, and West Valley City. We also acknowledge support from the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP).
This report describes findings from the 2026 Cedar City survey and comparative information with other project cities and towns. In March 2026, Cedar City advertised the survey for residents. All city residents age 18+ were encouraged to take the online Qualtrics survey. Cities and towns generally advertised the survey through newsletters, social media, emails, or other various efforts.
How many people responded?
- 201 viable surveys were recorded in this 2026 survey effort.
- The Cedar City 2024 survey had 762 responses and the Cedar City 2020 survey had 262 responses.
- The adult population of Cedar City was estimated at 28,618, based on the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census. The 201 survey responses in 2026 represent 0.7% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 6.89%.
Survey Respondent Characteristics
| Resident Statistics | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Time Residents of Cedar City | 97.0% |
| Part Time Residents of Cedar City | 3.0% |
| Length of Residency — Range | 0.5-66 years |
| Length of Residency — Average | 14.6 years |
| Length of Residency — Median | 10 years |
| Length of Residency 5 Years or less | 32.3% |
| City Area | Percent |
|---|---|
| 84720 | 57.2% |
| 84721 | 42.8% |
Demographic characteristics of the survey respondents were compared below with U.S. Census information from the 2020-2024 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, 2026 survey respondents were not fully representative of Cedar City. People who have at least a 4-year college degree, are married, or own their homes were overrepresented, while those who are age 18-29, do not have a college degree, or are renters were underrepresented.

Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Cedar City
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Cedar City. These wellbeing indicators were both measured on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in Cedar City was 3.80 with 69% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Cedar City was 3.23 with 38% of respondents indicating community wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.


When comparing survey data from Cedar City over the years as shown in the information below, we can see that from 2024 to 2026, both the average personal wellbeing score and the average community wellbeing score declined. Note that the number of respondents differed between years, and there is no tracking of individuals from one year to the next.

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. Cedar City is classified as an Established/Mid-sized City. Some cities may fit within more than one cluster. Each cluster average represents the mean of the city and town means within each cluster.
Within the more Urban city cluster, Cedar City was below the average overall personal wellbeing score and below the average overall community wellbeing score.


Wellbeing Domains in Cedar City
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 Cedar City were Safety and Security (77%), Family Life (73%), Mental Health (69%), Connection with Nature (68%), and Physical Health (68%). The most important wellbeing domains were Mental Health (97%), Physical Health (95%), Safety and Security (91%), Local Environmental Quality (90%), and Connection with Nature (90%).

Wellbeing Domains Over Time in Cedar City
The graphs below show how the domains were rated over the years by Cedar City residents. The number of respondents changed over time. Since 2024, Safety and Security, Physical Health, Living Standards, and Transportation improved, while Connection with Nature, Education, Leisure Time, Local Environmental Quality, and Cultural Opportunities decreased, and Family Life, Mental Health, and Social Connections remained nearly the same.

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

Community Connection in Cedar City
Survey participants were asked about how connected they feel to Cedar City on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5), and the average score of all respondents was 2.98.

When comparing survey data from Cedar City over the years as shown in the information below, we can see that the average community connection score declined between 2024 and 2026.

A positive relationship was found between individuals’ community connection and overall personal wellbeing, and to some extent between 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 “1 Not at all” to “5 A great deal” connected to their city or town. Cedar City ranked 46 out of the 57 cities that participated.

Disability in Cedar City
Survey participants were asked how well Cedar City included individuals with disabilities in social, recreational, and cultural activities. The largest proportion of respondents indicated they had no opinion or that the question was not relevant (36%). For those expressing an opinion, respondents were split between opinions that they were somewhat (26%) or quite well (21%) included.

Participation in Recreation and Nature-Related Activities
Respondents were asked to indicate how often they participated in various activities over the past year. The activities in which respondents most commonly participated at least sometimes (about once a month or more frequently) were Walking or biking in your neighborhood or city (87%), Using trails in or near your city (80%), and Recreating in parks in your city (78%).

Higher levels of community connection correlated with more frequent participation in community events, participation in city recreation programs, recreation in parks in your city, walking or biking in your neighborhood or city, use of trails in or near your city, and shopping at a farmer’s market.
Wellbeing and Urban/Rural Settings
Respondents were asked to indicate how important spending time in the different settings were to their wellbeing. The most important setting for Cedar City respondents was natural landscapes.

Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development
The majority of respondents in Cedar City indicated that they felt the population growth was too fast (80%). For the pace of economic development, respondents were split between opinions that it was too fast (42%) and too slow (33%).


The graphs below show how perceptions of population growth and economic development in Cedar City have varied across recent years of Wellbeing Surveys.


The graphs below show perceptions of population growth and economic development for Cedar City compared to other participating cities and towns in the Established/Mid-sized Cities cluster.


Survey respondents were asked if there are any aspects of the local economy they would like to see changed in the next five years. Respondents expressed a desire for more affordable housing options, with many noting that the cost of living has left locals feeling like they are being priced out of their own community. There was also a sense of frustration with rapid growth and development in Cedar City, with some calling for a slower pace of building and more emphasis on infrastructure and green spaces. Additionally, respondents emphasized the need for better paying jobs and job opportunities that align with the cost of living, as well as a focus on supporting local businesses and community needs over large corporations and chain stores.
Cost of Living in Cedar City
Respondents were asked to indicate how affordable certain expenses were in Cedar City. The most difficult expenses were Childcare (76%), Healthcare (51%), and Housing (49%). Note that a high percentage (65%) of respondents found Childcare expenses not relevant to them.

Transportation in Cedar City
Respondents were asked to indicate the most common barriers to transportation in Cedar City. The most problematic barriers were Cost (55%) and Travel time (48%).

Concerns in Cedar City
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of Cedar City. Water Supply (94%), Open Space/Green Space (80%), Wildfire (77%), Affordable Housing (77%), and Traffic (77%) were the top concerns. Since 2024, moderate or major concern about the Great Salt Lake (+19%), trails & paths (+16%), climate change (+15%), and open space/green space (+13%) notably increased, while concern about shopping opportunities (-27%), public safety (-18%), suicide (-15%), substance use (-12%), and social and emotional support (-12%) notably decreased.

Additional Questions for Cedar City
Methods of Communication in Cedar City
Survey participants were also asked a few additional questions in the survey. When asked about how they stay informed with what is happening in Cedar City, the most common responses were Social Media (81%), and Word of Mouth (78%).

Likelihood to Recommend Cedar City as a Place to Live
Survey participants were asked about how likely they are to recommend Cedar City as a place to live to a friend on a scale from 0 (Not at all likely) to 10 (Extremely likely), which were then grouped according to groups defined by a Net Promoter Score where Detractors have scores 0-6, Passives have scores 7-8, and Promoters have scores 9-10. The Net Promoter Score (calculated by subtracting the % of Detractors from % of Promoters) for this question was -30 in 2026. The Net Promoter score declined between 2024 and 2026, primarily due to an increase in the share of Detractors from 39% to 51%.

Satisfaction with Cedar City Services
Survey participants were also asked to rate their satisfaction with various Cedar City services on a scale from 1 (Not at all satisfied) to 5 (Very satisfied), with an option to say they had no opinion. The highest rated services with a 4 or 5 were Garbage Service (69%), City Library (64%), Fire Department (62%), and Heritage Theatre/Festival Hall (60%).

Open Comments
All open comments collected in the survey were shared with city leaders. General observations and themes are shared here. The authors acknowledge the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including the Llama 3 large language model, accessed locally through Ollama, and a machine learning classifier, in the analysis of open comments. These tools were used for initial topical coding and draft summaries of comments. All comments, codes, and summaries were reviewed and edited by the authors for accuracy and clarity.
What Respondents Value Most in Cedar City
Survey respondents were asked to comment on what they value most about Cedar City. The most common words and phrases from all 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 mentioned the small town feel and natural beauty of Cedar City as a major draw, with many emphasizing the community’s proximity to outdoor recreation opportunities, mountains, and trails. They valued the peaceful atmosphere, friendly people, and sense of connection with neighbors, which was often described as a strong and supportive community. While some comments noted concerns about growth and changes to the area, the majority of responses emphasized the appreciation for Cedar City’s unique character and the opportunity to enjoy nature, outdoor activities, and a slower pace of life.

Local Environmental Quality in Cedar City
Survey respondents were asked if there are specific aspects of local environmental quality that they feel pose a significant threat to wellbeing in Cedar City. Respondents mentioned a range of environmental concerns, particularly air quality and water scarcity. Many expressed frustration with the increasing density of development, citing concerns about loss of green spaces, noise pollution, and decreased air quality due to construction and industrial activities. Additionally, some respondents emphasized the need for better infrastructure planning, including improved roads, bike paths, and public transportation, to support growing populations. Respondents also mentioned concerns about possible data center construction and impacts on local environmental quality.
Improving Wellbeing in Cedar City
Survey respondents were asked if there is anything that could be done to improve wellbeing in Cedar City. Respondents suggested improving bike infrastructure, expanding public transportation, and increasing walkability throughout the city. Respondents also emphasized the importance of addressing traffic congestion, noise pollution, and air quality issues. There were concerns about the impact of rapid growth and development on the city’s character and sense of community, suggesting that more attention should be paid to preserving green spaces and historical areas.
Additional Comments
Respondents were also asked if they had any additional comments on wellbeing in Cedar City. Many respondents expressed concerns about Cedar City’s rapid growth, citing issues with traffic congestion, affordability, and the erosion of its small-town charm. Some noted that the influx of new residents has led to a loss of community character and a decline in affordable housing options. Others emphasized the need for better infrastructure, including roads, sidewalks, and public transportation, as well as more green spaces and recreational areas.