La Verkin Wellbeing Survey Findings 2026

By Dr. Courtney Flint, Nicolas Holden, and Team

utah wellbeing survey logo

Contact Information

Dr. Courtney Flint

435-797-8635

Summary

La Verkin 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 La Verkin survey and comparative information with other project cities and towns. In March 2026, La Verkin 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?

  • 107 viable surveys were recorded in this 2026 survey effort.
  • The La Verkin 2024 survey had 131 responses, the La Verkin 2021 survey had 150 responses, and the La Verkin 2020 survey had 95 responses.
  • The adult population of La Verkin was estimated at 3,065, based on the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census. The 107 survey responses in 2026 represent 3.5% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 9.31%.

Survey Respondent Characteristics

Resident Statistics Value
Full Time Residents of La Verkin 98.1%
Part Time Residents of La Verkin 1.9%
Length of Residency — Range 1-75 years
Length of Residency — Average 19.7 years
Length of Residency — Median 13 years
Length of Residency 5 Years or less 21.5%

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 La Verkin. People who are married or own their homes were overrepresented, while those who are nonwhite, are renters, or are age 18-29 were underrepresented.

Dot Plot. Title: La Verkin 2026 Demographics. Subtitle: ACS = American Community Survey Estimate; UWS = Utah Wellbeing Survey Estimate Data — Age 18-29: ACS: 25%, UWS: 0%; Age 30-39: ACS: 22%, UWS: 16%; Age 40-49: ACS: 12%, UWS: 23%; Age 50-59: ACS: 13%, UWS: 15%; Age 60-69: ACS: 13%, UWS: 25%; Age 70 or Over: ACS: 14%, UWS: 20%; Income under $25,000: ACS: 15%, UWS: 7%; Income $25,000 to $49,999: ACS: 20%, UWS: 15%; Income $50,000 to $74,999: ACS: 18%, UWS: 17%; Income $75,000 to $99,999: ACS: 18%, UWS: 16%; Income $100,000 to $149,999: ACS: 17%, UWS: 31%; Income $150,000 or over: ACS: 12%, UWS: 15%; Adult Female: ACS: 51%, UWS: 60%; Adult Male: ACS: 49%, UWS: 40%; Adult non-conforming or non-binary*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 0%; Employed: ACS: 59%, UWS: 57%; Out of work and looking for work: ACS: 4%, UWS: 1%; Other: ACS: 37%, UWS: 42%; No College Degree: ACS: 78%, UWS: 71%; College degree (4-year): ACS: 22%, UWS: 29%; Rent home/Renter occupied/Other: ACS: 24%, UWS: 1%; Own home/Owner occupied: ACS: 76%, UWS: 99%; Married: ACS: 50%, UWS: 86%; Children under 18 in household: ACS: 46%, UWS: 33%; Disability*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 23%; Chronic Condition*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 37%; Hispanic/Latino: ACS: 9%, UWS: 3%; Nonwhite: ACS: 19%, UWS: 1%; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 55%; Other Religion*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 16%; Agnostic/Atheist/No Religious Preference/Spiritual but Not Religious*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 29%

Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in La Verkin

Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in La Verkin. These wellbeing indicators were both measured on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in La Verkin was 3.97 with 78% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in La Verkin was 3.57 with 56% of respondents indicating community wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.

Bar Chart. Title: Personal Wellbeing in La Verkin. Subtitle: How would you rate your overall personal wellbeing? Data — 1 Poor: 2% of respondents; 2: 4% of respondents; 3: 17% of respondents; 4: 50% of respondents; 5 Excellent: 27% of respondents

Bar Chart. Title: Community Wellbeing in La Verkin. Subtitle: How would you rate overall wellbeing in La Verkin? Data — 1 Poor: 2% of respondents; 2: 7% of respondents; 3: 36% of respondents; 4: 45% of respondents; 5 Excellent: 11% of respondents

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

Dot Plot. Title: Average Rating of Personal and Community Wellbeing Over Time in La Verkin. Subtitle: (Wellbeing is rated on a scale from 1=Poor to 5=Excellent) Data — Community Wellbeing 2020: 3.69; Community Wellbeing 2021: 3.62; Community Wellbeing 2024: 3.57; Community Wellbeing 2026: 3.57; Personal Wellbeing 2020: 4.18; Personal Wellbeing 2021: 3.98; Personal Wellbeing 2024: 4.13; Personal Wellbeing 2026: 3.97

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. La Verkin is classified as a Rapid Growth 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 Rapid Growth city cluster, La Verkin was slightly below the average overall personal wellbeing score and slightly below the average overall community wellbeing score.

Dot Plot. Title: Overall Personal Wellbeing Scores from Participating Utah Cities (2026). Subtitle: (On a scale from 1=Poor to 5=Excellent). Data — Group: Cities of the 1st & 2nd Class — West Valley City Average Score 3.73; Ogden Average Score 3.80; West Jordan Average Score 4.00; Millcreek Average Score 4.23; Sandy Average Score 4.23; South Jordan Average Score 4.25; Group: Established/Mid-sized Cities — Tooele Average Score 3.66; Logan Average Score 3.79; Cedar City Average Score 3.80; Woods Cross Average Score 4.03; Murray Average Score 4.07; North Salt Lake Average Score 4.07; South Ogden Average Score 4.16; West Bountiful Average Score 4.20; Bountiful Average Score 4.22; Lindon Average Score 4.23; Cottonwood Heights Average Score 4.27; Alpine Average Score 4.35; Cedar Hills Average Score 4.35; Group: Rapid Growth Cities — Lehi Average Score 3.88; Eagle Mountain Average Score 3.92; Saratoga Springs Average Score 3.95; Grantsville Average Score 3.97; Mapleton Average Score 4.00; Wellsville Average Score 4.04; Enoch Average Score 4.08; Herriman Average Score 4.08; Bluffdale Average Score 4.16; Kamas Average Score 4.19; Kaysville Average Score 4.19; South Weber Average Score 4.20; Providence Average Score 4.26; Uintah City Average Score 4.34; Ivins Average Score 4.45; Group: Rural Hub/Resort Communities — Wendover Average Score 3.67; Tremonton Average Score 3.72; Vernal Average Score 3.75; Blanding Average Score 3.78; Moab Average Score 3.81; Bluff Average Score 3.98; Richfield Average Score 3.99; Nephi Average Score 4.01; Manila Average Score 4.13; Heber Average Score 4.19; Morgan Average Score 4.23; Springdale Average Score 4.27; Midway Average Score 4.38; Alta Average Score 4.44; Group: Traditional Rural Communities — Delta Average Score 3.77; Ferron Average Score 3.89; Stockton Average Score 3.92; Orangeville Average Score 3.96; La Verkin Average Score 3.97; Lake Point Average Score 4.13; Lewiston Average Score 4.22; Toquerville Average Score 4.24; Mayfield Average Score 4.27

Dot Plot. Title: Overall Community Wellbeing Scores from Participating Utah Cities (2026). Subtitle: (On a scale from 1=Poor to 5=Excellent). Data — Group: Cities of the 1st & 2nd Class — Ogden Average Score 3.19; West Valley City Average Score 3.22; West Jordan Average Score 3.53; Millcreek Average Score 3.81; Sandy Average Score 3.91; South Jordan Average Score 4.06; Group: Established/Mid-sized Cities — Tooele Average Score 3.06; Cedar City Average Score 3.23; Logan Average Score 3.42; North Salt Lake Average Score 3.71; Woods Cross Average Score 3.74; Cottonwood Heights Average Score 3.81; Murray Average Score 3.86; Bountiful Average Score 3.93; South Ogden Average Score 3.99; Alpine Average Score 4.04; West Bountiful Average Score 4.06; Cedar Hills Average Score 4.16; Lindon Average Score 4.24; Group: Rapid Growth Cities — Grantsville Average Score 3.08; Eagle Mountain Average Score 3.29; Saratoga Springs Average Score 3.38; Kamas Average Score 3.50; Lehi Average Score 3.56; Herriman Average Score 3.66; Enoch Average Score 3.69; Mapleton Average Score 3.71; South Weber Average Score 3.75; Bluffdale Average Score 3.78; Wellsville Average Score 3.93; Kaysville Average Score 3.95; Ivins Average Score 4.00; Providence Average Score 4.03; Uintah City Average Score 4.13; Group: Rural Hub/Resort Communities — Wendover Average Score 2.92; Tremonton Average Score 2.94; Moab Average Score 3.12; Vernal Average Score 3.21; Blanding Average Score 3.33; Heber Average Score 3.51; Manila Average Score 3.51; Nephi Average Score 3.51; Richfield Average Score 3.57; Springdale Average Score 3.71; Bluff Average Score 3.80; Morgan Average Score 3.89; Alta Average Score 4.15; Midway Average Score 4.24; Group: Traditional Rural Communities — Stockton Average Score 3.30; Delta Average Score 3.35; La Verkin Average Score 3.57; Lake Point Average Score 3.62; Orangeville Average Score 3.72; Ferron Average Score 3.76; Toquerville Average Score 3.83; Lewiston Average Score 3.99; Mayfield Average Score 4.08

Wellbeing Domains in La Verkin

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 La Verkin were Safety and Security (80%), Family Life (80%), and Mental Health (74%). The most important wellbeing domains were Mental Health (95%), Local Environmental Quality (94%), Living Standards (93%), and Physical Health (92%).

Likert Graph. Title: Wellbeing Domain Ratings in La Verkin. Subtitle: How would you rate your level of personal wellbeing in each of the following categories? Data — Category: Family Life - 20% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 80% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Safety and Security - 20% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 80% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Mental Health - 26% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 74% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Living Standards - 29% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 71% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Physical Health - 39% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 61% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Transportation - 39% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 61% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Connection with Nature - 41% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 59% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Local Environmental Quality - 44% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 56% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Leisure Time - 46% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 54% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Social Connections - 53% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 47% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Education - 71% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 29% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Cultural Opportunities - 73% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 27% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent Likert Graph. Title: Wellbeing Domain Importance in La Verkin. Subtitle: How important are the following categories to your overall personal wellbeing? Data — Category: Mental Health - 5% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 95% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Local Environmental Quality - 6% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 94% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Living Standards - 7% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 93% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Physical Health - 8% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 92% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Safety and Security -10% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 90% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Family Life -12% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 88% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Connection with Nature -15% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 85% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Leisure Time -20% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 80% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Education -40% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 60% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Social Connections -44% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 56% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Transportation -45% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 55% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Cultural Opportunities -49% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 51% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important

Wellbeing Domains Over Time in La Verkin

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

Dot Plot. Title: Wellbeing Domain Ratings Over Time in La Verkin. Subtitle: (Wellbeing is rated on a scale from 1=Poor to 5=Excellent) Data — Connection with Nature 2020: 3.98; Connection with Nature 2021: 3.97; Connection with Nature 2024: 4.09; Connection with Nature 2026: 3.67; Cultural Opportunities 2020: 2.82; Cultural Opportunities 2021: 2.79; Cultural Opportunities 2024: 2.88; Cultural Opportunities 2026: 3.05; Education 2020: 3.67; Education 2021: 3.46; Education 2024: 3.00; Education 2026: 3.02; Family Life 2024: 4.07; Family Life 2026: 4.21; Leisure Time 2020: 3.63; Leisure Time 2021: 3.56; Leisure Time 2024: 3.88; Leisure Time 2026: 3.68; Living Standards 2020: 3.69; Living Standards 2021: 3.76; Living Standards 2024: 3.83; Living Standards 2026: 3.90; Local Environmental Quality 2020: 3.70; Local Environmental Quality 2021: 3.59; Local Environmental Quality 2024: 3.62; Local Environmental Quality 2026: 3.60; Mental Health 2020: 3.88; Mental Health 2021: 3.76; Mental Health 2024: 4.03; Mental Health 2026: 4.02; Physical Health 2020: 3.74; Physical Health 2021: 3.57; Physical Health 2024: 3.73; Physical Health 2026: 3.63; Safety and Security 2020: 3.66; Safety and Security 2021: 3.72; Safety and Security 2024: 3.93; Safety and Security 2026: 4.11; Social Connections 2020: 3.54; Social Connections 2021: 3.29; Social Connections 2024: 3.40; Social Connections 2026: 3.34; Transportation 2024: 3.21; Transportation 2026: 3.68

Wellbeing Matrix for La Verkin

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

Scatterplot. Title: La Verkin Wellbeing Matrix. Subtitle: Domains are classified into four quadrants depending on their average rating and average importance as compared to the average of all the average domain ratings and the average domain importance ratings. Data — High rating, high importance (green quadrant) domains include: Connection with Nature, Family Life, Living Standards, Mental Health, and Safety and Security; High rating, lower importance (blue quadrant) domains include: Leisure Time and Transportation; Lower rating, lower importance (yellow quadrant) domains include: Cultural Opportunities, Education, and Social Connections; Lower rating, high importance (red quadrant) domains include: Local Environmental Quality and Physical Health

Community Connection in La Verkin

Survey participants were asked about how connected they feel to La Verkin on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5), and the average score of all respondents was 3.28.

Bar Chart. Title: Community Connection in La Verkin. Subtitle: How connected do you feel to La Verkin as a community? Data — 1 Not at All: 6% of respondents; 2: 20% of respondents; 3: 29% of respondents; 4: 33% of respondents; 5 A Great Deal: 13% of respondents

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

Dot Plot. Title: Average Rating of Community Connection Over Time in La Verkin. Subtitle: (Community Connection is rated on a scale from 1=Not at all to 5=A great deal) Data — 2020: 3.08; 2021: 3.04; 2024: 3.18; 2026: 3.28

To some extent, a positive relationship was found between individuals’ community connection and overall personal wellbeing as well as mental health.

Likert Graph. Title: Comparing Overall Wellbeing and Community Connection in La Verkin. Data — Of the 6 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a (Poor) 1, 2, 100% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 0% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 11 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a 3, 73% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 27% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 45 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a 4, 44% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 56% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 25 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a (Excellent) 5, 52% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 48% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5

Likert Graph. Title: Comparing Mental Health Rating and Community Connection in La Verkin. Data — Of the 20 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a (Poor) 1, 2, 3, 80% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 20% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 35 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a 4, 43% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 57% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 29 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a (Excellent) 5, 52% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 48% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5

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. La Verkin ranked 15 out of the 57 cities that participated.

Likert Graph. Title: Comparing Community Connection Across Cities. Subtitle: How connected do you feel to your city as a community? 1 being not at all and 5 being a great deal. Data — City: Bluff 35% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 65% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Uintah City 39% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 61% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Wellsville 40% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 60% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Lindon 43% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 57% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Alta 43% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 57% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Midway 45% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 55% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Morgan 46% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 54% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Alpine 48% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 52% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Murray 49% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 51% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: West Bountiful 50% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 50% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Kamas 53% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 47% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Bountiful 53% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 47% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Ogden 53% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 47% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Ivins 53% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 47% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: La Verkin 54% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 46% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Moab 54% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 46% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Cedar Hills 54% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 46% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Mayfield 55% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 45% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Wendover 55% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 45% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Ferron 56% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 44% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Delta 56% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 44% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Springdale 57% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 43% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Richfield 57% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 43% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Orangeville 57% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 43% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Cottonwood Heights 57% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 43% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: South Weber 57% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 43% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Lewiston 58% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 42% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Heber 58% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 42% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Manila 60% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 40% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Nephi 60% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 40% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Enoch 60% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 40% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: South Jordan 61% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 39% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Mapleton 62% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 38% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Sandy 62% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 38% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Toquerville 62% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 38% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Kaysville 63% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 37% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Millcreek 63% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 37% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Logan 64% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 36% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: North Salt Lake 65% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 35% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Vernal 65% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 35% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Bluffdale 65% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 35% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Blanding 65% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 35% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Herriman 66% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 34% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Providence 67% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 33% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Lake Point 68% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 32% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Cedar City 69% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 31% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Woods Cross 70% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 30% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: South Ogden 70% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 30% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: West Valley City 71% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 29% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Tooele 73% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 27% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Stockton 74% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 26% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Lehi 75% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 25% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: West Jordan 76% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 24% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Eagle Mountain 77% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 23% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Grantsville 77% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 23% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Saratoga Springs 81% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 19% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5; City: Tremonton 81% of respondents indicated a 1, 2, or 3 while 19% of respondents indicated a 4 or 5

Disability in La Verkin

Survey participants were asked how well La Verkin 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 (40%). For those expressing an opinion, respondents were split between opinions that they were quite well (25%) or somewhat (21%) included.

Bar Chart. Title: Inclusion for Individuals with Disabilities in La Verkin. Subtitle: How well does La Verkin include individuals with disabilities in social, recreational, and cultural activities? Data — 1 Not at all: 3% of respondents; 2 Somewhat: 21% of respondents; 3 Quite well: 25% of respondents; 4 Fully: 10% of respondents; No opinion/ Not relevant: 40% of respondents

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 Gardening at home (77%) and Walking or biking in your neighborhood or city (73%).

Likert Graph. Title: Frequent Recreational Activities in La Verkin. Subtitle: How often have you participated in any of the following activities over the past year? Data — Category: Gardening at home - 23% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 77% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Walking or biking in your neighborhood or city - 27% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 73% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Community events - 35% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 65% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Non-motorized recreation on public lands or waters in Utah - 39% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 61% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Buying food from a farmer's market - 42% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 58% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Using trails in or near your city - 42% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 58% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Recreating in parks in your city - 49% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 51% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Motorized recreation on public lands or waters in Utah - 55% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 45% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: City recreation programs - 62% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 38% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week)

Higher levels of community connection correlated with more frequent participation in city recreation programs and participation in community events.

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 La Verkin respondents was natural landscapes.

Likert Graph. Title: Importance of Urban and Rural Settings to Wellbeing in La Verkin. Subtitle: To what degree does your personal wellbeing depend on spending time in: Data — Category: Natural landscapes - 13% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 87% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important; Category: Rural communities - 28% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 72% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important; Category: Agricultural landscapes - 37% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 63% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important; Category: Cities or urban places - 83% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 17% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important

Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development

The majority of respondents in La Verkin indicated that they felt the population growth was too fast (61%). For the pace of economic development, the majority of respondents indicated that it was too fast (52%).

Bar Chart. Title: Population Growth in La Verkin. Subtitle: How would you describe the current rate of population growth in La Verkin? Data — Too Slow: 4% of respondents; Just Right: 31% of respondents; Too Fast: 61% of respondents; No Opinion: 5% of respondents

Bar Chart. Title: Economic Development in La Verkin. Subtitle: How would you describe the current pace of economic development in La Verkin? Data — Too Slow: 20% of respondents; Just Right: 24% of respondents; Too Fast: 52% of respondents; No Opinion: 5% of respondents

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

Line Graph. Title: La Verkin Change in Perceptions of Rate of Population Growth. Subtitle: (Remaining Percentage Each Year is No Opinion) Data — 2020: 12% rated it too slow, 49% just right, and 35% too fast; 2021: 9% rated it too slow, 36% just right, and 46% too fast; 2024: 2% rated it too slow, 39% just right, and 47% too fast; 2026: 4% rated it too slow, 31% just right, and 61% too fast

Line Graph. Title: La Verkin Change in Perceptions of Pace of Economic Development. Subtitle: (Remaining Percentage Each Year is No Opinion) Data — 2020: 56% rated it too slow, 31% just right, and 11% too fast; 2021: 27% rated it too slow, 37% just right, and 27% too fast; 2024: 28% rated it too slow, 33% just right, and 28% too fast; 2026: 20% rated it too slow, 24% just right, and 52% too fast

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

Likert Graph. Title: Population Growth for Traditional Rural Communities. Subtitle: How would you describe the current rate of population growth in your city/town? Data — City: Lake Point - 2% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 8% just right, 76% too fast, and 14% had no opinion; City: Mayfield - 5% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 15% just right, 75% too fast, and 5% had no opinion; City: Toquerville - 1% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 24% just right, 72% too fast, and 4% had no opinion; City: La Verkin - 4% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 31% just right, 61% too fast, and 5% had no opinion; City: Stockton - 6% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 34% just right, 53% too fast, and 8% had no opinion; City: Lewiston - 8% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 46% just right, 40% too fast, and 6% had no opinion; City: Delta - 15% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 41% just right, 33% too fast, and 12% had no opinion; City: Orangeville - 19% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 53% just right, 17% too fast, and 11% had no opinion; City: Ferron - 17% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 50% just right, 17% too fast, and 17% had no opinion

Likert Graph. Title: Economic Development for Traditional Rural Communities. Subtitle: How would you describe the current pace of economic development in your city/town? Data — City: La Verkin - 20% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 24% just right, 52% too fast, and 5% had no opinion; City: Toquerville - 20% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 42% just right, 31% too fast, and 7% had no opinion; City: Lake Point - 43% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 20% just right, 31% too fast, and 6% had no opinion; City: Lewiston - 15% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 51% just right, 28% too fast, and 6% had no opinion; City: Delta - 35% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 30% just right, 27% too fast, and 8% had no opinion; City: Stockton - 28% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 30% just right, 25% too fast, and 17% had no opinion; City: Mayfield - 38% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 33% just right, 24% too fast, and 5% had no opinion; City: Ferron - 42% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 31% just right, 17% too fast, and 11% had no opinion; City: Orangeville - 50% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 33% just right, 8% too fast, and 8% had no opinion

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 desire for more thoughtful growth and development in La Verkin, with many emphasizing the need to slow down or cap population growth to preserve the town’s character and address concerns about infrastructure, housing, and resources. There was also a strong sentiment towards supporting local businesses, creating more employment opportunities, and increasing walkability in the downtown area. Additionally, respondents emphasized the importance of affordable housing, grocery shopping options, and recreational activities for families.

Cost of Living in La Verkin

Respondents were asked to indicate how affordable certain expenses were in La Verkin. The most difficult expenses were Childcare (82%), Healthcare (40%), and Utilities (35%). Note that a high percentage (80%) of respondents found Childcare expenses not relevant to them.

Likert Graph. Title: Cost of Living in La Verkin. Subtitle: How EASY or DIFFICULT is it for your household to COVER EXPENSES related to the following? Among respondents for whom each expense was relevant; 'Not relevant' shown separately. Data — Category: Childcare - 80% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 82% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 18% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Healthcare - 2% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 40% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 60% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Utilities - 0% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 35% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 65% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Housing - 5% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 34% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 66% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Food - 0% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 33% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 67% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Transportation options - 18% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 14% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 86% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford

Transportation in La Verkin

Respondents were asked to indicate the most common barriers to transportation in La Verkin. The most problematic barriers were Cost (62%) and Travel time (48%).

Likert Graph. Title: Barriers to Personal Travel in La Verkin. Subtitle: Are any of the following a barrier to you personal travel? Data — Category: Cost - 38% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 62% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Travel time - 52% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 48% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Disability - 74% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 26% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Safety - 74% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 26% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Knowledge - 76% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 24% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Lack of routes - 83% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 17% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Lack of transport - 90% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 10% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Language - 92% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 8% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier

Concerns in La Verkin

Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of La Verkin. Water Supply (83%), Traffic (72%), and Water Quality (70%) were the top concerns. Since 2024, moderate or major concern about climate change (+12%) notably increased, while concern about shopping opportunities (-24%), access to healthy/quality food (-20%), recreation opportunities (-19%), public safety (-19%), opportunities for youth (-17%), access to health care (-15%), substance use (-13%), and homelessness (-12%) notably decreased.

Likert Graph. Title: Concerns in La Verkin. Subtitle: As you look to the future of La Verkin, how much of a concern are the following issues? Data — Category: Water Supply - 17% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 83% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Traffic - 28% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 72% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Water Quality - 30% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 70% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Affordable Housing - 33% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 67% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Open Space/Green Space - 35% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 65% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Opportunities for Youth - 41% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 59% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Public Safety - 43% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 57% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Wildfire - 43% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 57% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Air Quality - 47% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 53% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Employment Opportunities - 48% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 52% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Suicide - 48% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 52% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Healthy/Quality Food - 49% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 51% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Trails & Paths - 52% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 48% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Recreation Opportunities - 55% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 45% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Climate Change - 57% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 43% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Health Care - 63% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 37% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Shopping Opportunities - 63% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 37% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Homelessness - 65% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 35% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Mental Health Care - 66% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 34% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Social and Emotional Support - 67% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 33% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Substance Use - 72% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 28% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Accessible Transportation - 73% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 27% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Great Salt Lake - 73% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 27% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Culturally Appropriate Food - 75% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 25% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Substance Use Treatment - 77% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 23% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern

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 La Verkin

Survey respondents were asked to comment on what they value most about La Verkin. 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 consistently highlighted the small-town feel and sense of community as essential aspects of their neighborhood’s character. They valued the friendly atmosphere, quiet neighborhoods, and proximity to nature and outdoor recreation. Many emphasized feeling safe and secure, with some noting the lack of urban sprawl and the town’s manageable size.

A word cloud of some of the most popular words and phrases about what people value living in La Verkin includes: small town, town feel, quiet, people, safe, community, friendly, neighbors, family, and space.

Local Environmental Quality in La Verkin

Survey respondents were asked if there are specific aspects of local environmental quality that they feel pose a significant threat to wellbeing in La Verkin. Respondents highlighted concerns about environmental issues, particularly related to growth and development. They expressed worries about the impact of increasing traffic congestion on air quality, noise pollution, and overall livability. The lack of greenspace and open areas was also a notable concern, as was the diminishing quality of water due to overdevelopment. Some respondents lamented the loss of natural landscapes and the destruction caused by tourists.

Improving Wellbeing in La Verkin

Survey respondents were asked if there is anything that could be done to improve wellbeing in La Verkin. Respondents emphasized the need for deliberate community planning and responsible growth, citing concerns about over-development, congestion, and environmental impacts. Many highlighted the importance of preserving natural spaces, improving walkability and traffic safety, and maintaining a balance between tourist attractions and local living. Additionally, a handful of respondents mentioned the frequent power outages in the area, and how they negatively impact their day-to-day lives.

Additional Comments

Respondents were also asked if they had any additional comments on wellbeing in La Verkin. Many respondents expressed a desire to preserve La Verkin’s small-town character and charm, with some commenting on the negative impact of growth and development on the community’s atmosphere. Others emphasized the importance of maintaining open spaces and agriculture in the area. Some respondents also highlighted concerns about local government and decision-making processes, suggesting that officials should prioritize the needs and concerns of long-time residents over those of developers and tourists.

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