Sandy 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

Sandy 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 Sandy survey and comparative information with other project cities and towns. In April 2026, Sandy 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?

  • 534 viable surveys were recorded in this 2026 survey effort.
  • The Sandy 2024 survey had 955 responses, the Sandy 2022 survey had 809 responses, and the Sandy 2021 survey had 1159 responses.
  • The adult population of Sandy was estimated at 69,401, based on the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census. The 534 survey responses in 2026 represent 0.8% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 4.22%.

Survey Respondent Characteristics

Resident Statistics Value
Full Time Residents of Sandy 99.4%
Part Time Residents of Sandy 0.6%
Length of Residency — Range 0.1-76 years
Length of Residency — Average 25.8 years
Length of Residency — Median 25 years
Length of Residency 5 Years or less 8.5%
City Area Percent
Council District 1 16.3%
Council District 2 24.6%
Council District 3 34.1%
Council District 4 25.0%

A Map of Sandy City Areas

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 Sandy. People who are age 70 or over, have at least a 4-year college degree, are married, are not employed for various reasons, or own their homes were overrepresented, while those who are age 18-29, do not have a college degree, are employed, or are renters were underrepresented.

Dot Plot. Title: Sandy 2026 Demographics. Subtitle: ACS = American Community Survey Estimate; UWS = Utah Wellbeing Survey Estimate Data — Age 18-29: ACS: 18%, UWS: 0%; Age 30-39: ACS: 19%, UWS: 10%; Age 40-49: ACS: 18%, UWS: 19%; Age 50-59: ACS: 15%, UWS: 15%; Age 60-69: ACS: 16%, UWS: 24%; Age 70 or Over: ACS: 14%, UWS: 31%; Income under $25,000: ACS: 7%, UWS: 2%; Income $25,000 to $49,999: ACS: 11%, UWS: 8%; Income $50,000 to $74,999: ACS: 14%, UWS: 10%; Income $75,000 to $99,999: ACS: 13%, UWS: 14%; Income $100,000 to $149,999: ACS: 22%, UWS: 25%; Income $150,000 or over: ACS: 35%, UWS: 41%; Adult Female: ACS: 51%, UWS: 59%; Adult Male: ACS: 49%, UWS: 41%; Adult non-conforming or non-binary*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 0%; Employed: ACS: 68%, UWS: 49%; Out of work and looking for work: ACS: 2%, UWS: 1%; Other: ACS: 31%, UWS: 50%; No College Degree: ACS: 54%, UWS: 31%; College degree (4-year): ACS: 46%, UWS: 69%; Rent home/Renter occupied/Other: ACS: 25%, UWS: 4%; Own home/Owner occupied: ACS: 75%, UWS: 96%; Married: ACS: 57%, UWS: 81%; Children under 18 in household: ACS: 37%, UWS: 29%; Disability*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 8%; Chronic Condition*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 28%; Hispanic/Latino: ACS: 11%, UWS: 3%; Nonwhite: ACS: 20%, UWS: 9%; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 42%; Other Religion*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 22%; Agnostic/Atheist/No Religious Preference/Spiritual but Not Religious*: ACS: NA%, UWS: 36%

Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Sandy

Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Sandy. These wellbeing indicators were both measured on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in Sandy was 4.23 with 87% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Sandy was 3.91 with 75% of respondents indicating community wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.

Bar Chart. Title: Personal Wellbeing in Sandy. Subtitle: How would you rate your overall personal wellbeing? Data — 1 Poor: 0% of respondents; 2: 2% of respondents; 3: 11% of respondents; 4: 47% of respondents; 5 Excellent: 39% of respondents

Bar Chart. Title: Community Wellbeing in Sandy. Subtitle: How would you rate overall wellbeing in Sandy? Data — 1 Poor: 2% of respondents; 2: 4% of respondents; 3: 19% of respondents; 4: 50% of respondents; 5 Excellent: 25% of respondents

When comparing survey data from Sandy 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 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 Sandy. Subtitle: (Wellbeing is rated on a scale from 1=Poor to 5=Excellent) Data — Community Wellbeing 2021: 3.80; Community Wellbeing 2022: 3.79; Community Wellbeing 2024: 3.91; Community Wellbeing 2026: 3.91; Personal Wellbeing 2021: 4.13; Personal Wellbeing 2022: 4.07; Personal Wellbeing 2024: 4.18; Personal Wellbeing 2026: 4.23

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. Sandy is classified as a City of the 1st and 2nd Class. 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, Sandy was above the average overall personal wellbeing score and above 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 Sandy

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 Sandy were Living Standards (87%), Family Life (85%), and Safety and Security (83%). The most important wellbeing domains were Mental Health (99%), Safety and Security (97%), and Physical Health (97%).

Likert Graph. Title: Wellbeing Domain Ratings in Sandy. Subtitle: How would you rate your level of personal wellbeing in each of the following categories? Data — Category: Living Standards - 13% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 87% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Family Life - 15% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 85% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Safety and Security - 17% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 83% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Mental Health - 20% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 80% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Physical Health - 23% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 77% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Leisure Time - 25% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 75% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Connection with Nature - 31% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 69% 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: Social Connections - 40% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 60% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Local Environmental Quality - 41% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 59% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Education - 45% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 55% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent; Category: Cultural Opportunities - 52% of respondents rated it as 1 Poor, 2, or 3 while 48% rated it as 4, or 5 Excellent Likert Graph. Title: Wellbeing Domain Importance in Sandy. Subtitle: How important are the following categories to your overall personal wellbeing? Data — Category: Mental Health - 1% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 99% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Physical Health - 3% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 97% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Safety and Security - 3% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 97% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Living Standards - 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 - 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: 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: Leisure Time -14% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 86% 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: Social Connections -31% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 69% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Education -34% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 66% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Transportation -34% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 66% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important; Category: Cultural Opportunities -42% of respondents rated it as 1 Not at all important, 2, or 3, while 58% rated it as 4 or 5 Very important

Wellbeing Domains Over Time in Sandy

The graphs below show how the domains were rated over the years by Sandy residents. The number of respondents changed over time. Since 2024, most domain ratings increased, except for Connection with Nature and Education which decreased, and Cultural Opportunities which remained nearly the same.

Dot Plot. Title: Wellbeing Domain Ratings Over Time in Sandy. Subtitle: (Wellbeing is rated on a scale from 1=Poor to 5=Excellent) Data — Connection with Nature 2021: 3.83; Connection with Nature 2022: 3.78; Connection with Nature 2024: 3.99; Connection with Nature 2026: 3.92; Cultural Opportunities 2021: 2.93; Cultural Opportunities 2022: 3.37; Cultural Opportunities 2024: 3.40; Cultural Opportunities 2026: 3.45; Education 2021: 3.71; Education 2022: 3.92; Education 2024: 3.72; Education 2026: 3.62; Family Life 2024: 4.18; Family Life 2026: 4.33; Leisure Time 2021: 3.68; Leisure Time 2022: 3.84; Leisure Time 2024: 3.94; Leisure Time 2026: 4.03; Living Standards 2021: 4.13; Living Standards 2022: 4.10; Living Standards 2024: 4.13; Living Standards 2026: 4.32; Local Environmental Quality 2021: 3.47; Local Environmental Quality 2022: 3.40; Local Environmental Quality 2024: 3.60; Local Environmental Quality 2026: 3.69; Mental Health 2021: 3.79; Mental Health 2022: 3.88; Mental Health 2024: 4.08; Mental Health 2026: 4.18; Physical Health 2021: 3.71; Physical Health 2022: 3.82; Physical Health 2024: 3.92; Physical Health 2026: 4.04; Safety and Security 2021: 3.80; Safety and Security 2022: 3.80; Safety and Security 2024: 3.96; Safety and Security 2026: 4.23; Social Connections 2021: 3.23; Social Connections 2022: 3.56; Social Connections 2024: 3.61; Social Connections 2026: 3.73; Transportation 2024: 3.59; Transportation 2026: 3.74

Wellbeing Matrix for Sandy

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

Scatterplot. Title: Sandy 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: Family Life, Living Standards, Mental Health, Physical Health, and Safety and Security; High rating, lower importance (blue quadrant) domains include: Leisure Time; Lower rating, lower importance (yellow quadrant) domains include: Cultural Opportunities, Education, Social Connections, and Transportation; Lower rating, high importance (red quadrant) domains include: Connection with Nature and Local Environmental Quality

Community Connection in Sandy

Survey participants were asked about how connected they feel to Sandy on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5), and the average score of all respondents was 3.16.

Bar Chart. Title: Community Connection in Sandy. Subtitle: How connected do you feel to Sandy as a community? Data — 1 Not at All: 6% of respondents; 2: 19% of respondents; 3: 37% of respondents; 4: 29% of respondents; 5 A Great Deal: 9% of respondents

When comparing survey data from Sandy over the years as shown in the information below, we can see that the average community connection score remained nearly the same between 2024 and 2026.

Dot Plot. Title: Average Rating of Community Connection Over Time in Sandy. Subtitle: (Community Connection is rated on a scale from 1=Not at all to 5=A great deal) Data — 2021: 2.86; 2022: 3.03; 2024: 3.14; 2026: 3.16

A positive relationship was found between individuals’ community connection and overall personal wellbeing, and to some extent between community connection and mental health.

Likert Graph. Title: Comparing Overall Wellbeing and Community Connection in Sandy. Data — Of the 11 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 51 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a 3, 88% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 12% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 228 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a 4, 64% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 36% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 189 respondents that rate their overall personal wellbeing as a (Excellent) 5, 50% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 50% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5

Likert Graph. Title: Comparing Mental Health Rating and Community Connection in Sandy. Data — Of the 5 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a (Poor) 1, 80% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 20% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 12 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a 2, 83% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 17% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 75 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a 3, 85% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 15% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 178 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a 4, 62% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 38% indicate a community connection score of 4 or 5; Of the 202 respondents that rate their mental health rating as a (Excellent) 5, 51% indicate a community connection score of 1, 2, or 3 while 49% 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. Sandy ranked 34 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 Sandy

Survey participants were asked how well Sandy included individuals with disabilities in social, recreational, and cultural activities. The majority of respondents indicated they had no opinion or that the question was not relevant (52%). For those expressing an opinion, the largest proportion of respondents felt that they were quite well (25%) included.

Bar Chart. Title: Inclusion for Individuals with Disabilities in Sandy. Subtitle: How well does Sandy include individuals with disabilities in social, recreational, and cultural activities? Data — 1 Not at all: 3% of respondents; 2 Somewhat: 14% of respondents; 3 Quite well: 25% of respondents; 4 Fully: 6% of respondents; No opinion/ Not relevant: 52% 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 Walking or biking in your neighborhood or city (89%) and Gardening at home (86%).

Likert Graph. Title: Frequent Recreational Activities in Sandy. Subtitle: How often have you participated in any of the following activities over the past year? Data — Category: Walking or biking in your neighborhood or city - 11% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 89% of respondents indicated it was at least Sometimes (once a month), Regularly (about once per week), or Often (more than once per week); Category: Gardening at home - 14% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 86% 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 - 26% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 74% 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 - 32% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 68% 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 - 51% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 49% 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 - 53% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 47% 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 - 56% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 44% 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 - 67% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 33% 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 - 82% of respondents indicated it was Rarely (a few times per year) or Never, while 18% 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 community events, participation in city recreation programs, recreation in parks in your city, walking or biking in your neighborhood or city, gardening at home, and use of trails in or near your city.

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 Sandy respondents was natural landscapes.

Likert Graph. Title: Importance of Urban and Rural Settings to Wellbeing in Sandy. Subtitle: To what degree does your personal wellbeing depend on spending time in: Data — Category: Natural landscapes - 17% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 83% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important; Category: Cities or urban places - 66% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 34% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important; Category: Agricultural landscapes - 67% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 33% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important; Category: Rural communities - 68% of respondents indicated it was 1 not at all, 2 slightly, or 3 somewhat important, while 32% of respondents indicated it was 4 important or 5 very important

Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development

The majority of respondents in Sandy indicated that they felt the population growth was too fast (57%). For the pace of economic development, the largest proportion of respondents indicated that it was just right (46%).

Bar Chart. Title: Population Growth in Sandy. Subtitle: How would you describe the current rate of population growth in Sandy? Data — Too Slow: 2% of respondents; Just Right: 29% of respondents; Too Fast: 57% of respondents; No Opinion: 12% of respondents

Bar Chart. Title: Economic Development in Sandy. Subtitle: How would you describe the current pace of economic development in Sandy? Data — Too Slow: 11% of respondents; Just Right: 46% of respondents; Too Fast: 31% of respondents; No Opinion: 12% of respondents

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

Line Graph. Title: Sandy Change in Perceptions of Rate of Population Growth. Subtitle: (Remaining Percentage Each Year is No Opinion) Data — 2021: 0.9% rated it too slow, 29% just right, and 58% too fast; 2022: 2% rated it too slow, 24% just right, and 66% too fast; 2024: 1% rated it too slow, 27% just right, and 60% too fast; 2026: 2% rated it too slow, 29% just right, and 57% too fast

Line Graph. Title: Sandy Change in Perceptions of Pace of Economic Development. Subtitle: (Remaining Percentage Each Year is No Opinion) Data — 2021: 6% rated it too slow, 43% just right, and 37% too fast; 2022: 7% rated it too slow, 37% just right, and 44% too fast; 2024: 12% rated it too slow, 47% just right, and 26% too fast; 2026: 11% rated it too slow, 46% just right, and 31% too fast

The graphs below show perceptions of population growth and economic development for Sandy compared to other participating cities and towns in the Cities of the 1st & 2nd Class cluster.

Likert Graph. Title: Population Growth for Cities of the 1st & 2nd Class. Subtitle: How would you describe the current rate of population growth in your city/town? Data — City: West Valley City - 3% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 20% just right, 68% too fast, and 9% had no opinion; City: South Jordan - 0% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 21% just right, 68% too fast, and 10% had no opinion; City: West Jordan - 2% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 21% just right, 66% too fast, and 10% had no opinion; City: Millcreek - 2% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 24% just right, 60% too fast, and 13% had no opinion; City: Ogden - 2% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 29% just right, 58% too fast, and 11% had no opinion; City: Sandy - 2% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 29% just right, 57% too fast, and 12% had no opinion

Likert Graph. Title: Economic Development for Cities of the 1st & 2nd Class. Subtitle: How would you describe the current pace of economic development in your city/town? Data — City: Millcreek - 7% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 42% just right, 38% too fast, and 13% had no opinion; City: West Valley City - 27% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 28% just right, 34% too fast, and 10% had no opinion; City: Sandy - 11% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 46% just right, 31% too fast, and 12% had no opinion; City: West Jordan - 23% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 32% just right, 30% too fast, and 15% had no opinion; City: Ogden - 34% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 32% just right, 29% too fast, and 6% had no opinion; City: South Jordan - 10% of respondents indicated that it was too slow, 48% just right, 29% too fast, and 13% 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 concerns over rapid growth and development of the city, particularly regarding commercial areas. Many respondents highlighted the need for more unique restaurants, shopping options, and community spaces that are walkable and inviting. Some also emphasized the importance of preserving the city’s natural beauty and addressing issues related to traffic congestion and pollution. Others suggested ways to improve the quality of life in Sandy, such as reducing property taxes or implementing programs to support struggling families.

Cost of Living in Sandy

Respondents were asked to indicate how affordable certain expenses were in Sandy. The most difficult expenses were Childcare (52%), Healthcare (34%), and Housing (29%). Note that a high percentage (78%) of respondents found Childcare expenses not relevant to them.

Likert Graph. Title: Cost of Living in Sandy. 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 - 78% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 52% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 48% 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, 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: Housing - 9% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 29% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 71% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Utilities - 2% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 21% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 79% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Food - 3% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 19% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 81% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford; Category: Transportation options - 14% said it was not relevant. Of those that found it relevant, 13% of respondents indicated that it was difficult or very difficult to afford, while 87% indicated that it was just affordable, easy, or very easy to afford

Transportation in Sandy

Respondents were asked to indicate the most common barriers to transportation in Sandy. The most problematic barriers were Travel time (46%) and Cost (45%).

Likert Graph. Title: Barriers to Personal Travel in Sandy. Subtitle: Are any of the following a barrier to you personal travel? Data — Category: Travel time - 54% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 46% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Cost - 55% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 45% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Lack of routes - 75% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 25% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Safety - 78% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 22% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Knowledge - 80% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 20% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Lack of transport - 85% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 15% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Disability - 87% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 13% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier; Category: Language - 95% of respondents indicated it was not a barrier or seldom a barrier, while 5% of respondents indicated it was sometimes, often, or always a barrier

Concerns in Sandy

Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of Sandy. Air Quality (86%), Water Supply (86%), and Traffic (78%) were the top concerns. Since 2024, moderate or major concern about the Great Salt Lake (+10%) notably increased, while concern about recreation opportunities (-15%), public safety (-14%), shopping opportunities (-13%), and opportunities for youth (-10%) notably decreased.

Likert Graph. Title: Concerns in Sandy. Subtitle: As you look to the future of Sandy, how much of a concern are the following issues? Data — Category: Air Quality - 14% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 86% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Water Supply - 14% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 86% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Traffic - 22% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 78% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Great Salt Lake - 24% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 76% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Open Space/Green Space - 24% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 76% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Homelessness - 29% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 71% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Climate Change - 30% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 70% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Water Quality - 31% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 69% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Wildfire - 31% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 69% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Public Safety - 35% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 65% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Affordable Housing - 37% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 63% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Opportunities for Youth - 44% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 56% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Trails & Paths - 47% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 53% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Recreation Opportunities - 52% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 48% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Health Care - 54% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 46% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Healthy/Quality Food - 55% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 45% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Employment Opportunities - 58% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 42% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Suicide - 62% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 38% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Mental 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: Accessible Transportation - 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 - 69% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 31% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Shopping Opportunities - 70% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 30% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Substance Use - 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 Substance Use Treatment - 79% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 21% of respondents indicated a moderate or major concern; Category: Access to Culturally Appropriate Food - 82% of respondents indicated not a concern at all or slight concern while 18% 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 Sandy

Survey respondents were asked to comment on what they value most about Sandy. 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 valued Sandy’s sense of community, with many noting that it’s a close-knit and friendly neighborhood where people look out for one another. They appreciate the mountain views and proximity to nature, as well as the ease of access to freeways and major highways. Many highlighted the importance of good neighbors and quality neighborhoods, suggesting that these factors contribute to the community’s overall feeling of safety and stability.

A word cloud of some of the most popular words and phrases about what people value living in Sandy includes: shopping, love, parks, location, neighborhood, people, proximity, feel, trails, and clean.

Local Environmental Quality in Sandy

Survey respondents were asked if there are specific aspects of local environmental quality that they feel pose a significant threat to wellbeing in Sandy. The major environmental concerns for respondents were water scarcity and quality, air pollution, traffic congestion, noise pollution, and waste management. Many respondents emphasized the importance of conserving water resources, particularly in light of the ongoing drought. Air quality was also a significant concern, with some individuals noting its impact on health, especially for those with respiratory issues. Traffic congestion and noise pollution were other pressing issues, with many respondents calling for improved public transportation options and reduced speeding. Waste management and excessive water use and private lawn watering, were also seen as problems needing to be addressed.

Improving Wellbeing in Sandy

Survey respondents were asked if there is anything that could be done to improve wellbeing in Sandy. Respondents suggestions for improving wellbeing in Sandy, highlighted the importance of traffic flow and public transportation. Many emphasized the need for better pedestrian safety, walkability, and bike lanes to reduce reliance on cars. Some suggested increased bus routes or a gondola system to alleviate congestion and improve access to recreation areas. Others prioritized fixing sidewalks, building walkable neighborhoods, and promoting mixed-use spaces. Additionally, respondents valued more greenspaces, air quality improvements, and alternative transportation options for those without cars.

Additional Comments

Respondents were also asked if they had any additional comments on wellbeing in Sandy. Respondents from Sandy appreciated their city’s natural beauty, parks, and community events. They valued a sense of safety and security, with many expressing concern about reckless driving and lack of pedestrian access to Dimple Dell regional park. Some residents suggested improving public transit, while others emphasized the need for more affordable housing options. Despite some frustrations with city governance and traffic congestion, the majority of respondents expressed appreciation for Sandy’s unique character and small-town feel, highlighting its quality schools, clean roads, and family-friendly atmosphere.

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