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

Contact Information
Dr. Courtney Flint
courtney.flint@usu.edu
435-797-8635
Summary
Uintah City is one of 57 cities and towns participating in the Utah Wellbeing Survey Project in 2026. This project is designed to assess the wellbeing and local perspectives of city residents and to provide information to city leaders to inform general planning processes. Additional analysis is underway, and this report may be updated over time.
We are grateful to all those who took the survey and to our city partners who helped make this possible. A special thank you goes to the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the following cities for funding this project: Cedar City, Delta, Heber, La Verkin, South Weber, Vernal, West Bountiful, and West Valley City. We also acknowledge support from the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP).
This report describes findings from the 2026 Uintah City survey and comparative information with other project cities and towns. In April 2026, Uintah 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?
- 61 viable surveys were recorded in this 2026 survey effort.
- The adult population of Uintah City was estimated at 1,221, based on the American Community Survey by the U.S. Census. The 61 survey responses in 2026 represent 5.0% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 12.23%. Due to the low number of respondents and the high conservative margin of error, caution should be used when interpreting these survey results.
Survey Respondent Characteristics
| Resident Statistics | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Time Residents of Uintah City | 100.0% |
| Part Time Residents of Uintah City | 0.0% |
| Length of Residency — Range | 1-60 years |
| Length of Residency — Average | 18.5 years |
| Length of Residency — Median | 13 years |
| Length of Residency 5 Years or less | 14.8% |
Demographic characteristics of the survey respondents were compared below with U.S. Census information from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. In the graph below, gray bars indicate differences between the American Community Survey estimates and the Utah Wellbeing Project surveys. The wider the gray bars, the larger the differences. Also note that estimates for religious affiliation, adult non-conforming or non-binary gender, disability, and chronic conditions are unavailable from the census data. There can also be a variable margin of error in the American Community Survey estimates, and caution should be used when comparing estimates. Not all respondents provided demographic information. As the graph shows, 2026 survey respondents were not fully representative of Uintah City. People who have at least a 4-year college degree, have an income $150,000 or over, or are married were overrepresented, while those who are age 18-29 or do not have a college degree were underrepresented.

Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Uintah City
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Uintah City. These wellbeing indicators were both measured on a 5-point scale from poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in Uintah City was 4.34 with 90% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Uintah City was 4.13 with 77% of respondents indicating community wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.


Comparing Wellbeing Across Utah Cities
The Utah League of Cities and Towns clusters cities and towns into five different categories based on size and growth rates. We utilize these clusters in our analysis. Uintah City 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, Uintah City was well above the average overall personal wellbeing score and well above the average overall community wellbeing score.


Wellbeing Domains in Uintah City
According to national and international entities that track wellbeing, there are a number of common dimensions or domains of wellbeing. Survey respondents rated twelve domains on a 5-point scale from poor to excellent. They were also asked to indicate the importance of each domain to their overall personal wellbeing on a 5-point scale from not at all important to very important. The highest rated wellbeing domains for respondents in Uintah City were Living Standards (96%), Mental Health (96%), and Family Life (95%). The most important wellbeing domains were Safety and Security (100%), Mental Health (98%), Family Life (97%), and Physical Health (97%).

Wellbeing Matrix for Uintah City
The graph below illustrates the relationship between the average rating and the average importance of wellbeing domains for survey respondents from Uintah City. 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.

Community Connection in Uintah City
Survey participants were asked about how connected they feel to Uintah City on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5), and the average score of all respondents was 3.7.

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


The graph below shows how Wellbeing Project cities and towns compare on feelings of community connection based on the percentage of respondents who answered 4 or a 5 on a 5-point scale from “1 Not at all” to “5 A great deal” connected to their city or town. Uintah City ranked 2 out of the 57 cities that participated.

Disability in Uintah City
Survey participants were asked how well Uintah City included individuals with disabilities in social, recreational, and cultural activities. The largest proportion of respondents indicated they had no opinion or that the question was not relevant (49%). For those expressing an opinion, respondents were split between opinions that they were quite well (19%) or fully (18%) included.

Participation in Recreation and Nature-Related Activities
Respondents were asked to indicate how often they participated in various activities over the past year. The activities in which respondents most commonly participated at least sometimes (about once a month or more frequently) were Walking or biking in your neighborhood or city (93%) and Gardening at home (88%).

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 Uintah City respondents was natural landscapes.

Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development
The majority of respondents in Uintah City indicated that they felt the population growth was just right (54%). For the pace of economic development, the majority of respondents indicated that it was just right (66%).


The graphs below show perceptions of population growth and economic development for Uintah City compared to other participating cities and towns in the Rapid Growth Cities cluster.


Survey respondents were asked if there are any aspects of the local economy they would like to see changed in the next five years. Respondents mentioned they would like to see better infrastructure and resources, including improved parks, playgrounds, and walking paths. Some respondents expressed concerns about rapid growth and development, suggesting that it should be slowed down or stopped completely to preserve the area’s character and rural feel. There were also mentions of wanting more local businesses and job opportunities to benefit the community as whole.
Cost of Living in Uintah City
Respondents were asked to indicate how affordable certain expenses were in Uintah City. The most difficult expenses were Childcare (47%) and Healthcare (37%). Note that a high percentage (73%) of respondents found Childcare expenses not relevant to them.

Transportation in Uintah City
Respondents were asked to indicate the most common barriers to transportation in Uintah City. The most problematic barriers were Cost (49%) and Travel time (37%).

Concerns in Uintah City
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of Uintah City. Water Supply (60%), the Great Salt Lake (56%), and Affordable Housing (51%) were the top concerns.

Open Comments
All open comments collected in the survey were shared with city leaders. General observations and themes are shared here. 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 Uintah City
Survey respondents were asked to comment on what they value most about Uintah City. The most common words and phrases from all comments are included in the word cloud below. It is possible that negative or unrelated words may appear since these words have been taken out of context, and they may not indicate the respondent’s intended meaning.
Respondents appreciated the community’s rural character, valuing its quiet atmosphere, open spaces, and sense of community. Many valued being able to raise animals and grow gardens, while others noted the convenience of being close to services and amenities. The community’s small-town feel was mentioned frequently with respondents appreciating the friendly residents and general feeling of connection among community members.

Local Environmental Quality in Uintah City
Survey respondents were asked if there are specific aspects of local environmental quality that they feel pose a significant threat to wellbeing in Uintah City. Respondents mentioned air quality, specifically related to inversions and pollutants from open pit quarries as well as controlled fires during the burn season. Many also mentioned the need for alternative transportation options, expressing frustration with congested roads and lack of bike lanes or walkways. Additionally, some expressed worry about the impact of high-density housing on the community’s rural charm and natural environment as well as the amount of run-down and trash-littered homes throughout the community.
Improving Wellbeing in Uintah City
Survey respondents were asked if there is anything that could be done to improve wellbeing in Uintah City. Respondents expressed needs for better transportation developments and recreation to improve wellbeing, such as better sidewalks, walkability, and pedestrian safety. They also valued community connectivity, expressing a desire for more neighborhood events and activities. Some respondents noted concerns about government intervention and taxation, as well as issues with housing development and environmental neglect.
Additional Comments
Respondents were also asked if they had any additional comments on wellbeing in Uintah City. Respondents expressed a strong sense of community and appreciation for the city, with many grateful for its friendly atmosphere and location. Some also emphasized the importance of transparency in government spending and leadership, appreciating their honesty and desire to prioritize the wellbeing of residents. However, some concerns were raised about specific issues, such as safety on certain roads and the need for more walking paths and organized sports facilities.