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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah seems to be frequently recognized for its family-centric reputation, but what really makes the area ideal for families?
Salt Lake City was named the No. 1 "big metro" for families by LendingTree in February. The ranking was based on seven metrics that analyzed factors families might consider when moving to a new area. This includes family income, homeownership rates among families with children, child poverty rates, older teen education status, average commute times, percentage of households with kids and the cost of child care for infants to 4-year-olds.
Compared to the other cities ranked in the top 10 on the list, Salt Lake City has one of the lowest monthly child care costs for two children, at $1,646. The city also ranked higher than others due to a larger portion, 29.7%, of households that have children and 75% of those children living in owner-occupied homes.
"These are areas where Utah as a state, and Salt Lake City, really shines," said Vivekananda Das, an assistant professor in family and consumer studies at the University of Utah. "These are areas of strength when it comes to the economy or quality of education, percentage of households with children and average commute time are metrics where Salt Lake City really does better than most other metropolitan cities in the country.
"So, given the fact that this ranking is prioritizing factors where Utah and Salt Lake City do really well, I think it's no surprise that Salt Lake City comes out as the best place for raising a family," Das said.
Utah is set apart from the nation when it comes to raising children in a married-parent family. According to the Sutherland Institute, over 80% of families in the state are led by married parents, compared to the national average of about 67%. Das, who specializes in consumer behavior and family economics, explained that this dynamic may contribute to better economic prosperity in the state.
"Many researchers have found an association between growing up in a two-parent household and educational achievement and, also, economic success. So, part of the economic miracle of Utah is driven by the strong family culture that it has," he said.
Utah consistently retains a lower unemployment rate than the national average. According to data from the Utah Foundation, the state consistently ranks higher than the national average for post-high school educational attainment. While these metrics may be more important for some, Das argues there are other factors families may consider when moving that aren't considered in some of these rankings.
While Utah may rank well in reports that emphasize education, economics and policies that support family life, other reports rank the state lower. WalletHub's 2024 listicle ranking the best and worst places to raise a family puts Salt Lake City 55th of 182 cities. The report considered 45 metrics under five major categories: family fun, health and safety, education and child care, affordability and socioeconomics.
Salt Lake City ranked above average for socioeconomics and affordability but was ranked 152 out of 182 for health and safety, a category that considered air and water quality, crime, family homelessness and health care.
U.S. News ranks Utah as its No. 1 best state for families overall but was 46th in the publication's ranking of natural environments due to poor air quality and pollution. Utah is also gearing up to be the first state in the nation to ban community water fluoridation, despite concerns from the American Dental Association and similar organizations about the legislation's impact on public health.
Das concluded, in the end, that what makes Utah a great — or not-so-great — place for families depends on what is important to each family. Still, he expects residents will continue to see the Beehive State rank favorably due to the area's culture and sense of community.
"I think beyond these rankings it holds true that Utah and Salt Lake City are some of the best places to raise families, and part of it is due to the cultural reasons that this place encourages marriage and parenthood more than, perhaps, any other place in the country," said Das.
"When you live in a place where everybody encourages raising families, then I think it becomes easier for many families to find like-minded people," he said. "So the community connection here is great, and there are many businesses that offer family-friendly services because, again, there is a greater demand for those types of services in this space."
