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Utah State: Population, Rankings, and Facts

#1 in Overall Ranking out of 50 in 2021

Bordered by Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada, this state is completely enclosed by land in the American West. While it offers vast expanses of rolling plains and mountain peaks, Utah also has several populous cities with booming businesses. It’s home to a prominent Mormon community & one of the world’s largest LDS churches. Below are some more insights into this region.

Updated: April 20, 2021
  • Area
    84,899 sq. mi.
  • Capital
    Salt Lake City
  • Population
    3,205,958
  • Income
    $68,358
  • Home Value
    $401,053
  • Crime
    7,553
  • Unemployment
    3.3%
  • Education
    32.5%
  • Medicine
    6
  • Poverty
    9.0%
  • Environment
    0
  • Infrastructure
    2.4%

Interestingly, Utah is the only U.S. state in which most of its residents are active church members. In this case, it’s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It also has a relatively healthy business economy focusing on transportation, information technology, education, and tourism. The region is perfect for outdoor recreation and ecotourism.

In terms of healthcare and education, it ranks in the top 15. It’s also relatively low on the crime and unemployment scale, which is great. Unfortunately, this area has about double the industrial toxins, so its environmental rating could be much better.

Utah became a state on January 4, 1896, making it the 45th to join the Union. The land was first populated by the Ancestral Puebloans and Fremont people, a pre-Colombian group. Around the 1700s, the Navajo nation began to settle in the area, paving the way for other Uto-Aztecan tribes.

In 1847, the Mormon community settled here and opened the door for other pioneers to the American West. This decimated much of the Native American population.

There are several beautiful mountain peaks, including Kings Peak, the tallest mountain in the region, at 13,534 feet. The land encompasses sand dunes, pine forests, the Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau.

Some of the most popular tourist destinations here include Little Cottonwood Canyon and Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon National Parks. There are eight national monuments here, including the Grand Staircase-Escalante, Timpanogos Cave, and the Rainbow Bridge. The weather is diverse, much like its natural environment.

How We Figured Out Which Were the Best States to Live In

After compiling data from the United States Department of Labor, Environmental Protection Agency, and other national resources, we could determine the top U.S. states to live in.

We sorted through critical findings, such as health outcomes, poverty rates, crime levels, and unemployment forecasts, and census data to find the best places to call home in the USA

Utah Rankings

  • Population
    #30
    Population
    Data: 3,205,958

    Many families want lots of open space, and this area offers plenty of options, so it's a great place to move. Compared to several of its neighbors, Utah state has a higher population density with 36.53/sq mi

  • Median Income
    #8
    Income in $
    Data: $68,358

    Most people work in the information technology, research, government, or education industries. There are also lots of jobs in the tourism and analytics sectors. The average resident’s earnings are a bit below the national average. One of the wealthiest areas is Summit County, according to the census.

  • Home Value
    #7
    Home Value
    Data: $401,053

    It is in the top ten in terms of home prices and sales. Right now, the market is being particularly kind to real estate agents, as home values have gone up 6.7% and should increase by another 5% in 2021. The average rent is $1,525 per month.

  • Unemployment Rate
    #1
    Unemployment
    Data: 3.3%

    The Utah unemployment rate is astoundingly low, giving it the #1 spot in the country. At 3.3%, it shares the same percentage only with South Dakota. Jobs in the veterinarian, analytics, web development, and software sectors will continue to propel the business in the cities.

  • Poverty
    #3
    Poverty
    Data: 9.0%

    Unfortunately, the poverty rate among the young population is quite high. Over 9% of men and nearly 11% of women live under the poverty line. Native and Black Americans are the most likely to live in poor living conditions. According to the U.S. census, Wayne County is the poorest.

  • Education
    #15
    Education
    Data: 32.5%

    Over 32% of the Utah population has a Bachelor's degree or higher. More than 10% have a Master's degree or some other form of advanced education from one of the six universities. Most residents have completed high school or gotten their GED. Interestingly, this contrasts a bit with the poverty level.

  • Medicine
    #6
    Medicine
    Health Outcomes: 6

    The region is within the top ten when it comes to health outcomes and clinical care. Its community and environment score are noticeably high, especially compared to its neighbors. Over 60% of people get health insurance through their employer, but nearly 10% of the population is uninsured.

  • Crime Rate
    #16
    Crime
    Violent Crime: 7,553

    The most common crimes here are property crime and larceny-theft. The overall violent crime count is 7,553, which puts it in the #16 spot, far behind two of its neighboring states, Wyoming and Idaho. South Salt Lake is the most dangerous city in the area. Gun laws permit the transfer of fully automatic weapons, but not to individuals under age 18.

  • Natural Environment
    #6
    Environment
    Air: 0

    The good news is that there are no air violations. However, there are over 600 drinking water violations. This is the sixth-best overall environmental rating in the country. The natural environment score is higher than all its neighboring states, perhaps due to all the Utah national parks.

  • Infrastructure
    #3
    Infrastructure
    Poor Roads: 2.4%

    Looking at the map, the roads and overall infrastructure are doing quite well. In fact, it has the #3 spot in the entire country. On average, residents spend 22 minutes commuting to work each day. Some of the most dangerous roads include I-15 and Highway 6.

Utah Facts

  • The official abbreviation is UT.
  • It is also known as the Beehive State.
  • Oddly enough, the state bird is the California gull.
  • The state flower is the Sego Lily, and the tree is the Quaking Aspen.
  • The state animal is the Elk, which can be found in the region’s state parks.
  • The Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City took 40 years to complete.
  • This is a home to the Rainbow Bridge, the world’s largest natural rock span, at 309 feet tall.
  • The Great Salt Lake covers 2,100 square miles and has an average depth of 13 feet.
  • The area has some of the highest mountain peaks in the USA.
  • The state got its name from the Ute word for “people of the mountains.”
  • Some famous people from Utah include Roseanne Barr, Butch Cassidy, Julianne Hough, Jewel, Donny, and Marie Osmond.
  • It hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
  • The state flag was adopted in 2011, and it features a bald eagle, a sego lily, and a beehive.
  • The state motto is “Industry.”

Pictures of Utah

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Utah Map
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Utah Narrows
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Utah National Park
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Utah Park City
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Utah Potash Pond
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Utah Salt LAke City at Night
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Utah Salt Lake City Downtown
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Utah Daybreak
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Utah Horse Rider
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Utah Salt Lake City

FAQ Section

  • Where is Utah?

    It is in the western United States, to the east of Nevada. It is south of Idaho and west of Wyoming and Colorado. It shares a southern border with Arizona.

  • What Time Zone is UT in?

    It is in the Mountain Time Zone, which is two hours behind New York City. There is just one time zone in the area, GMT-7.

  • What is the Minimum Wage in The Beehive State?

    The minimum wage is $7.25, which follows current federal guidelines. Most of the jobs are in the information technology and Web analytics industries, so salaries are higher.

    Moreover, the sales tax is 4.95%, and the property tax is 0.62%, but combined with local and county taxes, the total state tax is between 6.1% and 9.1%. This makes the cost of living tough for minimum-wage earners.

  • What is Utah Known for?

    Besides Mormonism, it is known for its magnificent natural scenery and national parks. Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef National Parks are famous places to visit in the region.

    The area is also known for the Great Salt Lake and is renowned for excellent skiing and beautiful mountain ranges throughout history.

  • How Many Counties are in UT?

    Looking at the map, there are 29 Utah counties and 344 zip codes. The majority of them are in the northeastern corner of the region. Salt Lake County is the largest, with a population of over 1 million.