9 counties · Boom Town Index

Utah

Avg BTI Score
57 / 100
Population
3.0M
+2.4% avg growth
National Rank
#20 of 51

State Overview

Utah's economy continues a pattern of moderate expansion into 2026, supported by job growth in key service industries and construction. The state's population growth, while still among the fastest nationally, is decelerating, with natural change now a more significant driver than net migration. This shift marks a return to historical growth patterns for Utah.

The housing market is recalibrating after years of rapid appreciation. Inventory levels have increased, offering buyers more options and negotiation power, particularly along the Wasatch Front. Despite this, affordability remains a challenge, and home prices are still projected for modest appreciation rather than significant declines. Infrastructure projects, particularly in transportation, are underway across the state to accommodate ongoing development.

Median Household Income
$82,291
State median across 9 counties
Median Home Value
$351,700
Income-to-home ratio: 0.21
Building Permits
20,173
Total residential permits
Natural Amenity
9.6 / 10
#6 of 49 · USDA scale

Utah Counties

9 counties
Rank County BTI Score Safety Proj. Growth GDP Pop Growth Income Ratio Home Price Climate P/R
01 Box Elder County 88 C+ +2.5% +0.7% +2.5% +7.8% 6.2x +1.5% 3.3 18x
02 Iron County 81 C +2.2% +1.4% +4.0% +11.9% 7.2x +3.8% 2.4 16x
03 Cache County 72 B- +2.9% +3.9% +2.1% +10.7% 6.6x +3.6% 2.6 22x
04 Weber County 66 B +1.6% +4.0% +1.4% +10.7% 6.4x +2.5% 3.7 20x
05 Davis County 63 A +1.8% +4.5% +1.2% +9.2% 8.5x +2.9% 5.5 19x
06 Utah County 49 A +1.7% +7.0% +2.7% +10.1% 7.6x +2.4% 4.9 21x
07 Washington County 45 A +0.3% +4.6% +3.8% +10.7% 8.7x -0.5% 2.6 19x
08 Tooele County 40 B- +0.4% +9.8% +3.8% +9.1% 10.2x +0.4% 2.8 14x
09 Salt Lake County 12 B +0.4% +2.4% +0.6% +9.5% 4.4x +1.9% 4.2 23x

Capital Investment in Utah

Tracked Projects · Public Records
$26.9B
Total tracked investment
29,296
Jobs announced
41
Projects across 8 counties

Where the money is going

Data Centers $11.2B 42%
Energy $7.6B 28%
Infrastructure $3.2B 12%
Commercial/Residential $2.4B 9%
Industrial/Logistics $2.1B 8%
Manufacturing $404M 2%

Top counties by investment

  1. 01 Box Elder County $8.0B
    5 projects · 375 jobs
  2. 02 Tooele County $6.8B
    6 projects · 1,090 jobs
  3. 03 Salt Lake County $3.7B
    6 projects · 200 jobs
  4. 04 Washington County $2.7B
    6 projects · 1,000 jobs
  5. 05 Iron County $2.2B
    6 projects · 1,046 jobs
  6. 06 Weber County $2.1B
    5 projects · 25,210 jobs

Largest projects in Utah

Project County Amount Status
Wonder Valley AI Data Center Project
O'Leary Digital · Data Centers
Box Elder County $7.5B Planned
Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus
State of Utah / U.S. Department of Energy · Energy · 1,000 jobs
Tooele County $5.0B Proposed
Salt Lake City International Airport Expansion (Phase 2)
Salt Lake City Department of Airports · Infrastructure
Salt Lake County $1.8B Under Construction
Washington County Regional Reuse System
Washington County Water Conservancy District · Infrastructure
Washington County $1.3B Under Construction
Dugway Proving Ground Data Center
CyrusOne (KKR and BlackRock) · Data Centers
Tooele County $1.0B Proposed
Washington City Mega Site (near St. George Regional Airport)
Washington City · Industrial/Logistics · 1,000 jobs
Washington County $1.0B Proposed
West Weber Industrial District and Renewable Energy Hub
Weber County / Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) · Industrial/Logistics · 25,000 jobs
Weber County $1.0B Planned
Westbridge Meadows Master-Planned Community
Flagship Homes and Fenix Development · Commercial/Residential
Weber County $1.0B Proposed
Utah shaded relief terrain map
SRTM 30m shaded relief
State Spotlight · 2026-04-29

Utah housing market recalibrates with rising inventory

Economic drivers

Utah's information, financial services, and education and health services industries are experiencing job growth. Construction also shows elevated activity, with residential construction values rising in late 2025. Intermountain Health remains a major employer in the state, with nearly 70,000 employees across several states.

Housing market right now

The Utah housing market is stabilizing, with inventory levels increasing by approximately 40% in 2025 compared to 2024. Median home prices are projected to see modest increases of 3% in 2025 and 4% in 2026 statewide. In Salt Lake County, the median single-family home price was $610,000 in mid-2025.

Migration patterns

Utah's population growth rate slowed to 1% between July 2024 and July 2025. Net international migration into Utah significantly decreased in 2025, mirroring national trends. Utah County added the most new residents by absolute number in 2025, accounting for approximately 36% of the state's population growth.

Headwinds

Housing affordability continues to challenge new buyers, contributing to a decline in Utah's homeownership rate. While consumer spending has grown, a January 2026 poll indicated that 85% of Utah voters are concerned about the country's economy, with inflation and housing costs being primary worries.

Key facts

  • Utah's population reached an estimated 3,551,150 as of July 1, 2025.
  • The Utah Department of Transportation announced 176 new construction projects worth $2.8 billion starting in 2026.
  • Utah's nonfarm payroll employment increased by an estimated 0.7% between February 2025 and February 2026.
  • The median sale price for single-family, townhomes, condominiums, and twin homes in Utah rose by 1.9% to $550,000 from 2024 to 2025.
  • Utah's unemployment rate was estimated at 3.6% in December 2025.