Draper's $925,000 median leads Salt Lake County as Utah's quality-of-life index hits a new low

DRAPER — The 2026 Utah Community Quality of Life Index measured 63.2 out of 100, down from 64.1 in 2022 and from a peak of 72.7 in 2013, the lowest level since the survey began in 2011, according to the University of Utah's summary of the report, which the Utah Foundation produced with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the Utah Chamber 1. All but two of the 20 community factors the survey measures have declined since 2013, the report states 3.

Housing affordability drew the lowest rating of the 20 factors, 2.1 out of 5, and the cost of living ranked second-lowest at 2.7 1. Opportunities for good jobs fell from 3.5 in 2022 to 3.1 in 2026 — the only statistically significant change among the factors in that period, and one that accounted for about half a point of the overall index decline on its own 1. Spiritual or religious activities, natural surroundings and parks and recreation spaces took the three highest ratings 12.

The consequences are in the same report. Utah's median single-family home price ranked among the 10 most expensive in the country at the start of 2026, and 91 per cent of renters were priced out of buying a median-priced home, against 59 per cent in 2015 1. Asked what would most improve their communities, 47 per cent of respondents named housing and growth, followed by transportation and infrastructure at 38 per cent, the economy and cost of living at 21 per cent and the environment at 20 per cent 1. Shawn Teigen, president of the Utah Foundation, said the state has seen "a decade of decline in our quality of life" 1.

The Salt Lake Board of Realtors' Q2 and mid-year 2026 Municipal Affordability Tracking Report, released in August, found a Salt Lake County household needed to earn $186,827 to afford the county's record median single-family price of $645,000, up 7.75 per cent in a quarter 4. Draper ranked as the county's most expensive market: a household would need $259,641 a year for its $925,000 median 4. West Valley City was the county's most affordable municipality, at $148,470 for a $497,500 median 4. Every municipality the board examined required a six-figure household income for its median-priced single-family or multi-family home 4. "The numbers show that housing affordability is a challenge in every community," board president Scott Colemere said, adding that expanding housing supply and "creating more attainable paths to homeownership remain critical" 4. Zip-level figures the Deseret News published from the board's second-quarter data put Draper's 84020 median single-family price at $925,000, with a $475,000 median for condominiums 7.

Draper's own 2025 Moderate Income Housing Report to the state counted 3,345 entitled residential units that had not received a building permit as of May 1, 2025, of which 362 had received will-serve letters from utilities 5. City planner Todd Taylor told the Planning Commission during a work session on the report that the comparable figure a year earlier was 4,194 entitled units as of May 1, 2024, with 299 of them holding will-serve letters 6.

That report also recorded what is slowing the pipeline. "During the reporting period, economic uncertainty continued to be the primary obstacle to developing these units," it states, noting interest rates remained elevated — the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 7.04 per cent in January 2025, just below the October 2023 peak of 7.79 per cent 5. In areas such as South Mountain, Suncrest and Hidden Canyon Estates, the report states, most of the easier-to-develop lots — those needing minimal geotechnical work and standard floorplans — have already been built out 5.

On infill, the city reported 38 accessory dwelling units recorded as of the report date and five ADU building permits issued between Aug. 1, 2024 and Jul 31, 2025 5; a year earlier the city had counted 35 recorded ADUs, six permits and 10 ADU permits 6. A development agreement Edge Homes submitted for a 20-acre site in the Kimballs Lane station area, approved by the City Council on June 17, 2025, sets a density of 25 to 27 dwelling units per acre, roughly 500 to 540 units 5.

City staff told the commission the Council adopted the Draper Town Center Station Area Plan in March 2025 and the Wasatch Front Regional Council certified it in May, and that work on that plan delayed the remaining station area plans at Kimballs Lane, Crescent View and the Draper FrontRunner (Vista) station, whose adoption was then targeted for September 2025; a consultant hired in January 2025 began public engagement with stakeholder interviews in March 56.

The Draper Herald, which reported the index and the price figures on Tuesday, Oct. 13, noted that Mayor Troy Walker told the Draper Journal in December 2025 that three of his adult children live in his home despite holding college degrees and jobs 8.

The index's authors group their recommendations around four "action items": cost of living, good jobs, community acceptance and shared values 2. Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, said the research "reminds us that a high quality of life should never be taken for granted" 1. Draper reports to the state annually on its moderate income housing plan, with the 2025 report covering actions taken between Aug. 1, 2024 and Jul 31, 2025 56.

Sources: 1 University of Utah, @theU, "Utah's quality of life remains strong, but pressures continue to mount" https://attheu.utah.edu/facultystaff/utahs-quality-of-life-remains-strong-but-pressures-continue-to-mount/ 2 Utah Foundation, "Utah's Community Quality of Life Index" research brief, October 2026 (PDF) https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/QualityOfLife-4pgr-Oct2026.pdf 3 Utah Foundation, "Utah's Community Quality of Life — Utahns report concerns about housing, costs, and jobs," Research Report 847 (PDF) https://d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Community-Quality-of-Life-UF-Oct2026.pdf 4 Salt Lake Board of Realtors, "Salt Lake County homebuyers need $187,000 a year to afford median home," Q2/mid-year 2026 Municipal Affordability Tracking Report, published via Utah Business, Aug. 25, 2026 https://www.utahbusiness.com/press-releases/2026/08/25/salt-lake-city-county-homebuyers-need-187000-afford-median-home/ 5 Draper City, "2025 Moderate Income Housing Report" (PDF) https://www.draperutah.gov/media/dwhne000/moderate-income-housing-report-2025.pdf 6 Draper City Planning Commission, meeting minutes including the 2025 Moderate-Income Housing Report work session (PDF) https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/1317183.pdf 7 Deseret News, "Prices up in Utah's 'bipolar' housing market," July 28, 2026 https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/07/28/home-prices-up-in-utah-but-consumer-fears-could-slow-recovery-salt-lake-realtors-leader-says/ 8 Draper Herald, "Draper tops county home prices as Utah quality of life falls," Oct. 13, 2026 https://draperherald.com/articles/draper-tops-county-home-prices-as-utah-quality-of-life-falls-mv6sbces