Bountiful Wellbeing Survey Findings
May 2021
Summary
Bountiful City is one of 30 cities currently participating in the Utah Wellbeing Survey Project and has been involved since 2020. This project is designed to assess the wellbeing and local perspectives of city residents and to provide information to city leaders to inform their general planning process. It is important to note that the 2021 survey was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was intentional as the last round of wellbeing surveys were conducted in 2020 prior to the pandemic. This allows us to assess changes at this unique period of time. Future surveys are anticipated to gauge recovery.
What is in this report?
This report describes findings from the 2021 Bountiful survey with initial information on changes since 2020 and some comparative information with other project cities. Feedback from city leaders and planners is welcome. We will continue with analysis and reporting.
How was the survey conducted?
In February and March 2021, Bountiful City advertised the survey via quarterly newsletter and social media. All city residents age 18+ were encouraged to take the online Qualtrics survey.
How many people responded?
- 213 viable surveys were recorded in this 2021 survey effort with 88% complete responses.
- The 2020 survey had 375 responses. The 2020 Bountiful Wellbeing Survey report is available on the Utah Wellbeing Project website.
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The adult population of Bountiful was estimated at 31,023 based on the 2015-2019 American Community Survey. The 213 survey responses represent 0.7% of the adult population and have a conservative margin of error of 6.69%.
Key Findings in Bountiful
Overall Personal Wellbeing and Community Wellbeing in Bountiful were above average among 29 study cities.
Highest Rated Wellbeing Domains:
- Safety and Security
- Living Standards
Most Important Wellbeing Domains:
- Physical Health
- Safety and Security
- Mental Health
- Living Standards
Red Zone Domain: (High Importance, Lower Quality)
- Local Environmental Quality
COVID-19 had greatest impact on Social Connections, Cultural Opportunities, and Mental Health. Overall personal wellbeing declined in last year for 47% of respondents.
Perception that residents take action in Bountiful was higher than in most other study communities.
Manufacturing and Extractive Industry have negative influences on wellbeing, while natural landscapes like mountains, rivers, and trails are highly positive.
About half of respondents felt Population Growth was too fast, but that the Pace of Economic Development was just right.
Top concerns for the future of Bountiful were:
- Air Quality (88% Moderate or Major Concern)
- Affordable Housing (73% Moderate or Major Concern)
- Water Supply (69% Moderate or Major Concern)
- Roads and Transportation (64% Moderate or Major Concern)
Internet access and options was a top additional concern written in by 30 people.
The availability of preferred type and price of housing were the greatest obstacles to those seeking new housing. These obstacles were highlighted by more people in 2021 than in 2020.
What do people value most about Bountiful?
Friendly and connected social climate, good location, feelings of safety, and access to nature.
Survey Respondent Characteristics
| Full Time Residents of Bountiful | 99.5% |
| Part Time Residents of Bountiful | 0.5% |
| Length of Residency - Range | 1-74 years |
| Length of Residency - Average | 19 years |
| Length of Residency - Median | 15 years |
| Length of Residence 5 Years or Less | 24.9% |
Demographic characteristics of the survey respondents are compared below with U.S. Census information from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey. As the table shows, survey respondents were not fully representative of Bountiful. People who have at least a 4-year college degree, are married, or own their home were particularly overrepresented. Not all respondents provided demographic information. Weighting was not used in any of the analysis for the findings presented below. Updates will be provided later in 2021 to account for weighting by demographic characteristics.
Table 1
Demographic Characteristics of Survey Respondents and U.S. Census Data for Bountiful
| Demographic Characteristics | Online Surveys | American Community Survey 2016-2020 Estimates |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (N=350) | 2021 (N=213) | ||
| Age 18-29 | 11.2% | 13.2% | 23.2% |
| Age 30-39 | 26.5% | 25.8% | 21.7% |
| Age 40-49 | 20.8% | 26.0% | 14.6% |
| Age 50-59 | 16.0% | 15.1% | 13.6% |
| Age 60-69 | 13.4% | 8.2% | 12.0% |
| Age 70 or over | 12.1% | 1.4% | 14.9% |
| Adult female | 66.1% | 57.1% | 50.6% |
| Adult male | 33.9% | 42.9% | 49.4% |
| No college degree | 40.1% | 35.3% | 52.4% |
| College degree (4-year) | 55.9% | 64.7% | 47.6% |
| Median household income | NA | NA | $83,660 |
| Income under $25,000 | 5.2% | 4.3% | 7.8% |
| Income $25,000-$49,999 | 11.5% | 7.6% | 17.2% |
| Income $50,000 to $74,999 | 13.8% | 19.8% | 19.8% |
| Income $75,000 to $99,999 | 21.6% | 17.6% | 14.4% |
| Income $100,000 to $149,999 | 24.9% | 28.6% | 22.5% |
| Income $150,000 or over | 23.0% | 21.9% | 18.3% |
| Latter-day Saint | 58.2% | 66.5% | NA |
| Other religion | 10.9% | 11.2% | NA |
| No religious preference | 30.9% | 21.8% | NA |
| Hispanic/Latino | NA | 3.7% | 6.6% |
| White | 94.5% | 92.9% | 92.6% |
| Nonwhite | 5.5% (includes Hispanic/Latino) | 7.1% | 7.4% |
| Married | 77.9% | 81.9% | 60.8% |
| Children under 18 in household | 47.1% | 57.7% | 37.3% |
| Employed (combined) | 66.8% | 67.0% | 64.9% |
| Out of work and looking for work | 0.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Other | 32.7% | 31.4% | 33.6% |
| Own home/owner occupied | 83.3% | 83.6% | 75.5% |
| Rent home/renter occupied/other | 16.7% | 16.4% | 24.5% |
Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Bountiful
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Bountiful. These wellbeing indicators both measured on a 5-point scale from very poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score in Bountiful was 4.06, with 78% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Bountiful was 3.96 with 74% of respondents indicating city wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.
The graph below compares 2020 and 2021 survey data for personal wellbeing score and community wellbeing. The number of respondents differed between years and individuals are not tracked from year to year. Personal wellbeing declined, but wellbeing in Bountiful stayed nearly the same between 2020 and 2021.
Perceived Changes to Wellbeing in the Last Year
The COVID-19 pandemic dominated much of 2020. Survey respondents were asked in early 2021 if their overall personal wellbeing or wellbeing had changed in the last year. Survey findings show that personal wellbeing declined for 47% of Bountiful respondents and 45% indicated that wellbeing in Bountiful declined as well.
Comparing Wellbeing Across Utah Cities
The Utah League of Cities and Towns classifies Bountiful as an Established/Mid-Sized City (we have combined these with Cities of the 1st & 2nd Class). Within this cluster of cities, Bountiful falls above average in terms of the average overall personal wellbeing score and highest in terms of average community wellbeing score. Bountiful is statistically significantly higher than Logan and Tooele in terms of overall personal wellbeing, and is significantly higher than all other cities in the cluster except for Draper and Sandy on overall community wellbeing.
Wellbeing Domains in Bountiful
According to national and international entities that track wellbeing, there are a number of common dimensions or domains of wellbeing. In this survey, respondents rated ten domains on a 5-point scale from poor to excellent, suggesting how their wellbeing was doing well in each area. 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 top two highest rated wellbeing domains for respondents in Bountiful were Safety and Security and Living Standards. The four most important wellbeing domains were Physical Health, Safety and Security, Mental Health, and Living Standards.
Wellbeing Matrix for Bountiful
The graph below illustrates the relationship between the average rating and the average importance of wellbeing domains for survey respondents from Bountiful. Living Standards and Safety and Security were highly important and rated above average among the domains. Local Environmental Quality fell into the red quadrant or “Red Zone”, indicating that it was of higher-than-average importance, but rated lower than average. Physical Health and Mental Health approach this quadrant as their importance score was above average, but ratings are near the overall average rating. Please note that all domains except for Cultural Opportunities had an average rating above 3.0 (moderate) and the importance score for all domains was higher than 3.0 (moderately important).
How did the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Wellbeing Domains?
The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact was most strongly felt regarding Social Connections, Cultural Opportunities and Mental Health. Improvements were reported in Leisure Time for 21% of respondents and Local Environmental Quality for 20% of respondents.
The following relationships were found in Bountiful between demographic variables and declines due to COVID-19 pandemic:
- Personal Wellbeing was less likely to decline for those age 60+ and those living in Bountiful 5 years or less and more likely to decline for female respondents and those with a college degree.
- Community wellbeing was more likely to decline for female respondents.
- Cultural opportunities were more likely to decline for Latter-day Saints.
- Living standards were more likely to decline for those without a college degree.
- Social Connections were more likely to decline for female respondents.
The graphs below show how the domains were rated in 2020 and 2021 by Bountiful residents.
How are Demographic Characteristics Related to Wellbeing?
The demographic variables age, gender, college degree, religion, and income were found to have varying relationships with wellbeing perspectives among 2021 Bountiful respondents as shown in the table below based on a multivariate generalized linear model (significance based on p < 0.1). The +/- sign indicates whether the demographic group was statistically significantly higher or lower than others in that category. Colors indicate the strongest relationships (p< .05).
Relationship Between Demographic Characteristics and Wellbeing Domains in Bountiful
| Domains Rated | Demographic Variables | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Resident 5 Years or Less | |
| Wellbeing Ratings | ||||||
| Overall Personal Wellbeing | + |
– | ||||
| Wellbeing in Bountiful | + vs 18-39 | + vs Other | ||||
| Connection to Nature | + vs Other | + |
||||
| Cultural Opportunities | + vs 18-39 | + vs Other | ||||
| Education | + | |||||
| Leisure Time | ||||||
| Living Standards | + vs Other | + |
||||
| Local Environmental Quality | + vs A/A/NRP | – |
||||
| Mental Health | + |
– | + Over $150,000 > Under $50,000 |
|||
| Physical Health | + vs 18-39 | + Over $150,000 < $75,000-$99,999 |
||||
| Safety & Security | ||||||
| Social Connections | – | |||||
| Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Resident 5 Years or Less | |
| Domain Importance | ||||||
| Connection to Nature | – vs 18-39 | + | ||||
| Cultural Opportunities | + | + | ||||
| Education | – |
|||||
| Leisure Time | – vs A/A/NRP | – | ||||
| Living Standards | – | |||||
| Local Environmental Quality | + | – vs A/A/NRP | ||||
| Mental Health | + | |||||
| Physical Health | + | |||||
| Safety and Security | + | |||||
| Social Connections | + |
+ | ||||
Community Action & Connections in Bountiful
Survey participants were asked about community actions and community connection in Bountiful. Both questions were scored on a 5-point scale from not at all (1) to a great deal (5). When asked about the degree to which people take action together in response to local problems or opportunities in Bountiful, the average score was 3.56. When asked about the degree they feel connected to their community, the average score was 3.02.
Latter-day Saints and those age 60+ reported higher levels of community connection and higher perceptions that people in Bountiful take action than those with no religious preference or other religion or those age 18-39. Those who have lived in Bountiful 5 years or indicated lower levels of community connection than those living in Bountiful more than 5 years. This is based on a multivariate generalized linear model with unweighted data (significance based on p < 0.1). The strongest relationships are in color (p< .05).
Demographic Characteristics and Community Questions
| Community Questions | Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Resident 5 Years or Less |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Do people in Bountiful take action? | + vs 18-39 | + |
||||
| Do you feel connected to your community? | + vs 18-39 | + vs A/A/NRP | – |
A/A/NRP = Agnostic/Atheist/No Religious Preference
A significant, positive relationship was found between individuals’ community connection and overall personal wellbeing.
Comparing Community Action and Connection Across Cities
The graphs below show how Wellbeing Project cities compare on the degree to which people take action in response to local problems and opportunities and how connected people feel to their city as a community. Bountiful is in the top 5 on perceived community action and in the mid-range on community connection based on the number of people indicating a 4 or 5 on a 5- point scale.
Participation in Community Activities
Respondents were asked to indicate whether or not they participated in seven different activities and a community activeness score was calculated by adding activities. The average community activeness score for Bountiful was 2.74. Church group activities (62%) was the most common activity for respondents.
Influence of Landscape on Wellbeing
Survey participants were asked about the influence of landscape features on their wellbeing. Natural landscape including mountains, trails, rivers and streams, and city parks were found to have an overwhelmingly positive influence on wellbeing. In terms of development and industry in the landscape, respondents were more divided. Extractive industry was indicated to have a particularly negative influence on wellbeing.
Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development
Nearly half of Bountiful survey respondents indicated they felt population growth was too fast (48%) and 36% indicated it is just right. Regarding the pace of economic development, 50% indicated it is just right, followed by 20% indicating it is too slow and 19% indicating just right.
The graphs below show how Bountiful compares to other participating cities in the Wellbeing Project on these perceptions of population growth and economic development.
Concerns in Bountiful
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of possible local issues were a concern as they look to the future of Bountiful. Air Quality, Affordable Housing and Water Supply were the top three concerns with 69% to 88% of respondents indicating these were moderate or major concerns.
Other concerns were raised by 60 respondents who filled in the “other” category. Internet Access and Options was by far the most common additional concern.
Other Concerns Mentioned |
Number of Mentions |
Other Concerns Mentioned |
Number of Mentions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Access and Options | 30 | High density housing, overdevelopment | 4 |
| Affordable Housing | 2 | City officials, having a voice in government | 3 |
| Infrastructure | 3 | COVID precautions | 2 |
| Deer population | 2 | Taxes | 2 |
| Vitality of Main Street | 2 | Allowing more businesses to thrive | 1 |
| Crowding | 1 | Earthquake remediation | 1 |
| Electricity cost | 1 | Inland port | 1 |
| Lack of commercial and bigger businesses | 1 | Landfill issues | 1 |
| Police reform | 1 | Proximity to refineries | 1 |
| Quality public education | 1 | Taking over the mountain and green space | 1 |
| Trails | 1 | Traffic | 1 |
| Unwillingness to understand those with differing opinions | 1 |
Housing in Bountiful
Of the survey respondents,
- 88% live in a single-family house (5% townhome, 4% apartment, 2% condo or other)
- 84% own their home
- 12% spend more than one-third of their after-tax income on rent or mortgage
- 27.5% spend about a third of their after-tax income on rent or mortgage
- 20% are very likely to change housing arrangements in next 5 years (16% were somewhat likely, 64% said they were not at all likely or not very likely).
For those desiring a housing change,
- 80% seek to own their next housing (2% seek to rent, 18% not sure). Note, seeking to own their own housing is up from 71% from 2020.
- 87% would seek single-family housing if they were to look for new housing. This is up from 72% in 2020.
According to survey respondents, the greatest obstacles in seeking new housing include the type and price of housing stock. These obstacles increased since 2020. Not having enough money was also indicated as an obstacle for 49% of respondents.
Summary of Open Comments
The survey included opportunities in the survey were provided for respondents to share their ideas about Bountiful with one question on what they value most about their city and another for any additional comments on wellbeing. A summary of values is below. Analysis is ongoing regarding all additional comments and a summary will be added to the report later in 2021.
Key themes in response to “Please tell us what you value most about living in Bountiful”
Contact Information
Dr. Courtney Flint
courtney.flint@usu.edu
435-797-8635
On This Page
The Utah League of Cities and Towns is a collaborator on this project and the following people have contributed to this effort in many ways: Casey Trout, Rachel Sagers, Madison Fjeldsted, Jordan Hammon, and Sarah Wilson.
Utah State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution and is committed to a learning and working environment free from discrimination, including harassment. For USU’s non-discrimination notice, see equity.usu.edu/non-discrimination.