Draper Wellbeing Survey Findings
May 2020
Dr. Courtney Flint
Utah State University Extension
Summary
Draper is one of 25 cities participating in the Utah Wellbeing Project. 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.
Eighteen cities participated in an online survey effort in February and March 2020. Draper City advertised the survey via social media and locally distributed flyers. All city residents age 18 and over were encouraged to take the online Qualtrics survey, available from February 3, 2020 to March 12, 2020.
A total of 355 completed surveys were recorded during this effort. This report contains descriptive information based on Draper resident responses and comparisons with other cities from this most recent survey effort.
Public intercept surveys with iPads were conducted in Summer 2019. A report based on those findings is available at https://usu.edu/utah-wellbeing-project.
Respondent Characteristics
Nearly all of the Draper survey respondents (99%) were full-time residents. The length of residency ranged from 0 to 73 years with an average of 11.5 years. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) lived in Draper for more than 5 years.
Table 1 details the demographic characteristics of the respondents and allows for comparison with U.S. Census information from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey. As the table shows, females, those with college degrees, and those with household incomes over $150,000 are overrepresented in the resulting survey sample. The survey underrepresents those age 18-39, those with incomes under $75,000, and non-white or Latino individuals. There is no census comparison for religion. These characteristics should be taken into consideration when interpreting the findings from the survey, as survey respondents may not be fully representative of Draper residents.
Table 1
Demographic Characteristics of Survey Respondents and U.S. Census Data for Draper
Demographic Characteristics | Draper iPad Survey 2019 (61 Respondents) | Draper Online Survey 2020 (355 Respondents) |
American Community Survey 2016-2020 Estimates |
---|---|---|---|
Age 18-39 | 54.1% | 23.3% | 40.9% |
Age 40-59 | 32.7% | 53.5% | 42.1% |
Age 60 or Over | 11.5% | 23.3% | 17.0% |
Female | 13.3% | 62.3% | 47.9% |
Male | 86.7% | 37.7% | 52.1% |
No college degree | 36.7% | 27.0% | 76.6% |
College degree (4-year) | 63.3% | 73.0% | 23.4% |
Median household income | NA | NA | $112,541 |
Income Under $50,000 | 16.4% | 4.7% | 16.8% |
Income $50,000 to $74,999 | 13.1% | 8.0% | 15.0% |
Income $75,000 to $99,999 | 16.4% | 13.0% | 10.0% |
Income $100,000 to $149,999 | 16.4% | 27.1% | 20.2% |
Income $150,000 or over | 35.6% | 47.2% | 38.0% |
Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
62.5% | 47.6% | NA |
Other religion | 12.5% | 21.7% | NA |
No religious preference | 25.0% | 30.7% | NA |
White (non-Latino) | 94.9% | 91.6% | 82.8% |
Nonwhite or Latino | 5.1% | 8.4% | 17.2% |
Children under 18 in household | NA | 48.9% | 44.3% |
Employed (combined) | NA | 73.4% | 65.9% (in labor force age 16+) |
Out of work and looking for work | NA | 0.6% | 1.8% (unemployed) |
Other | NA | 26.0% | 32.3% (not in labor force) |
Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Draper
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Draper. These wellbeing indicators are both measured on a 5-point scale from very poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score among Draper respondents was 4.24, with 87% indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Draper was 3.97.
Of all cities surveyed in early 2020, Draper had the highest average personal wellbeing score. The Utah League of Cities and Towns classifies Draper in the “Established/Mid-Sized Cities” group, along with three other cities in this study (Bountiful, Cedar City, and Tooele). The average personal wellbeing score in Draper is statistically higher than that of Cedar City and Tooele, but not Bountiful.
Wellbeing Domains in Draper
According to national and international entities tracking wellbeing, a number of common domains make up wellbeing. In this survey, respondents rated ten domains on a 5-point scale from poor to excellent, and indicated their importance to their overall personal wellbeing on a 5-point scale from not at all important to very important. Based on percentage with a good or excellent rating, the top three highest rated wellbeing domains for respondents were Living Standards and Safety and Security. Over 90% of respondents indicated that the following domains are important or very important: physical health, safety and security, local environmental quality, mental health, and living standards.
The demographic variables for age, gender, education, religion, and income were significantly related to various wellbeing perspectives among Draper respondents. These relationships are shown in Table 2 below and are based on a multivariate generalized linear model using the categories from Table 1, excluding children in household and employment.
Table 2
Relationship Between Demographic Characteristics and Wellbeing Domains
Domains Rated | Demographic Variables | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Nonwhite or Latino | |
Wellbeing Ratings | ||||||
Overall Personal Wellbeing | + vs 18-39 |
+ $150,000+ > under $50,000 |
||||
Wellbeing in Draper | + | |||||
Connection to Nature | + vs 18-39 |
|||||
Cultural Opportunities | + vs 18-39 |
+ vs no religious preference and other religion |
||||
Education | + | |||||
Leisure Time | + vs 40-59 |
– | ||||
Living Standards | + | + | ||||
Local Environmental Quality | + vs no religious preference and other religion |
|||||
Mental Health | + vs 18-39 |
+ $150,000+ > $75,000-$99,999 |
||||
Physical Health | + | |||||
Safety & Security | + $150,000+ > $75,000-$99,999 |
|||||
Social Connections | + vs no religious preference and other religion |
+ $150,000+ > under $50,000 |
||||
Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Nonwhite or Latino | |
Domain Importance | ||||||
Connection to Nature | ||||||
Cultural Opportunities | + | - vs no religious preference |
||||
Education | + | |||||
Leisure Time | + | - vs no religious preference |
+ $150,000+ > under $50,000 |
|||
Living Standards | ||||||
Local Environmental Quality | ||||||
Mental Health | ||||||
Physical Health | + | |||||
Safety and Security | + | + vs no religious preference |
||||
Social Connections | + | + |
Wellbeing Matrix for Draper
The graph below illustrates the relationship between the average rating and the average importance of wellbeing domains for survey respondents from Draper. Local environmental quality falls into the red quadrant, indicating that it was of higher than average importance, but rated lower than average. It is important to note that all domains have an average rating above 3.0 (moderate) and the importance score for all domains was higher than 3.0 (moderately important).
Community Action & Connections in Draper
Survey participants were asked about community actions and connectedness to community in Draper. 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 Draper, the average score was 3.36. When asked about the degree they feel connected to their community, the average score was 3.10.
In terms of demographic characteristics and community-related questions, religion and income played significant roles as shown in Table 3. Additionally, there was a significant, positive relationship between individuals’ community connectedness and their overall personal wellbeing.
Table 3
Demographic Characteristics and Community Questions
Community Questions | Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Nonwhite or Latino |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Do people in Cedar City take action? | + vs no religion preference and other religion |
|||||
Do you feel connected to your community? | + vs no religion preference and other religion |
$150,000+ > $50,000-$74,999 |
Influence of Landscape on Wellbeing
Survey participants were asked about the influence of landscape features on their wellbeing. Mountains, trails, city parks, rivers and streams, and lakes were found to have an overwhelmingly positive influence on respondents’ wellbeing. Over two-thirds of respondents (70%) also noted farmland as having a positive influence and almost two-thirds of respondents (65%) noted red rock as having a positive influence.
In terms of development and industry in the landscape, 80% of respondents noted the presence of extractive industry as having a negative or very negative influence on their wellbeing. More than half (57%) of respondents noted the presence of manufacturing industry as having a negative influence. Over one-third noted the presence of residential development (38%) and commercial development (39%) as having a negative influence.
Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development in Draper
Survey respondents overwhelmingly indicated that they felt population growth was too fast (72%). Just under half of respondents also felt that economic development was too fast (44%), while an equal percentage felt that it was just right (44%). Draper was in the top group of cities where survey respondents felt population growth was too fast and had the lowest percentage of respondents that indicated that economic development was too slow. It had the third-highest percentage of respondents indicate that economic development was too fast.
Risks and Assets for Wellbeing in Draper
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of local issues were a major or minor risk or asset to wellbeing in Draper (see Table 4).
Table 4
Top Rated Risks and Assets by Draper Respondents
Highest Rated Assets (indicated by at least 83% of respondents) |
Highest Rated Risks (Indicated by at least 28% of respondents) |
Recreation Opportunities | Substance Abuse |
Access to Public Land | Air Quality |
Public Safety | Electronic Devices |
Access to Quality Food | Affordable Housing |
Access to Healthcare |
Respondents also wrote in other assets and risks as shown in Table 5. It is clear that some people not only listed current assets, but also those they wish Draper had.
Table 5
Other Assets and Risks Mentioned by Draper Respondents
Other Assets | Other Risks | ||
---|---|---|---|
Trails and parks (3) | City leader responsiveness, transparent government (2) | Traffic (incl on Highland Drive), roads (7) | High density housing (incl low-income, multifamily housing), rentals (5) |
Clean environment, cleanliness (2) | Controlled growth, restricted development (2) | Crowding, overpopulation, rapid growth (6) | Air pollution/air quality (5) |
Good schools (2) | Off-leash area for dogs (2) | Geneva Rock, mining, sound of explosions, visual impact (5) | Lack of open space (3) |
Public transit (2) | Tennis courts (2) | Self-serving government motives, council and mayor too close, those government with hands out (3) | Business construction, too many large office buildings (2) |
Creative arts | Library | Development, sketchy development (2) | 5G cellular signals |
Low density hosuing | Lower price for summer water use | Excesss of sober living homes | Fluoride |
Recycling | Religious availability | Homes to high on mountain ruining skyline for everyone | Homogenous community, often intolerant |
Restaurants and bars | Sense of place, respect for history, buildings | Lack of neighborhood parks with restrooms | Lack of recycling options |
Unobstructed mountain views | Walkable community | No high-quality restaurants | Panhandling |
Water | Planners (busybodies) | Prison site development | |
Radiation in wtaer | Tested for high levels of aluminum and lead since moving to Draper | ||
Use of cell phones by young children |
Summary of Open Comments
Respondents were given the opportunity to provide comments at the end of the survey. Comments were made by 129 respondents (36% of those that completed the survey). The primary concerns of Draper residents were mostly related to growth and development of the city. Housing density was a big issue for many, as they are worried about the influx of new residents it brings in. Increases in traffic, crowding of school systems, and pressure on existing infrastructure were other concerns related to growth. Some felt that priority is being given to developers over Draper residents. Additionally, many people were concerned about mining, specifically at Geneva Rock, and did not like the poor air quality. Improving recreational opportunities, specifically by the addition of indoor tennis courts, was also mentioned several times.
Dominant themes in comments included the following:
- Too much high-density housing
- Growth and development too fast and uncontrolled
- Concerns about mining and air quality
- Too much traffic
- Wanting more alternative and public transportation
A Few Quotes:
- “Too many apartment complexes with no improvement to current roads. Traffic in Draper is becoming unbearable. Planning needs to be addressed more carefully.”
- “Draper is a lovely place. My concern exists around the rapid growth, with what seems like very little thought to long term effects on traffic, air quality and quality of life.”
- “We need to find a way to limit or prevent ongoing mining at Geneva Rock. It threatens the health of families and new businesses that continue to grow around it.”
- “The air is my number one complaint, and it is far from a minor one. I think about the air quality every single day.”
- “The traffic due to rapid construction in Draper is quickly getting worse. Draper is building houses and businesses, but not keeping up with transportation infrastructure.”