Santaquin Wellbeing Survey Findings
May 2020
Dr. Courtney Flint
Utah State University Extension
Summary
Santaquin 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. Santaquin City advertised the survey via social media, newsletter, and website. All city residents age 18 and over were encouraged to take the online Qualtrics survey, available from February 27, 2020 to March 20, 2020.
A total of 180 completed surveys were recorded during this effort. This report contains descriptive information based on Santaquin resident responses and comparisons with other cities from this most recent survey effort.
Respondent Characteristics
Nearly all of the Santaquin survey respondents (98%) were full-time residents. The length of residency ranged from 0.5 to 61 years with an average of 12 years. More than half of respondents (55%) lived in Santaquin 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 children in the household are overrepresented in the resulting survey sample. The survey underrepresents those with incomes under $50,000 and nonwhites and Latinos. 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 Santaquin residents.
Table 1
Demographic Characteristics of Survey Respondents and U.S. Census Data for Santaquin
Demographic Characteristics | Santaquin Online Survey 2020 (180 Respondents) |
American Community Survey 2016-2020 Estimates |
---|---|---|
Age 18-39 | 53.1% | 54.4% |
Age 40-59 | 33.1% | 31.0% |
Age 60 or Over | 13.8% | 14.6% |
Female | 67.9% | 47.7% |
Male | 32.1% | 52.3% |
No college degree | 66.9% | 80.4% |
College degree (4-year) | 33.1% | 19.5% (age 25+) |
Median household income | NA | $76,071 |
Income Under $50,000 | 10.9% | 26.3% |
Income $50,000 to $74,999 | 27.6% | 21.3% |
Income $75,000 to $99,999 | 31.4% | 21.8% |
Income $100,000 to $149,999 | 23.7% | 25.0% |
Income $150,000 or over | 6.4% | 5.6% |
Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
71.2% | NA |
Other religion | 9.6% | NA |
No religious preference | 19.2% | NA |
White (non-Latino) | 93.7% | 86.6% |
Nonwhite or Latino | 6.3% | 16.4% |
Children under 18 in household | 70.4% | 61.6% |
Employed (combined) | 69.4% | 69.5% (in labor force age 16+) |
Out of work and looking for work | 1.3% | 2.8% (unemployed) |
Other | 29.3% | 27.7% (not in labor force) |
Overall Personal Wellbeing and Overall Wellbeing in Santaquin
Survey participants were asked about their overall personal wellbeing and overall community wellbeing in Santaquin. These wellbeing indicators are both measured on a 5-point scale from very poor (1) to excellent (5). The average personal wellbeing score among Santaquin respondents was 4.11, with 82% of respondents indicating their wellbeing at a 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale. The average score for community wellbeing in Santaquin was 3.71.
The average personal wellbeing score in Santaquin falls above the average of all cities surveyed in early 2020. The Utah League of Cities and Towns classifies Santaquin in the “Rapid Growth Cities” group, along with eight other cities in this study as indicated in the graph below. Although there are a handful of cities within this group with average personal wellbeing scores above and below that of Santaquin, there is no statistically significant difference in the scores among these cities.
Wellbeing Domains in Santaquin
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, safety and security, and mental health. The three most important wellbeing domains were safety and security, living standards, and mental health. Local environmental quality and physical health were also very important.
The demographic variables for age, gender, education, religion, and income were significantly related to various wellbeing perspectives among Santaquin respondents. These relationships are shown in Table 2 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 | insufficient data | |||||
Wellbeing in Santaquin | + vs no religious preference and other religion |
- |
insufficient data | |||
Connection to Nature | insufficient data | |||||
Cultural Opportunities | + vs other religion |
insufficient data | ||||
Education | insufficient data | |||||
Leisure Time | + vs other religion |
insufficient data | ||||
Living Standards | insufficient data | |||||
Local Environmental Quality | + vs other religion |
insufficient data | ||||
Mental Health | + vs other religion |
insufficient data | ||||
Physical Health | + $150,000+ > $50,000-$74,999 |
insufficient data | ||||
Safety & Security | + vs other religion |
insufficient data | ||||
Social Connections | + vs other religion |
insufficient data | ||||
Age 60+ | Female | College Degree | Latter-day Saint | Higher Income | Nonwhite or Latino | |
Domain Importance | ||||||
Connection to Nature | + | insufficient data | ||||
Cultural Opportunities | + vs 40-59 |
insufficient data | ||||
Education | + | + | insufficient data | |||
Leisure Time | insufficient data | |||||
Living Standards | insufficient data | |||||
Local Environmental Quality | + vs 18-39 & 40-59 |
- $150,000+ > $50,000-$74,999 |
insufficient data | |||
Mental Health | + | - vs no religious preference |
insufficient data | |||
Physical Health | insufficient data | |||||
Safety and Security | insufficient data | |||||
Social Connections | insufficient data |
Wellbeing Matrix for Santaquin
The graph below illustrates the relationship between the average rating and the average importance of wellbeing domains for survey respondents from Santaquin. There is a clear positive relationship between wellbeing domain importance and wellbeing domain ratings: domains that are rated as more important also tend to be rated higher. None of the domains fall into the red quadrant, which identifies domains where the average importance rating is above the overall average importance across all domains and the average rating is below the overall average rating across all domains. It is important to note that all domains except for cultural opportunities 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 Santaquin
Survey participants were asked about community actions and connectedness to community in Santaquin. 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 Santaquin, the average score was 3.56. When asked about the degree they feel connected to their community, the average score was 3.03.
In terms of demographic characteristics and community-related questions, religion and income played significant roles as shown in Table 3. Additionally, a significant, positive relationship exists 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 Santaquin take action? | + vs other religion |
Insufficient Data | ||||
Do you feel connected to your community? | + vs other religion & no religious preference |
+ |
Insufficient Data |
Influence of Landscape on Wellbeing
Survey participants were asked about the influence of landscape features on their wellbeing. Mountains, trails, rivers and streams, trails, lakes, farmland, and city parks were found to have an overwhelmingly positive influence on respondents’ wellbeing. Over half (56%) of respondents also noted red rock as having a positive influence.
In terms of development and industry in the landscape, the majority of respondents noted that the presence of commercial development (52%) in the landscape has a positive influence on their wellbeing. However, respondents had more negative perceptions of extractive industry, with almost half (48%) identifying its presence as having a negative influence on their wellbeing; residential development, with 43% identifying it as having a negative influence; and manufacturing industry, with over one-third (34%) identifying it as having a negative influence.
Perspectives on Population Growth and Economic Development in Santaquin
Over two-thirds of survey respondents (72%) indicated that they felt the rate of population growth is too fast, while 22% said it was just right. Just over half of respondents noted that they felt the pace of economic development is too slow (58%), while 25% said it was just right. Compared to the other cities in the winter 2020 survey, Santaquin responses were similar to those from other communities in this balance of perspectives.
Risks and Assets for Wellbeing in Santaquin
Survey respondents indicated the degree to which a number of local issues were a major or minor risk or asset to wellbeing in Santaquin (see Table 4).
Table 4
Top Rated Risks and Assets by Santaquin Respondents
Highest Rated Assets (indicated by at least 80% of respondents) |
Highest Rated Risks (Indicated by at least 21% of respondents) |
Public Safety | Substance Abuse |
Air Quality | Electronic Devices |
Water Supply | Affordable Housing |
Access to Public Land | Shopping Opportunities |
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 Santaquin had.
Table 5
Other Assets and Risks Mentioned by Santaquin Respondents
Other Assets | Other Risks | ||
---|---|---|---|
Access to a dog park | Non-LDS communities | Too much high density/multifamily housing changing makeup and political climate of community, leading to overpopulation (6) | City manager, city government support, city council pushing wrong development, too much government power (4) |
Sidewalks on all streets | Stay local for all things | City facilities | HOA |
Trails | Lack of commercial development | Religious affiliation | |
Speeding vehicles | Traffic | ||
Trails to all neighborhoods | Walking safely |
Summary of Open Comments
Respondents were given the opportunity to provide comments at the end of the survey. Comments were made by 66 respondents (37% of the 180 completing the survey). The most frequently mentioned topics were related to slowing the growth and development of Santaquin, like wanting less high-density housing and a desire to preserve the small-town feel. However, many people want to see more commercial growth to match the residential growth. Some people also expressed frustration at city leadership’s decisions and felt that they were not being heard by their elected officials. Another topic mentioned several times was a desire for more recreation facilities and walking paths. However, many people love the friendly community and feel at home in Santaquin.
Dominant themes in comments included the following:
- Growth and development too fast
- Too much high-density housing
- Preserve small-town feel
- Not feeling heard by city leaders
- More recreation opportunities
A Few Quotes:
- “I believe that there is not enough emphasis on the growth of commercial building and too much multi-family housing coming to our little town.”
- “The growth of residential and business is too fast and not well planned. The people who moved here for a quiet, country life are being negatively impacted. The mayor, city manager, and city council are not looking at how their decisions affect the residents who currently live in this town.”
- “We need more retail and restaurant development. Less mass housing, it's eating up all the open land. Develop the city center instead of adding sprawl.”
- “This City doesn't listen to what people want, they are more concerned with the highest possible profit, which is destroying the heart of the city.”
- “It is a great community. The winter has been hard where there isn’t much to do indoors here.”