{"id":769885,"date":"2026-01-06T06:43:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=769885"},"modified":"2026-01-08T07:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T15:51:44","slug":"utah-data-driven-housing-affordability","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/blog\/utah-data-driven-housing-affordability","title":{"rendered":"How Utah\u2014America\u2019s Most Urban State\u2014Uses Data to Solve Housing Affordability"},"author":671,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[],"tags":[327152,195942,287902,1221,338252],"industry":[],"esri-blog-category":[478722],"esri_blog_department":[478202,492402],"class_list":["post-769885","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tag-affordable-housing","tag-data-driven-decision-making","tag-development","tag-policy","tag-utah","esri-blog-category-housing","esri_blog_department-infrastructure","esri_blog_department-urban-planning"],"acf":{"video_source":"1_rkjeyg1g","video_start":"","video_stop":"","short_description":"Utah uses GIS to turn geographic constraints into housing solutions. See how transparent data coordinates progress across 29 counties.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","layout":"standard","image_reference":null,"image_reference_figure":"","spotlight_image":null,"section_title":"","spotlight_name":"","position":"Right","content":"Utah is pioneering a data-driven approach to housing affordability by bringing together state planners, university researchers, and local governments to coordinate solutions across the mountainous state's constrained geography.\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Governor Cox set a goal to build 150,000 new housing units, including 35,000 starter homes by 2028, spurring state agencies to create America\u2019s most transparent housing dashboard.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Research on developers\u2019 margins reveals how infrastructure gaps and development fees increase housing costs, prompting state efforts to streamline projects.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>State data coordinators gather and standardize data from every county to boost decision-making.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>","snippet":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When governors face a crisis, they often ask the same question first: \u201cShow me where we are.\u201d In 2024, housing affordability topped state policy agendas. Leaders turned to maps to understand current inventory and identify sites for new units.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah faces constraints that make every housing decision critical. With mountains hemming in development and the federal government owning 64 percent of the state\u2019s land, there\u2019s little room for sprawl. But constraints aren\u2019t unique to Utah\u2014every state faces limitations, whether coastal boundaries, farmland preservation, water scarcity, or infrastructure gaps. When easy options disappear, states need strategic choices about where and how to grow.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah\u2019s geographic squeeze creates pressure for data-driven decisions. The state wants to welcome the next generation of homeowners. That requires knowing exactly what land is available and which infrastructure investments unlock the most opportunity.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steve Waldrip, Utah\u2019s senior advisor for housing strategy, describes Utah\u2019s geography bluntly: \u201cEverybody lives in a bobsled chute.\u201d About 80 percent of Utah\u2019s population lives packed into the narrow 150-mile corridor stretching south down Interstate 15 from the Idaho border.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019re not a Phoenix or Las Vegas or a Dallas where you can just keep sprawling,\u201d said Dejan Eskic, a housing researcher at the University of Utah\u2019s Gardner Policy Institute. This geographic reality, combined with economic forces, has priced out an entire generation of potential homebuyers.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[769888,769889,769890]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governor Spencer Cox made housing affordability a signature issue, setting a goal to build 150,000 new housing units, including 35,000 starter homes, by 2028. To counteract these limitations, Utah is pioneering a comprehensive data-driven response that other states are watching. Geographic information system (GIS) technology supports this\u2014from inventorying public lands to mapping infrastructure gaps to tracking permitting timelines\u2014providing the location intelligence that connects policy decisions to real-world outcomes (see sidebar).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>A Generation Left Behind<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governor Cox's ambitious goal requires a map and accurate measurements. The plan coordinates four key players: Laura Hanson, the state\u2019s long-range planning coordinator; Eskic, a university researcher tracking housing economics; Laura Ault, who directs the Utah Geospatial Resource Center; and Waldrip, coordinating policy across agencies. Together, they\u2019re building the data foundation needed to understand not just where Utah stands today, but who\u2019s being left behind.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The wealth gap tells the affordability story in stark terms. According to the Federal Reserve data that Eskic tracks, the average renter in Utah holds $11,000 in wealth while the average homeowner has $400,000. \u201cA lot of that net worth is in the equity of the house,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This divide reflects a broader generational trend. Anyone born after 1990 faces housing costs that have far outpaced wages, creating the first generation in decades with less wealth-building opportunity than their parents. Buying a first home has become financially out of reach for millions of young adults.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This gap creates the policy questions Eskic examines: What types of housing are being built? And what can people afford? Developers face a bind. They can\u2019t sell high-end homes because, Eskic notes, \u201cthe market\u2019s tapped out,\u201d but local regulations often prevent building affordable housing.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The development process alone adds massive costs. Eskic estimates that a quarter of a project\u2019s budget gets spent before construction begins. The entitlement process\u2014getting raw land approved for development\u2014takes 18\u201324 months in most Utah cities. \u201cAsk any developer in any part of the country and they\u2019ll say they hate that process the most,\u201d Eskic said.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah is addressing this by making state-owned land available for development. The Utah Department of Transportation recently announced plans to sell a 2.7-acre vacant parcel in Salt Lake City for affordable housing development. The site, formerly a maintenance facility, will become condominiums targeted at moderate-income buyers. It\u2019s an early example of how Utah turns underutilized public property into housing solutions, part of a broader effort to evaluate state-owned parcels for potential development.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Looking for Opportunities in the Data<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For years, housing policy relied on what Waldrip calls \u201cwindshield data gathering\u201d\u2014officials driving around making assumptions. \u201cAll of our housing discussions are based on who drove what road recently and looked out and said, \u2018We\u2019ve got a lot of apartments there, that place is fine,\u2019\u201d he said.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","layout":"standard","image_reference":null,"image_reference_figure":"","spotlight_image":null,"section_title":"","spotlight_name":"","position":"Right","content":"<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Exploring Utah\u2019s Housing Metrics Dashboard<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah\u2019s Housing Strategic Plan Metrics dashboard, built with GIS technology, offers multiple views that reveal different dimensions of the housing challenge:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Market Overview<\/strong>\u00a0shows housing production trends and how supply matches demand across counties and municipalities.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Cost Burdened Renters<\/strong>\u00a0maps households spending more than 30 percent of income on rent\u2014revealing where rental affordability creates the greatest pressure.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Cost Burdened Owners<\/strong>\u00a0tracks homeowners struggling with mortgage costs, highlighting areas where homeownership has become unsustainable.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>New Utah First Homes<\/strong>\u00a0monitors progress toward the state\u2019s goal of adding starter homes, showing quarterly production numbers by location.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Housing Supply<\/strong>\u00a0displays entitled units, permits issued, and construction in progress\u2014revealing where development is active and where it\u2019s stalled.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Share Priced Out<\/strong>\u00a0compares area median income to housing costs, showing which communities have lost affordability and by how much.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/fe24d94d3a584b26a226addbf45c16ee\">Explore the dashboard<\/a><\/p>","snippet":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/experience.arcgis.com\/experience\/fe24d94d3a584b26a226addbf45c16ee\">Utah Housing Strategic Plan Metrics dashboard<\/a> changes that. Built by the Utah Geospatial Resource Center (UGRC) with Eskic\u2019s team at the Gardner Policy Institute, the web-based tool tracks everything from cost-burdened renters to new construction permits.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UGRC director Ault explains that the dashboard reveals both available data and gaps, reflecting the Governor\u2019s priorities. The dashboard doesn\u2019t hide its limitations\u2014it clearly marks where data exists and where gaps remain. This transparency drives action to fill those gaps.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hanson calls this revolutionary for long-range planning. \u201cIf we can get the data on the map in a common form, then we can argue about the solutions and not the facts,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dashboard updates quarterly, tracking progress toward the 150,000-unit goal. As of October, the state had permitted 36,783 units\u2014of which 5,801 are new starter homes\u2014behind pace with three years remaining to close the gap. Eskic says the metrics show some success: rents have dropped while incomes have risen, making housing \u201ca little bit more affordable this year than two years ago.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tool tracks both market-rate and subsidized housing production and monitors naturally occurring affordable housing\u2014older properties with lower rents. Each quarterly update brings more precision to understanding Utah\u2019s housing challenge and measuring progress.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This data-driven approach reveals something crucial: housing production isn\u2019t just about zoning changes or construction permits. The real bottleneck often lies in the infrastructure needed to support new development.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[769893,769892,769894]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The Infrastructure Foundation<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Behind Utah\u2019s housing shortage lies the less visible challenge of infrastructure capacity. New homes need water lines, sewer systems, stormwater management, electrical service, and roads. GIS maps these systems\u2014showing where capacity exists, where gaps create bottlenecks, and where investments unlock development.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Waldrip calls infrastructure \u201ca huge hole in our understanding.\u201d The state has detailed road data but lacks comprehensive information about water, sewer, and power networks. Without knowing existing capacity, planning for growth is guesswork. Federal security restrictions prevent water agencies from sharing system maps, even with other state agencies. This creates information silos that hinder coordinated planning.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hanson describes a common scenario: A city approves 800 new housing units, but the project stalls. The development needs a $70 million water treatment facility\u2014a regional infrastructure investment that would serve multiple future projects. \u201cWhat city has the money to think that far into the future for big regional needs?\u201d Hanson asks. Without knowing where water lines end, which pipes need upgrading, and where treatment capacity runs out, housing can't be built.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hanson\u2019s goal is a 30-year plan coordinating all infrastructure investments\u2014transportation, utilities, and stormwater. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">GIS overlays infrastructure networks with development plans, showing which projects share needs and where regional solutions make sense. <\/span>A new water main might also support road widening and enable transit-oriented development. State law already requires station area plans around high-capacity transit, identifying space for 74,000 housing units near rail and bus rapid transit, with eventual capacity for 100,000 units.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah is also mapping publicly owned parcels that could support housing\u2014from closed schools to unused staging areas\u2014reducing land costs.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"gallery","gallery_images":[748422,748382,735962]},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Building Cooperation Through Data Sharing<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utah\u2019s housing response succeeds because multiple players cooperate around shared data. UGRC serves as the central hub, standardizing information from 29 counties so state planners, local officials, and developers work from the same foundation.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ault leads this effort, collecting roads, parcels, and address points from local governments and standardizing them.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The challenge varies dramatically by location. Salt Lake County has strong GIS systems. Rural counties might have one employee handling city recorder duties plus multiple other jobs. UGRC bridges this capacity gap.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The state funds technical assistance positions in seven regional associations of governments. These specialists help small communities digitize data and build GIS capacity. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be the ones with the sticks,\u201d Ault said. \u201cWe\u2019d rather have a bag of carrots.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach reflects Utah\u2019s collaborative traditions. UGRC has built relationships with local governments since 1982, creating trust that enables data sharing.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Governor Cox's clear goal for more housing creates urgency and permission for agencies to work differently. After decades of conversations about better data coordination, Ault sees real momentum. \u201cI feel like right now it actually might be happening,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transparency is already changing local practices. Cities are streamlining permitting processes. Hanson is piloting detailed tracking with willing cities to measure where delays occur, replacing anecdotes with hard data.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This collaborative approach\u2014combining state coordination, local capacity-building, university research, and transparent data\u2014enables productive problem-solving. \u201cThe nice thing about data is there\u2019s no judgment,\u201d Hanson said. \u201cIt just is what it is.\u201d When everyone sees the same information,\u00a0they can focus on opportunities rather than obstacles.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The urgency stems from welcoming back the next generation. Eskic\u2019s research reveals a unique \u201cboomerang effect\u201d\u2014about 25 percent of people moving to Utah were born there, a higher share than any other state. These returning residents seek the communities they remember, but rising costs threaten to price them out. Governor Cox frames the challenge: \u201cWhat will happen if our kids and grandkids aren\u2019t able to eventually own property and buy a home in this state? We cannot let that happen.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By building transparent data systems, Utah creates the foundation for strategic decisions that preserve opportunity for those who want to build their lives here.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about how\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/content\/dam\/esrisites\/en-us\/media\/brochures\/housing-policy.pdf\">GIS helps communities develop strategies to provide affordable, accessible, and attainable housing options for every resident<\/a>.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","layout":"standard","image_reference":null,"image_reference_figure":"","spotlight_image":null,"section_title":"","spotlight_name":"","position":"Center","content":"<h3 style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Seven Steps to Enhance Housing Opportunity<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Map Your Current Housing Landscape<\/strong>: Track housing types, ownership versus rentals, vacancy rates, and year built. Map demographic and income data alongside housing costs to identify who needs housing most and where gaps exist between supply and need.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Identify Development-Ready Land<\/strong>: Inventory publicly owned parcels that could support housing\u2014from closed schools to unused government staging areas. Score properties for development feasibility based on proximity to transit, services, and existing infrastructure.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Map Infrastructure Capacity and Gaps<\/strong>: Overlay entitled development sites with water, sewer, and power infrastructure capacity. This reveals where infrastructure deficits limit growth and helps prioritize investments that unlock the most housing units.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Strengthen Zoning for Housing Diversity<\/strong>: Test zoning changes before implementing them by running development scenarios in GIS. Model impacts of allowing accessory dwelling units, missing middle housing, and transit-oriented development on traffic, services, and quality of life.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Streamline Permitting with Location Intelligence<\/strong>: Digitize permit processes and track applications in real time with dashboards showing timelines by stage. Automate reviews, flag high-risk locations, and identify bottlenecks that slow development.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Target Assistance Where It\u2019s Needed Most<\/strong>: Combine housing, demographic, and lifestyle data to pinpoint where assistance programs should focus. Map income, housing costs, and available resources together to connect residents with programs and identify service gaps.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong> Make Progress Transparent:<\/strong> Share data publicly through dashboards that update regularly, showing both current progress and remaining data gaps. Public transparency builds trust and enables evidence-based conversations about solutions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/content\/dam\/esrisites\/en-us\/media\/brochures\/housing-policy.pdf\">developing effective housing strategies<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>","snippet":""}],"references":null},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Utah\u2019s Housing Strategy Turns Constraints into Opportunities<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Utah uses GIS to turn geographic constraints into housing solutions. 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