Voices: Young Utahns like me want to work and raise our families here. The housing market is forcing us out.

As a 21-year-old college student in Utah, I’ve learned to focus, work hard and plan for my future. But no matter how much I plan, one thing feels almost impossible to reach: moving out and eventually owning my own home.

Owning a home used to be a milestone of adulthood. Now, it feels more like a luxury.

Housing in Utah has become almost impossible for young people to afford, whether you’re renting or looking to buy. This isn’t just about economics; it’s a political and generational issue.

If we don’t act now, Utah risks pushing out its next generation of homebuyers who should be building its future.

Right now, I live at home with my parents because it’s the only financially viable option. I’m grateful for their support, but it’s hard not to feel stuck. I want to be independent, but rent prices are so high that moving out on my own would take most of my income, with little left for savings, emergencies or a future down payment.

The worst part is, I’m not alone. In fact, a growing number of Utahns in their 20s are living with family longer, largely because of the cost of housing. According to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Utah is now the 9th most expensive housing market in the country. The median price of a single-family home sits at around $547,700, and even though price increases have slowed recently, affordability hasn’t improved for most buyers.

Renting isn’t much easier. In Salt Lake County, the average rent rose from $1,582 to $1,593 between 2023 and 2024. Across the state, the median rent is about $1,370/month, which eats up nearly 29% of the average renter’s income. By national standards, spending more than 30% means you’re officially “cost burdened.”

The lack of affordable options affects everyone my age — students, early career workers and young families. A report from Axios Salt Lake City shows that apartments priced between $600 and $999/month (adjusted for inflation) dropped by 53% between 2013 and 2023. Half of renters in Salt Lake County now spend more than 30% of their income on rent.

This isn’t just about temporary discomfort. It’s about whether young people like me can realistically build a life in Utah — the state that I love and that many others love too. If this upward trend continues, many of us will be forced to leave for more affordable places. That would be a loss not just for us, but for Utah’s future workforce, economy and communities.

To their credit, policymakers have started taking steps. In 2025, Utah’s Legislature allocated $20 million for down payment assistance and mortgage rate buy-downs, as well as funding for land acquisition to support affordable housing. Salt Lake County invested $25 million into new affordable housing projects, adding nearly 1,500 units.

But these are only the first steps. Utah needs broader zoning reform to allow more duplexes and apartment buildings in neighborhoods dominated by single-family zoning. We need more incentives for developers to build affordable units, not just luxury apartments. And we need to expand first-time homebuyer programs that help people like me plan realistically for the future.

We’re often told to work hard, get an education and be responsible, with the expectation that homeownership will follow. But that’s only true if the system makes room for us. Right now, it most certainly doesn’t.

I want to stay in Utah. I want to contribute, work and eventually raise a family here. But unless we treat housing affordability like the urgent crisis it is, that future may not be possible — not just for me, but for thousands of Utahns like me.

Bastian Hiatt is currently studying at Salt Lake Community College. They write from the perspective of a student engaged with the issues facing their local community.

The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.