This story is part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing commitment to identify solutions to Utah’s biggest challenges through the work of the Innovation Lab. [Subscribe to our newsletter here]
Two counties in Utah had some of the most housing growth in the nation last year — but not all of that growth was for people planning to live there.
The Beehive State added 30,381 housing units in one year, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates — which represents about 2.5% growth.
That was largely bolstered by Rich and Wasatch counties, which saw 8.5% and 6.1% growth in housing units, respectively, based on federal estimates.
In both cases, that’s far more than the estimated population growth for the county. A demographer said that’s likely because the housing isn’t necessarily for people living in those counties year-round.
Dustin Grabau, the county manager for Wasatch County, agreed at least some of the growth there is secondary home ownership — as people buy vacation or investment properties.
But one developer said initial buyers in Jordanelle Ridge — a new community on the county’s north side — plan to make it their main home because they want the benefits of living in Wasatch County, including a short commute if they work in Salt Lake City and proximity to recreation options.
Utah had the most housing growth of any state; two counties were in the nation’s top five
The Census Bureau’s population division tracks housing estimates for more than 3,000 entities. Most of them are counties, but cities and economic regions are included in some states.
Of those entities, Rich County had the second-highest percentage increase in housing units between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, at 8.5%. It had the most of any county, since it was only behind the city of Falls Church, Virginia.
Wasatch County had the fourth-highest change, with a 6.1% increase in housing units.
Six other Utah counties were within the top 100, propelling Utah to the top state for housing unit growth.
Rich County has popped to the top several times in recent years for housing growth, said Mallory Bateman, director of demographic research for the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
But while the county is adding a lot of housing, she said, it’s “not always permanent residents.”
Though the Census Bureau estimated Rich County added 275 housing units in 2023, the federal agency estimated the county only gained 21 residents.
Census Bureau estimates only show one county adding more people than housing units — Juab County, which the federal agency estimates added 119 housing units and 437 people.
Local demographers disagree with the Census Bureau’s projections, but still don’t have Rich County growing by more than 100 people or Wasatch County adding as many people as the Census Bureau estimates it added housing units.
That’s not necessarily a red flag, because of the state’s housing shortage. “We’ve got a lot of people competing for housing at the same time,” Bateman said.
‘A lot of people competing for housing at the same time’
Jordanalle Ridge and other housing coming online in Wasatch County and elsewhere in the state offer a good opportunity for people to live in areas that are starting to “open up and providing housing,” said Cody Winterton, a division president with Raintree Investment Corporation.
Raintree is the developer behind Jordanalle Ridge, the 8,000-acre, master-planned community that includes housing, a golf course designed by Tiger Woods (his first in a mountain location), private trails and easy access to Deer Valley Resort.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Housing is booming in Wasatch County as numerous units are constructed at the Jordanelle Ridge development in Heber City on Friday, June 7, 2024.
It’s no secret that Utah has a housing shortage, Winterton said, and the community will “help satisfy a lot of the demand.”
He acknowledged the community will have a mix of primary residents and vacation homes, but said the initial buyers plan to live there.
“I think people have discovered Heber and the Wasatch Back is a very short commute, compared to some of their other options,” Winterton said.
The area offers a “short commute up Parley’s Canyon,” he said, and is “surrounded by the best Utah has to offer,” from flyfishing in the Provo River to skiing at Deer Valley.
There’s a range of affordability options at Jordanelle Ridge, Winterton said. Listed townhomes start in the $500,000 range, and others are listed in the mid-$800,000 range. There also are single-family homes listed, but many don’t include prices.
Like Jordanelle Ridge and the surrounding area, Rich County offers several outdoor amenities near Bear Lake in the northern part of the county. Officials in Rich County did not respond to requests for an interview.
Real estate listings for Rich County homes show prices for new construction ranging from $70,000 to $2.4 million, and many listings are more than $800,000.
Though Winterton posited there’s a draw for permanent residents, Grabau said Wasatch County is close to an even split. About 60% of Wasatch County’s residents live there year-round, Grabau said, and the rest vacation there in summer or winter.
A lot of the growth in the north end — like where Jordanelle Ridge is being built — is secondary homes, Grabau said. That has some advantages for the county, he said, since Utah doesn’t have property tax credits for secondary homes.
Wasatch County is planning to build a new courthouse, and likely will not need to raise additional tax revenue to pay for it, he said, linking that to the extra property taxes and growth in sales taxes.
The county’s economy also is largely driven by tourism, Grabau said.
As the county continues to grow — whether with permanent or temporary residents — officials are trying to be proactive and “minimize the bad impacts and maximize the positive ones,” he said.
Megan Banta is The Salt Lake Tribune’s data enterprise reporter, a philanthropically supported position. The Tribune retains control over all editorial decisions.
