Research on High School

Students’ Housing
Preferences
ENVISION UTAH YOUTH COUNCIL
Executive Summary
u Utah high school students expect their housing needs and preferences to
change throughout their lives.
u At the beginning of their careers, only 39% envision living in a standard
residential suburb, and more than half expect to live in something other than a
detached single-family home.
u Most want a traditional suburban lifestyle in their lives.
u By mid-career, the vast majority expect to end up in a single-family home with
enough bedrooms for a family a yard. Nearly 80 percent want his home in a
suburb.
u Safety and affordability are the most important factors to Utah students
in choosing where to live. Additional family-related factors such as home
size and schools are next most important.
u Energy efficiency, earthquake safety, and carbon footprint are more important
to students than conveniences like large garages and proximity to transit.
Approximately 2,500 students answered these questions.
Housing Preferences
 More than half of students expect to be in an apartment or townhome at
the beginning of their careers. 9 in 10 hope to live in a stand-alone house by
the middle of their careers.

Type of Home over Time

Start of Career Mid Career

House (stands alone) 47% House (stands alone) 90%

Townhome or duplex Townhome or duplex

(shares walls with 18% (shares walls with 5%
another home) another townhome)

Apartment or condo 35% Apartment or condo 4%

n = 2,483

Q: Please choose the kind of home you envision living in. n = 2,502
 More than half of students expect to be in an apartment or townhome at
the beginning of their careers. 9 in 10 hope to live in a stand-alone house by
the middle of their careers.

Type of Home over Time

Start of Career Mid Career

House (stands alone) 47% Boys: 53% House (stands alone) 90%

Townhome or duplex Townhome or duplex

(shares walls with 18% (shares walls with 5%
another home) another townhome)

Apartment or condo 35% Girls: 40% Apartment or condo 4%

n = 2,483

Q: Please choose the kind of home you envision living in. n = 2,502
 While students expect to live in a 2- or 3-bedroom place (apartment, condo,
home) at the start of their careers, the vast majority of Utah students hope
to live in a home with at least three bedrooms by the middle of their career.

Size of Home over Time

Start of Career Mid Career

more than 4 bedrooms 9% more than 4 bedrooms 25%

4 bedrooms 12% 4 bedrooms 39%

3 bedrooms 30% 3 bedrooms 28%

2 bedrooms 40% 2 bedrooms 7%

1 bedroom 9% 1 bedroom 2%
n = 2,483

Q: Please choose how big you envision your home to be. n = 2,501
 While students expect to live in a 2- or 3-bedroom place (apartment, condo,
home) at the start of their careers, the vast majority of Utah students hope
to live in a home with at least three bedrooms by the middle of their career.

Size of Home over Time

Start of Career Mid Career

more than 4 bedrooms 9% more than 4 bedrooms 25%

4 bedrooms 12% Boys: 14% 4 bedrooms 39%

3 bedrooms 30% 3 bedrooms 28%

2 bedrooms 40% Girls: 47% 2 bedrooms 7%

1 bedroom 9% Boys: 12%

1 bedroom 2%
n = 2,483

Q: Please choose how big you envision your home to be. n = 2,501
 More than half of students expect some kind of yard near the start
of the careers. More than 90% expect a medium-sized or larger yard
by the middle of their career.

Size of Yard over Time

Start of Career Mid Career

No yard, but close to No yard, but close to

parks/open space
11% parks/open space
2%

Multi-acre property 6% Multi-acre property 11%

Large yard 14% Large yard 40%

Medium-sized yard 43% Medium-sized yard 41%

Tiny yard 17% Tiny yard 4%

No yard 10% No yard 1%

n = 2,483

Q: Please choose the kind of yard you envision. n = 2,503

 The majority of Utah students hope to live in a residential suburb
by the middle of their career, but there is strong demand for rural
areas, walkable suburbs, and urban cities, especially at the start of a
career.
Type of Community over Time
Start of Career Mid Career

Rural area (farms, ranches, Rural area (farms, ranches,

or small towns)
11% or small towns)
17%

Residential suburb (typical Residential suburb (typical

neighborhoods with 39% neighborhoods with 62%
homes) homes)
Walkable suburb (a mix of Walkable suburb (a mix of
housing walking distance 36% housing walking distance 16%
from businesses) from businesses)

Urban city (like downtown Urban city (like downtown

14% 5%
Salt Lake City) Salt Lake City)

n = 2,483

Q: Please choose where you envision your home. n = 2,499

 Safety and affordability are the most important factors to Utah
students in choosing where to live. Next most important are other
family-related factors such as home size and schools.

Factor Prioritization
Mean score – 1 to 7 scale
Safe neighborhood 6.3
Affordable 6.0
Big enough for a family 5.7
Near good schools 5.6
Close to work 5.1
Energy efficient 4.9
Nearby parks or trails 4.8
Earthquake resilient 4.8
Low impact on air quality 4.5
Low carbon footprint 4.2
Large garage 4.0
Near highways or transit 3.8

Q: How important are the following factors in choosing where you want to live? Please rate each factor on a scale of 1 to 7. n = 1,466
 Safety and affordability are the most important factors to Utah
students in choosing where to live. Next most important are other
family-related factors such as home size and schools.

Factor Prioritization
Mean score – 1 to 7 scale
Safe neighborhood 6.3 Girls: 6.5
Affordable 6.0
Big enough for a family 5.7
Near good schools 5.6
Close to work 5.1 ”Affordable” variances with
Energy efficient 4.9 Parents Education
No HS Ed: 6.3
Nearby parks or trails 4.8 HS Ed: 6.4
Earthquake resilient 4.8 Tech training: 5.68
Bachelors: 5.92
Low impact on air quality 4.5 Grad degree: 5.96
Low carbon footprint 4.2 Girls: 4.5
Large garage 4.0
Near highways or transit 3.8

Q: How important are the following factors in choosing where you want to live? Please rate each factor on a scale of 1 to 7. n = 1,466
Demographics &
Methodology
 Race/Ethnicity
1% 3%
13% 12% 2% 66%
1% 1%

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Parent Education Level Grade Level

Bachelor's degree 35% 6 0.0%

7 0.2%
Post-college graduate degree 24%
8 9%
High school graduate 12% 9 20%
Associate's degree 10% 10 23%
11 21%
Some college, no degree 9%
12 26%
Some high school or less 7% HS Grad 0.2%
Technical training or certification 4% Other 0.1%
 Methodology
PHASE 1: FOCUS GROUPS
Online focus groups with 24 students conducted Summer 2020

PHASE 2: ONLINE SURVEY

Participants: 2,500 Utah High School Students
More than 7,600 students participated in the survey, but only a subset of all participants
were asked these questions on housing.
Length: 20 minutes
Dates: October 2020 – February 2021
Geography: State of Utah
Distribution: Survey was distributed to high school students by members of the
Envision Utah Youth Council, by district and school leaders, and
through the Keys to Success app.
NOTE: Respondents self-selected into the sample, but the sample was
found to meaningfully reflect the racial/ethnic make of Utah’s population.