Utah County continues to lead the state, and the country, in population growth
Mar 17, 2025, 1:02 PM | Updated: 1:19 pm
FILE: Apartments and town houses on Traverse Mountain Boulevard in Lehi are pictured on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. New numbers are in that show that Utah County is not only the fastest growing county in the state, but it's also in the top 50 for growth across the U.S. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — New numbers are in that show that Utah County is not only the fastest growing county in the state, but it’s also in the top 50 for growth across the U.S.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data organized by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, the county gained over 21,000 people in a one-year period, making it the 30th fastest-growing county in the U.S.
The data also shows that the Provo-Orem-Lehi area is growing fast. Together the three cities tied as the fifth fastest-growing metropolitan area, percentage wise, in the nation.
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Birth, death, housing, and other data sets were used to measure the growth.
Mallory Bateman, director of demographic research with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, said migration is the largest driving factor. She said 60% of the growth is caused by people moving into the county.
She said the amount of schools and businesses in the area might make the county an attractive location.
“The fact that we’re an appealing place for people to move, especially young adults, makes that migration a big part of our growth.”
On the other hand, Bateman said births contribute only 40% of the growth.
“It still means a lot of babies,” she said. “There’s still a lot of births happening, but we just see some changing trends over time with women having fewer kids, women starting older.”
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