Utahns received a jolt over the weekend that had nothing to do with the blast of extreme temperatures, although it wouldn't be a surprise if the record highs played a part.
In CNBC's list of "Worst States to Live In," Utah made an appearance and was the only western state with the dubious distinction.
CNBC said it used factors such as crime rates, air quality and healthcare to determine its rankings, along with childcare and reproductive rights. Overall, it gave Utah a Quality of Life score of 95 out of 290 points.
"For all its natural beauty, Utah is not the healthiest place to live," CNBC wrote, citing the state ranking No. 47 in the U.S. for primary health care providers.
The rankings also noted Utah's poor air quality issues and just 513 licensed childcare centers for 3.5 million people.
Environmental advocates say air quality is a major concern, especially for communities along the Wasatch Front. “There’s not a lot of surprise, but it hits hard,” Lexi Tuddenham, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, said. “Air quality is something we experience every single day. Air quality impacts all of us.”
She noted that winter inversions can trap pollution in lower-lying areas like West Valley City, Magna and Kearns. “When it’s at its worst, that pollution settles in those parts of the valley,” she said. There are disproportionate impacts on people who are living in those areas.”
Tuddenham says that as a mother, it’s something she thinks about often. “There’s this daily question of, can we do it?” Tuddenham said. “Is it the right choice? Is it safe?”
"The Beehive State gets its nickname from the industriousness of its workers. But the state doesn’t do much to make their lives easier," the rankings said. "The state minimum wage of $7.25 an hour covers just 16.5% of the cost of living for a family of four, according to Oxfam America."
“That’s sad to see, but not all that surprising,” Jeff Worthington, president of Utah AFL-CIO, said. “They gave us an F. That doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room.”
According to Worthington, many skilled workers trained in Utah end up leaving for better pay and benefits in other states. “They go through four- or five-year apprenticeship programs; they come out highly skilled,” he said. “The problem is they’re not getting paid for that here.”
When detailing Utah's strength, the CNBC rankings listed "crime," but no details were offered as to what that particular label means.
CNBC's WORST STATES TO LIVE IN:
- Arkansas
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee (Ranked worst overall)
- Texas
- UTAH
