Why Utah got expensive — and why it isn't the Californians. The numbers on screen: Utah added 44,351 residents between July 2024 and July 2025. 57% of that was natural change — births minus deaths — and 43% was net migration. Source: the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, published December 2025. Worth knowing, and I didn't have room for it: this only recently became true. Net migration was 57% of Utah's growth in 2023 and 52% in 2024. The US Census Bureau confirmed the shift on January 27, 2026, and named the cause — a national drop in international migration, not a Utah baby boom. Two things follow. It could flip back. And Utah's fertility rate, while still above the national average, has fallen to roughly 10th in the country, not 1st. On foreign buyers: the National Association of Realtors released its annual international report on July 29, 2026, covering April 2025 through March 2026. Foreign buyers purchased 67,100 US homes — a count, nationally. 56% of them were already living here as immigrants or visa holders. Utah is not among the top 5 destination states, and there is no reliable Utah-specific figure. About 1 in 5 people moving to Utah do come from California. That's real. It's just not the whole story. #utahrealestate #movingtoutah #utahhousing #stgeorgeutah #saltlakecity Kelsey Earl, journalist turned Realtor, born and raised in Utah, Salt Lake to St. George, 801-419-8917, [email protected], Your lifelong friend in real estate 🌟
I am Kelsey Earl, a Realtor with Keller Williams South Valley serving Herriman and the south Salt Lake Valley — and Washington County when it is time. Every video starts as a question someone sent me.
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Serving Herriman and the south Salt Lake Valley — South Jordan, Daybreak, Riverton, Bluffdale, Draper and Salt Lake City. And Washington County — St. George, Washington City, Hurricane, Ivins and Santa Clara.