Each year, WalletHub releases its Best & Worst Cities for Women report, offering a detailed look at how women are faring across the country. This year’s findings provide a new lens—not at the state level, but at the city level. For Utah, the results are mixed. While national leaders like Columbia, Maryland; South Burlington, Vermont; and Honolulu, Hawaii demonstrate what is possible when cities prioritize women’s economic, health, and safety outcomes, Utah’s two cities included in the analysis—Salt Lake City and West Valley City—rank in the bottom third. For a state already struggling with women’s equality, these city‑level results reinforce long‑standing patterns and highlight where targeted action is urgently needed.
WalletHub’s 2026 report evaluates 182 U.S. cities across 15 indicators grouped into two major categories: Women’s Economic & Social Well‑Being and Women’s Health & Safety. These metrics draw on national datasets from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CDC, and other federal sources. While no ranking captures every dimension of women’s experiences, WalletHub’s methodology aligns closely with the research conducted by the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) and other national organizations.
Salt Lake City ranks 128th overall, placing it in the bottom third nationally. West Valley City ranks even lower at 141st, putting it among the worst cities in the country for women, based on WalletHub’s methodology. Yet, these rankings are not anomalies; they reflect broader statewide trends UWLP has documented for more than a decade. But the city‑level data provide a more granular view of where women in Utah face the greatest barriers.
I was able to get more in‑depth data from WalletHub than was published in their recent report. Let me share what I found.
Economic Realities for Women in Utah’s Cities
WalletHub’s economic indicators include median earnings, unemployment rates, job security, poverty levels, and the strength of women‑owned businesses. Salt Lake City performs moderately on some measures. Women’s median earnings, adjusted for cost of living, rank 86th nationally—better than many cities but still not competitive. Unemployment for women ranks 33rd, and job security ranks 29th, both relatively strong showings. Yet Salt Lake City falls lower in terms of poverty levels (76th). Women’s entrepreneurship is a mixed bag with economic clout of women‑owned businesses at 26th and share of women-owned business at 163th.
West Valley City’s economic picture is more concerning. Women’s earnings rank 142nd, unemployment 67th, and job security 158th—one of the lowest rankings in the country. Poverty levels for women rank 25th, significantly better than Salt Lake City’s 76th. The share of women‑owned businesses (163rd) and the economic clout of women‑owned firms (26th) match Salt Lake City exactly. Together, these indicators reveal that women in both cities face structural barriers to economic stability, advancement, and entrepreneurship.
Health, Safety, and Access: A Mixed but Troubling Picture
Health and safety indicators show a blend of moderate and poor performance. Salt Lake City ranks 133rd for uninsured women, indicating limited access to affordable coverage. Share of physically active women ranks 30th—one of the city’s stronger indicators—and obesity ranks 63rd, while women’s preventive healthcare (158th) and life expectancy for women (89th) both ranked lower. Even more concerning is that Salt Lake City has one of the highest rape victimization prevalence scores in the dataset and ranked at 173rd, underscoring the need for stronger safety and support systems. The City also received a 38th ranking for quality of women’s hospitals.
West Valley City mirrors many of these challenges. The city ranks 169th for uninsured women, 63rd for obesity, and 30th for physical activity. Life expectancy ranks 89th, women’s preventive healthcare ranks 179th, and rape victimization prevalence ranks 144th. Both cities also received a ranking of 116 for abortion policies and access, as well as 83rd for suicide. The overall pattern is clear: women in both cities face significant health and safety disparities that affect their quality of life and long‑term well‑being.
Why These Rankings Matter and What Utah’s Cities Can Do
The value of WalletHub’s rankings is not in the number itself, but in what the data reveal about where cities—and states—must focus their efforts. Utah’s city‑level results align closely with the statewide patterns UWLP has tracked for years: persistent pay gaps, limited economic mobility, uneven access to healthcare, and high rates of sexual violence and suicide. These challenges shape women’s daily lives, influence workforce participation, and affect long‑term economic outcomes for families and communities.
Cities that perform well in WalletHub’s rankings share common characteristics: strong economic opportunities for women, accessible healthcare systems, and environments where women‑owned businesses thrive. Utah’s cities have the potential to make similar progress, but doing so will require intentional, coordinated action across multiple systems. Improving women’s economic outcomes, strengthening preventive healthcare access, addressing safety concerns, and supporting women‑owned businesses are not just “women’s issues”—they are community issues that affect every part of Utah’s social and economic fabric.
Salt Lake City and West Valley City have an opportunity to lead and both have begun taking steps to do so. Both Salt Lake County and West Valley City have passed an official resolution supporting A Bolder Way Forward and their commitment to help more girls, women, and families thrive. By prioritizing policies and programs that support women, these cities can strengthen their economies, improve public health, and create communities where all residents have the opportunity to succeed. Now is the time for Utah’s cities to take bold, evidence‑based action to build a future where equality is not an aspiration but a reality.
Dr. Susan R. Madsen is a Professor of Leadership and the Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project at Utah State University.
