Cluster Analysis
Cluster profiling will be used as an analytical tool for policy analysis and review. We continue to advocate 'one size does not fit all', but also recognize splintering policy into 240 pieces is unrealistic. Clustering, in a more scientific manner, will enable us to identify policy implications for a group of cities that share similar characteristics. Cities will not be perfectly matched in every category - cities are simply too diverse. Individual cities will have characteristics that do and do not fit into general groups. However, the analysis gives policymakers a way to understand how each individual community fits into the landscape of the overall state of Utah's cities.
What are the twelve Utah clusters?
- Major Population Centers (10 Cities)
- Commercial Centers (17 Cities)
- High Growth Communities (10 Cities)
- Residential Transitioning Communities (33 Cities)
- High Income Residential (20 Cities)
- Urban Edge Cities (12 Cities)
- Resort Communities (6 Cities)
- Natural Resource/Mining Based Communities (26 Cities)
- Old Established Communities (19 Cities)
- Traditional Agricultural (30 Cities)
- Small Towns (61 Cities)
- Capital City (1 City)
| Cluster Name | Description | No. of Cities | Example City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Major Population Cities | Largest population base, minimal growth, established communities, large commercial centers | 10 | Provo, St. George |
| B | Commercial Centers | Larger population, significant commercial and industrial regional centers, growing communities, | 17 | Cedar City, Logan |
| C | High Growth Communities | Communities with highest growth rates, high household income, low commercial | 10 | Cedar Hills, Syracuse |
| D | Residential Transitioning | Modest commercial property, increasing growth, many transitioning communities | 33 | Providence, Midway |
| E | High Income Residential | Highest median household income, moderate growth, low commercial | 20 | Farmington, Bountiful |
| F | Edge Cities | High per capita commercial and industrial property, moderate population size and population growth | 12 | North Logan, South Ogden |
| G | Resort Communities | Low population, high commercial property, high per capita revenue | 6 | Park City, Alta |
| H | NR/Mining Based | Older, low growth rural communities, small commercial property | 26 | Duchesne, Castle Dale |
| I | Old Established Communities | Older communities, low or declining population, some commercial component | 19 | Escalante, Manti |
| J | Traditional Agricultural | Traditional agricultural communities, primarily residential with increasing population, some growing commercial element | 30 | Hyrum, Fillmore |
| K | Small Towns | Smallest population, older established communities with low or declining growth, low commercial property | 61 | Hatch, Scofield |
| L | Capital City | Economic center of the state | 1 | Salt Lake City |
What factors were used to determine the cluster analysis?
- 2005 population
- Percent population change 2000-2005
- Household median income (2000 Census data)
- 2003 Primary residential land value
- Per capita residential land value
- 2003 Commercial and industrial land value
- Per capita commercial and industrial land value
- 2003 Property tax revenue
- Per capita property tax revenue
- 2003 Sales tax revenue
- Per capita sales tax revenue
- Size
- Resident income
- Commercial activity
- Growth
- 2000 Census population
- Population growth between 1990 and 2000
- Median household income in 1999
- Per capita commercial/industrial property market value in 2002
How will this benefit my city?
Many cities frequently seek to compare either their services or their revenue to other municipal governments. Often this process of comparison seeks out the neighboring cities or cities sharing a similar population. We contend however, that this cluster grouping gives cities a better idea of who might share the similar challenges or framework as their own municipality. In addition the cluster analysis is an effective tool for evaluating the potential impact of proposed pieces of legislation.
Where has this been done before?
Washington Association of Cities:
As part of the 2005 State of the Cities research and analysis, AWC sorted Washington's 281 cities and towns into 14 groups, or "clusters." The cities in each cluster have similar economic and other characteristics including:
The League of Minnesota Cities:
In 2003, analyzed trends in demographics and municipal finances, and outlined policy implications for Minnesota cities. But without a classification scheme, it is hard to draw any "meaningful" conclusions for different cities. Grouping cities by size or location alone cannot provide satisfactory results for the analysis because of the diversity of cities in the same region or of the same scale. The hierarchical cluster method, which is based on multiple demographic and financial characteristics, reorganized the 853 cities into relatively homogeneous groups. Four used criteria: