Utahns rank high, low and in between in census data

SALT LAKE CITY— Think you're spending a lot on gasoline, electricity and natural gas?

Actually, Utahns spend the second lowest amount per person on energy of any state.

Think college is expensive at public universities in Utah?

Actually, the cost here is the second lowest of any state.

Those are tidbits of trivia contained in the 2010 edition of the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, released Thursday by the Census Bureau.

The federal government has published the survey periodically since 1979 as a statistical guide to the social, economic, political and demographic structure of the nation — using data from the Census, business groups, academic studies and other sources.

Key information from it is available online at www.census.gov/compendia/databooks.

Following are examples of where Utah, or some of its metro areas, rank in a variety of sometimes off-beat categories:

INTERNET USE: Utah ranks No. 2 in Internet use among the 50 states. In 2007, 82.0 percent of its residents used the Internet. The national average is 71 percent. The only state higher was Alaska, at 84.3 percent.

INCOME: The bad news is Utah ranks No. 49 out of 50 on 2008 personal income per capita at $30,291. That is far below the national average of $39,751.

However, it ranks a relatively lofty No. 17 for 2005-07 household income at $53,324 — which is above the national average of $50,007.

How could Utah be high in one income measure and at the bottom of another? University of Utah research economist Pam Perlich explained it is because Utah has large families. That makes per-person income low because it is divided among many family members. But household income combining the earnings of all members can be high.

NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION: In what can bring tears of sorrow to reporters and editors, Utah ranks near the bottom nationally in daily newspaper circulation per capita. It is No. 44 among the 50 states, with a circulation of 12 newspapers per 100 residents. The national average is 16 newspapers per 100.

DIVERSITY: When it comes to race, Utah is still "white bread." But at least it is more diverse than 17 other states. Utah in 2008 ranked 33rd in its percentage of non-Hispanic whites: 81.7 percent.