Institute for Family Studies Identifies ‘Marriage Gardens’ and ‘Deserts’ Across U.S.
A report from the Institute for Family Studies identifies geographic areas across the U.S. as 'marriage gardens' (high rates of married households) and 'marriage deserts' (low rates), suggesting these patterns can impact economic mobility and social capital. Utah County, Utah,…
Salt Lake City, UT, October 10, 2026 — A recent report from the Institute for Family Studies has identified distinct geographic patterns across the United States, categorizing areas as either ‘marriage gardens’ or ‘marriage deserts.’ These classifications are based on the concentration of married households within specific regions.
The study suggests that these differing rates of marriage may have implications for economic mobility and the cultivation of social capital within communities. ‘Marriage gardens’ are defined as areas with high rates of married households, while ‘marriage deserts’ are characterized by low rates.
One area specifically highlighted in the report for its high concentration of married households is Utah County, Utah. This region is identified as a prominent ‘marriage garden,’ indicating a significant presence of married individuals and families.
The report from the Institute for Family Studies did not provide further details regarding the specific methodologies used to define these areas, the full list of identified ‘marriage gardens’ or ‘marriage deserts’ beyond the example of Utah County, or a detailed breakdown of the correlation between these patterns and specific metrics of economic mobility or social capital. The exact timeframe of the report’s data collection was also not specified.
Story summarized from the original created by Lois M. Collins on www.deseret.com, see more information here.
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