Based around Utah and the Mountain West, these 41 counties are the centers of the nation’s Mormon population.
The LDS Enclaves are one of the youngest types in the American Communities Project (ACP), with 29% of the population under the age of 18. They are middle-income with an average median of $55,600 annually. The Enclaves experience a relatively low rate of children in poverty, 15% compared to the national average of 20%. The people here are fairly well educated, with just over 30% holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Likely due to the large LDS population, there is also less excessive drinking in these communities, 4% below the national average. They also experience significantly fewer instances of sexually transmitted infections, 187 cases per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 479 cases. Safety is pronounced in these communities as well, with reported violent crimes per 100,000 people, averaging only one-third of the national average.