The Salt Lake-Ogden area is ranked fifth among metro areas with populations over 500,000 in a new list of the country's most "financially fit" areas.
The InCharge Institute of America, a nonprofit organization specializing in personal finance education, research and credit counseling, ranked 314 metro areas. The study looked at how well the areas offer "the economic climate and conditions that promote financial fitness for its citizens." Criteria include real personal disposable income, employment opportunities, credit worthiness, levels of savings and refinancing activity.
Topping the over-500,000 rankings was the metro area of Wilmington, Del., and Newark, Md. Trenton, N.J., was tops in metro areas with populations between 200,000 and 500,000. Bloomington/Normal, Ill., was highest among regions with fewer than 200,000 residents.
The report indicated that cities with major state universities were well-represented on the list, mentioning the University of Utah in Salt Lake City in a list of prominent examples.