Connections, contributions matter to rural Nebraskans, poll shows
Lincoln, Nebraska, Jan. 26, 2026 — Most rural Nebraskans continue to think positively about their communities, according to the latest results from the 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll. Respondents rate their communities as friendly, trusting and supportive and say it would be difficult to leave. Most also have a positive attachment to where they live, saying they have a good bond with others and feel a sense of connectedness and belonging.
When asked about change, rural Nebraskans surveyed are more positive about recent changes in their communities as well as their future. This year, more believe their community has changed for the better (34%) than has changed for the worse (25%), similar to 2024’s results. When asked about what they expect 10 years from now, the proportion believing their community will be a worse place to live declined from 27% in 2024 to 22% in 2025. However, just 24% believe their community will be a better place to live 10 years from now.
“These results show that the heart of our communities is strong — neighbors care, connections run deep and change is moving in a positive direction,” said Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, a Rural Prosperity Nebraska extension educator who works with rural towns on community development projects. “When we value our bonds and work together, we’re not just preserving the places we love — we’re shaping them into even better communities for the next generation. If we’re concerned about our future, our focus should lie on those values that have strengthened our communities in the past.”
Perceptions of change in communities differed by region, said Becky Vogt, Rural Poll survey manager.
> Respondents living in the south-central region were more likely than those in other regions to say that their community had changed for the better during the past year and that it will be a better place to live 10 years from now.
> Respondents living in the Panhandle were most likely to be pessimistic about current and future change in their communities.
> Forty-five percent of those surveyed in the south-central region say their community changed for the better during the past year, compared to just 12% of those living in the Panhandle.
> Thirty-nine percent of Panhandle residents surveyed say their community has changed for the worse during the past year.
> Thirty-two percent of respondents in the south-central region believe their community will be a better place to live 10 years from now, compared to 14% of those in the Panhandle.
“These differences highlight how local experiences, resources and opportunities shape how people view their communities and remind us that supporting positive change requires attention to the unique needs of each region,” Vogt said.
Residents’ feelings of attachment were also related to community size, according to the poll results. Respondents living in or near smaller communities (populations between 500 and 999) are more likely to agree (eight in 10) that they feel like a member of their community, that they belong, that they feel connected to the community and that they have a good bond with others there, compared to about half of respondents living in or near communities with populations of 5,000 or more.
Other measures also show positive feelings about people’s communities. Most rural Nebraskans surveyed see their communities as capable of defining their future. Sixty-one percent strongly disagree or disagree that their community is powerless to control its own future. In addition, 58% say it would be difficult to leave their community, while 26% indicate it would be easy for their household to leave.
Furthermore, satisfaction with many services in rural communities increased in 2025 compared to 2024. Except for some services that are largely unavailable in rural communities — such as retail shopping, entertainment, arts/cultural activities, mental health services or public transportation services — rural Nebraskans surveyed are generally satisfied with basic community services and amenities.
“We’re seeing that strong connections and a sense of belonging are the backbone of rural communities, especially in smaller towns,” Burkhart-Kriesel said. “When people feel tied to their community and believe it can shape its own future, they’re more likely to stay, invest and work together to solve local challenges. This attachment, combined with growing satisfaction in community services, suggests that rural Nebraskans have both the relationships and the confidence needed to keep their communities thriving.”
The 2025 Nebraska Rural Poll marks the 30th year of tracking rural Nebraskans’ perceptions about policy and quality of life, making it the largest and longest-running poll of its kind. This summer, questionnaires were mailed to more than 6,700 Nebraska households, with 943 households from 86 of the state’s 93 counties responding. The poll carries a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3%. Conducted by Rural Prosperity Nebraska with funding from Nebraska Extension, the Rural Poll provides three decades of data on the voices of rural Nebraskans. Current and past reports are available at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu.