Life in Metropolitan Nebraskan Communities: 2021 Nebraska Metro Poll Results

Authors

Rebecca J. Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Heather Akin, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bradley Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
L. J. McElravy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Timothy L. Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Steven A. Schulz, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Date of this Version

2021

Document Type

Article

Citation

Nebraska Metro Poll, Research Report (2021) 21-4, 40 pages

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Also available at https://ruralpoll.unl.edu/pdf/21mpcommunity.pdf

Abstract

By many different measures, metropolitan Nebraskans are positive about their community. Most metropolitan Nebraskans rate their community favorably on its social dimensions. Overall, respondents rate their communities as friendly, trusting and supportive. Most metropolitan Nebraskans say it would be difficult to leave their community.

Most metropolitan Nebraskans have a positive attachment to their community. Most metropolitan Nebraskans agree that they can get what they need in their community, the community helps them fulfill their needs, they feel like a member of their community, they belong in their community, they have a good bond with others in their community and feel connected to their community. In addition, most metropolitan Nebraskans disagree that their community is powerless to control its own future.

When asked about the change in their communities, many metropolitan Nebraskans say their community has not changed during the past year. Younger persons are more negative about the change in their community. Younger persons are more likely than older persons to say their community has changed for the worse during the past year. When asked about expected future change, many metropolitan Nebraskans believe their community will be the same ten years from now.

Metropolitan Nebraskans are generally satisfied with basic community services and amenities. Only three services listed have a higher proportion of dissatisfied responses than satisfied responses. The services or amenities respondents are most satisfied with include: fire protection, restaurants, parks and recreation, medical care services, cellular phone service, access to higher education, law enforcement, and retail shopping. At least one-third of respondents are either very dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with streets and roads, cost of housing and community recycling.

Some differences are found in satisfaction with community services. Persons living in the Lincoln area are more likely than persons living in the Omaha area to express dissatisfaction with the cost of housing in their community. And, younger persons are more likely than older persons to be dissatisfied with their local government.

Many metropolitan Nebraskans say that African Americans, transgender people, Latinos/ Hispanics, recent immigrants to the U.S., Native Americans, and gays and lesbians are discriminated against in their community.