Most rural Nebraskans continue to think positively about their communities, according to the 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll.
Many respondents to the poll—conducted annually by Rural Prosperity Nebraska with funding from Nebraska Extension—say it would be difficult to leave and most have a positive attachment to where they live, saying they have a good bond with others and feel a sense of connectedness and belonging.
In addition, rural Nebraskans are generally positive about recent changes in their communities as well as the future. This year, more respondents believe their community has changed for the better (thirty-one percent) than for the worse (twenty-six percent), similar to the past two years. However, when asked what they expect ten years from now, twenty-five percent believe their community will be a worse place to live, compared to twenty-two percent who believe it will be better and fifty-three percent who think it will be about the same.
