Forty-seven percent of respondents to the 2026 Nebraska Rural Poll believe they are better off than they were five years ago, down from 53% last year.
Despite the increase in pessimism about their current situation, rural Nebraskans’ views of the future were about the same as last year, said Becky Vogt, poll manager. This year, 44% of those surveyed believe they will be better off 10 years from now, compared to 46% last year. The Rural Poll—conducted by Rural Prosperity Nebraska with funding from Nebraska Extension—has asked about rural Nebraskans’ current well-being and outlook on the future for 31 years.
Rural Nebraskans’ evaluations of their mental health also declined this year. Just 24% of respondents rate their mental health as excellent, down from 34% last year. The proportion rating it as “good” was 52%, the same as last year, and “only fair” increased from 13% last year to 22% this year.
PHOTO: Windmill at sunset. (Adobe Stock-#298954324 │ sjredwin1)
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