LINCOLN- A survey of rural Nebraska youths has revealed that while the majority desire living in small towns, they also feel like they don’t play a role in the communities they live in. The Nebraska Community Foundation and the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research released the results after surveying nearly 1,000 middle and high school students in 11 rural communities.

The survey was created to reveal the priorities and desires of Nebraska youths, along with the factors that may influence their decision to leave or remain in the state. The 2023 survey was composed of the communities of Arcadia, Crofton, David City, Diller-Odell, Imperial, Ogallala, Ord, Paxton, Pender, Shickley and Stuart.

The survey’s positive feedback shows that participants desire the aspects of what Nebraska already offers: small towns that provide safety, good schools and proximity to family. These factors were ranked as the top three in what students are looking for in an ideal community. Roughly 64% of youths said their ideal community is small, like their hometown, while 25% preferred medium cities, such as Grand Island.

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