Topline & Methodology The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation Survey of Rural America June 2017 This Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation poll was conducted by telephone April 13 – May 1, 2017, among a random representative sample of 1,070 adults age 18 and older living in rural counties, 303 adults in urban countries, and 307 in other countries that were considered suburban. The results of the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by SSRS of Media, Pa. See Methodology appendix on page 23 for full details. Unwtd N: Unweighted number of interviews for a given group. Notes: (1) Table percentages may not add to 100 percent due to rounding. (2) Values less than 0.5 percent are indicated by an asterisk (*). (3) “vol.” indicates that a response was volunteered by respondent and not an explicitly offered choice. (4) Data aren’t shown if the number of respondents asked a question (the unweighted N) is less than 100. Q1. Taken all together, how would you say things are these days--would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy? Total 20 54 24 * 1 Very happy Pretty happy Not too happy Don’t know Refused Rural 24 53 22 1 1 Suburban 18 54 26 1 1 Urban 20 56 23 1 Rural 42 58 - Suburban 29 71 - Urban 30 70 - Q2. Do you live in the community in which you grew up, or not? Total 33 67 - Yes No Don’t know Refused Q3. (Ask if don’t live in the community where they grew up or don’t know or refused to say if they live in the community where they grew up) How long have you lived in the community where you live now? Total 8 29 17 21 13 6 6 1 1092 Less than 1 year 1 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 20 years 21 to 30 years 31 to 40 years 41 to 50 years More than 50 years Don’t know Refused Unwtd N 1 Rural 5 24 18 22 14 8 8 1 650 Suburban 8 27 19 22 13 6 4 223 Urban 10 37 12 19 11 3 6 2 215 Q2/Q3 Combo Table Based on total Yes, you live in the community in which you grew up No, you do not live in the community in which you grew up or don’t know or refused to say Less than 1 year 1 to 5 years 6 to 10 years 11 to 20 years 21 to 30 years 31 to 40 years 41 to 50 years More than 50 years Don’t know Refused Total 33 67 5 20 11 14 8 4 4 1 - Rural 42 58 3 14 10 13 8 5 5 * - Suburban 29 Urban 30 71 6 19 13 16 9 5 3 - 70 7 26 9 13 8 2 4 2 - Q4. What is the biggest problem facing your local community? [INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF RESPONDENT GIVES MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE, PROBE WITH: “I understand, but which of those is the biggest problem facing your local community?] (DO NOT READ LIST) Jobs/unemployment Economy (general) Drug abuse Cost/availability of health care Education/schools Poverty/Hunger Cost of living Crime/safety/policing Immigration Environment/Climate change Housing (pricing/availability) Taxes Federal government spending Trump State/local govt. corruption/leadership problems State/local services/infrastructure State/local govt. funding/budget Government issues/politics (general) Traffic issues (too much traffic/careless driving/accidents/etc.) Not enough stores/businesses/recreational activities (shopping/ restaurants/etc.) Blight/cleanliness Too much growth People/business leaving/lack of growth Race relations/racism People are not friendly/don’t communicate with each other/don't get along well Ignorant/stupid/unaware/apathetic Other None/no problems Don’t know Refused 2 Total 10 5 11 3 5 4 6 10 2 2 2 3 * 1 * 4 * 2 Rural 21 8 14 2 4 4 4 4 2 2 1 2 * * * 4 * 1 Suburban 7 4 14 4 6 4 7 10 2 2 1 4 * * 3 * 3 Urban 6 4 5 3 5 5 7 15 4 3 4 * 1 1 5 1 1 3 1 5 3 1 1 1 * 1 1 * 1 1 1 2 1 * 2 1 2 2 * 1 1 * 5 1 11 1 1 1 4 1 12 1 * * 6 1 11 * 2 5 1 10 2 Q5. How would you rate each of the following in your local community? (First/Next), (INSERT ITEM)? (Is this excellent, good, only fair, or poor in your local community?) [READ, IF NECESSARY: Is this excellent, good, only fair or poor in your local community] (scramble items a-h) ----EXCELLENT/GOOD---NET Excellent Good ----ONLY FAIR/POOR---NET Only fair Poor a. Job opportunities Total Rural Suburban Urban 43 30 45 50 11 6 9 19 32 24 37 32 54 67 53 47 34 33 35 33 20 34 18 14 2 2 2 3 - b. Cost of living Total Rural Suburban Urban 43 48 45 33 9 11 8 9 34 38 37 24 57 51 54 65 40 37 41 41 17 14 13 24 1 * 1 2 - c. As a place to raise children Total 76 33 Rural 76 33 Suburban 79 39 Urban 69 24 43 43 41 45 23 23 20 29 17 17 14 21 7 6 6 9 1 1 1 1 * * - d. Quality of public schools Total 62 Rural 65 Suburban 65 Urban 57 20 22 25 13 42 43 40 43 33 31 29 39 21 23 18 24 12 8 12 15 5 4 6 4 * 1 - g. Safety Total Rural Suburban Urban 24 24 29 15 49 50 48 49 27 25 23 35 22 20 19 29 5 5 4 6 * * * - - h. As a place where people look out for each other Total 66 22 43 34 Rural 72 30 42 28 Suburban 69 22 46 31 Urban 56 17 40 43 25 21 22 31 9 7 9 12 * * 1 * * * 73 75 77 65 DK Ref Q6. Would you say the availability of jobs where you live is (better) than it was 10 years ago, (worse) than it was 10 years ago, or about the same? (rotate items in parentheses) Total 29 22 39 10 * Better than it was 10 years ago Worse than it was 10 years ago About the same Don’t know Refused 3 Rural 27 31 39 4 * Suburban 26 22 41 11 - Urban 33 17 36 14 1 Q7. And looking ahead 10 years, do you expect the availability of jobs where you live to get (better), get (worse), or stay about the same? (rotate items in parentheses in same order as Q6.) Total 40 15 43 2 * Get better Get worse Stay about the same Don’t know Refused Rural 38 15 45 1 * Suburban 41 11 45 3 - Urban 38 20 39 2 * Q7a. (Ask if live in a rural area) Compared to your parents when they were the age you are now, do you think your own standard of living now is (better), (worse) or about the same as theirs was? (rotate items in parentheses in same order as Q6.) Better Worse About the same Not applicable/parent’s didn’t live to respondent’s age (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Q8. When your children are the age you (better), (worse) or about the same as people 20 to 30 years younger than you (better), (worse) or about the same as Q6.) Total - Rural 54 18 27 - 1 1 * Suburban - Urban - are now, do you think their standard of living will be yours is now? [IF VOLUNTEERS “NO CHILDREN,” ASK: What about in general, do you think their standard of living will be yours is now?] (rotate items in parentheses in same order as Total 42 26 28 3 1 Better Worse About the same Don’t know Refused Rural 43 24 29 3 1 Suburban 41 27 28 2 2 Urban 41 26 29 3 1 Q9. Would you encourage young people in your community to stay in the area or leave for more opportunity elsewhere? Stay in the area Leave for more opportunity elsewhere Depends/Encourage some to stay and others to leave (Vol.) Don’t know Refused 4 Total 46 48 Rural 32 59 3 2 * 6 2 1 Suburban 48 47 2 3 1 Urban 54 41 4 2 - READ TO ALL: On another topic… Q11. Do you think most (INSERT ITEM) have values that are very similar to yours, somewhat similar, somewhat different, or very different? What about (INSERT ITEM)? (READ IF NECESSARY: Do you think most (INSERT ITEM) have values that are very similar to yours, somewhat similar, somewhat different, or very different?) (scramble items a-d) -------SIMILAR-------NET Very Somewhat similar similar a. People who live in rural areas and small towns Total 62 25 37 Rural 74 36 37 Suburban 65 25 40 Urban 49 16 33 -------DIFFERENT------NET Somewhat Very different different 35 25 32 48 23 13 24 30 b. People who live in big cities Total 44 14 Rural 29 7 Suburban 43 15 Urban 57 19 30 23 29 38 53 68 54 40 d. Recent immigrants to the United States Total 53 16 36 Rural 43 13 30 Suburban 55 16 39 Urban 56 19 38 42 50 41 39 DK Ref 12 11 8 18 3 1 3 3 * * 1 29 27 31 26 25 41 23 14 2 2 2 2 * * * - 20 20 19 23 22 30 22 16 4 7 4 4 1 1 1 1 Q17. In your opinion, which is generally more often to blame if a person is poor? (Lack of effort on their own part), or (Difficult circumstances beyond their control)? (rotate items in parentheses) Total 42 53 4 1 Lack of effort on their own part Difficult circumstances beyond their control Don’t know Refused Rural 49 46 4 1 Suburban 42 54 4 1 Urban 37 56 5 2 Q20. (Ask if live in a rural area) Do you think federal government programs aimed at improving people’s standard of living generally make things (better), make things (worse), or don’t have much impact one way or another? (rotate items in parentheses) Total - Better Worse Don’t have much impact Don’t know Refused 5 Rural 32 33 31 2 1 Suburban - Urban - READ TO ALL: On another topic… Q22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president? [GET RESPONSE; THEN ASK: Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?] Total 43 22 21 51 11 40 5 1 Approve (NET) Strongly approve Somewhat approve Disapprove (NET) Somewhat disapprove Strongly disapprove Don’t know Refused Rural 54 30 24 40 11 30 5 1 Suburban 44 23 21 49 12 37 6 1 Urban 32 14 18 62 11 50 5 2 Q24. (Items d,e,h- Ask if live in a rural area) How confident are you that Trump’s policies will (INSERT ITEM)? (READ LIST FOR FIRST ITEM, THEN AS NECESSARY) (scramble items b-h) ---------CONFIDENT-------NET Very Somewhat confident confident b. Create jobs where you live Total 45 18 27 Rural 51 25 26 Suburban 48 19 29 Urban 38 12 26 --------NOT CONFIDENT------NET Not too Not at all confident confident 53 46 51 60 21 21 20 23 d. Improve health care where you live Total Rural 47 18 29 Suburban Urban - 48 - e. Keep the country safe from terrorism Total Rural 57 32 25 Suburban Urban h. Protect your individual freedoms Total Rural 61 33 28 Suburban Urban - Unwtd N DK Ref 31 25 31 37 2 3 1 2 * * 1 1686 1070 307 303 19 - 30 - 4 - 1 - 1070 - 39 - 15 - 24 - 3 - 1 - 1070 - 37 - 13 - 23 - 2 - 1 - 1070 - Q25. In general, do you support or oppose Republican efforts to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law, also known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare? Total 43 51 5 1 Support Oppose Don’t know Refused 6 Rural 54 40 5 1 Suburban 42 52 6 1 Urban 37 58 4 1 Q26. How much do you think (INSERT ITEM) respects people like you? (READ LIST THE FIRST TWO TIMES; THEN AS NECESSARY) (scramble items a-f) -------A LOT/SOME------NET A lot Some a. President Trump Total 39 Rural 50 Suburban 42 Urban 27 20 27 22 14 19 23 21 13 ----ONLY A LITTLE/NOT AT ALL---NET Only a Not at all little DK Ref 59 48 56 71 18 17 14 23 41 31 42 48 2 2 2 1 * * 1 b. Your own representative in Congress Total 58 23 34 Rural 56 22 34 Suburban 61 22 39 Urban 55 26 29 37 39 35 37 22 24 21 22 15 15 14 15 5 4 4 6 1 * 2 d. The news media Total 44 Rural 37 Suburban 47 Urban 47 15 10 17 14 30 27 30 32 54 60 52 51 25 25 23 27 29 35 29 25 2 2 1 1 * 1 1 e. The Democratic Party Total 51 Rural 41 Suburban 52 Urban 58 17 14 17 19 34 27 35 39 46 56 46 39 20 22 20 21 26 34 26 18 2 3 2 3 * * - f. The Republican Party Total 46 Rural 51 Suburban 49 Urban 39 14 16 17 9 32 36 33 29 51 46 49 58 22 23 17 28 29 23 31 30 2 3 2 3 * * - D1. What is your age? (RECORD EXACT AGE AS TWO-DIGIT CODE.) D1a. Could you please tell me if you are between the ages of… (READ LIST)? AGE Combo I Based on total Total 22 15 17 26 20 * 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ Refused 7 Rural 20 13 13 30 24 * Suburban 22 15 15 28 21 - Urban 24 16 22 20 18 * Q27. What best describes your employment situation today? (READ LIST. ENTER ONE ONLY) Employed (NET) Employed full-time Employed part-time Not employed (NET) Unemployed and currently seeking employment Not employed and not seeking employment (SUB-NET) Unemployed and not seeking employment A student Retired On disability and can’t work Or, a homemaker or stay at home parent Don’t know Refused Total 61 50 11 39 4 35 1 5 17 7 4 * * Rural 55 46 10 45 5 39 2 4 22 8 4 * * Suburban 62 51 11 38 3 35 1 5 17 8 4 - Urban 64 54 10 35 5 30 1 7 14 7 2 1 - Q27a. (Asked of those working part-time) Would you prefer to be working full-time, or not? (Insufficient number of respondents to show results separately for rural, suburban, and urban areas) Total 38 58 4 157 Yes No Don’t know Refused Unwtd N Q27/Q27a. Combo Table Based on Total Total 50 11 4 6 * 4 35 * * Employed full-time Employed part-time Yes, would prefer to be working full-time No, would not prefer to be working full-time Don’t know Refused Not employed currently seeking employment Not employed and not currently seeking employment Don’t know Refused Rural 46 10 5 4 5 39 * * Suburban 51 11 3 7 1 3 35 - Urban 54 10 4 6 5 30 1 - Q28. (Ask if not employed and not seeking employment) Would you prefer to be working, or not? Total 56 43 1 688 Yes No Don’t know Refused Unwtd N 8 Rural 52 48 * 467 Suburban 55 44 2 115 Urban 60 40 105 Q27/Q28 Combo Table Based on total Employed Unemployed, but not currently seeking employment Not employed, and not currently seeking employment Yes, would prefer to be working No would not prefer to be working Don’t know Refused Don’t know Refused Total 61 4 35 19 15 * * * Rural 55 5 39 20 19 * * * Suburban 62 3 35 19 15 1 - Urban 64 5 30 18 12 1 - Q30. (Ask if employed, seeking employment, or would prefer to be working) (If you were working/If you were able to work,) Would you prefer a job that requires physical labor or one that does not? (INSERT “If you were working” IF Q27=06, 04, 08; INSERT “If you were able to work” IF Q27=7) Total 31 59 8 1 * 1609 Prefers job that requires physical labor Prefers job that does not require physical labor No preference (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Unwtd N Rural 45 47 8 * * 1016 Suburban 25 64 10 1 * 295 Urban 30 62 6 1 * 292 Q31. (Ask if employed and live in a rural area) How satisfied are you with your current job? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Total - Satisfied (NET) Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Dissatisfied (NET) Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied Don’t know Refused Unwtd N Rural 93 58 35 7 5 2 * 555 Suburban - Urban - Q31a. (Ask if live in a rural area and are unemployed, less than very satisfied with their current job, or are working part-time and would prefer to be working full-time) How willing would you be to move to a different state to find a (better) job – very willing, somewhat willing, not too willing or not at all willing? (INSERT “better” IF Q27=1,2) Total - Willing (NET) Very willing Somewhat willing Not willing (NET) Not too willing Not at all willing Don’t know Refused Unwtd N 9 Rural 54 23 32 46 20 25 291 Suburban - Urban - Q32. (Ask if live in a rural area) During the past 5 years, have you or someone else in your household been laid off or lost a job, or not? Total - Yes, have No, have not Don’t know Refused Rural 29 71 * * Suburban - Urban - Q34. (Ask if live in a rural area) Would you say (your job is/your last job was) a white collar job, a blue collar job, or something else? (IF NECESSARY: White collar work is usually done in an office or other professional environment. Blue collar refers to jobs that involve manual labor.) [INTERVIEWER NOTE: If multiple jobs, read: At the job where you work the most hours] (INSERT “your job is” IF Q27=1,2,98,99; INSERT “your last job was” IF Q27=03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08) Total - White collar Blue collar Combination of both Something else Never had a job Don’t know Refused Q35. (Items a,b,c- Ask if live in a rural area) area where they live has not experienced a loss factory work, or natural resources like coal or live experienced a loss of jobs in (INSERT), or but have since returned, code as yes] (scramble Rural 31 53 1 9 1 3 * Suburban - Urban - (Item d- Ask if live in a rural area and say the of jobs in agriculture or farming, manufacturing or lumber)In the past 10 years, has the area where you not? [INTERVIEWER NOTE: if R says jobs were lost items a-c) Yes, has experienced No, has not experienced a. Agriculture or farming Total Rural Suburban Urban 38 - 57 - 5 - * - 1070 - b. Manufacturing or factory work Total Rural Suburban Urban 53 - 45 - 3 - * - 1070 - c. Natural resources like coal or lumber Total Rural 31 Suburban Urban - 63 - 6 - * - 1070 - d. Any other industry Total Rural Suburban Urban 67 - 9 - 1 - 292 - 23 - 10 DK Ref Unwtd N Q36. (Ask if live in a rural area and say the area where they live has experienced a loss of jobs in agriculture or farming, manufacturing or factory work, natural resources like coal or lumber, or any other industry) And would you say your area has mostly recovered from those job losses, or not? Total - Yes, has recovered No, has not recovered Don’t know Refused Unwtd N Rural 41 56 2 * 839 Suburban - Urban - Total Rural Suburban Urban - 79 32 44 2 * - - - 20 1 - - Q35a-d/Q36 Combo Table Based on total who live in a rural area Yes, the area where they live experienced a loss of jobs Has mostly recovered from those job losses Has not recovered from those job losses Don’t know Refused No, the area where they live has not experienced a loss of jobs Don’t know/Refused Q37. (Ask if live in a rural area and say the area where they live has not recovered from job loses) Do you think it would be better for your community to (bring back the same types of jobs that were lost), or to (create jobs in new industries)? (rotate items in parentheses) Total - Same types of jobs that were lost Create jobs in new industries Doesn’t matter/Both (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Untwd N Rural 30 61 9 1 * 495 Suburban - Urban - Suburban Urban Q35a-d/Q36/Q37 Combo Table Based on total who live in a rural area Yes, the area where they live experienced a loss of jobs in at least one industry Has mostly recovered from those job losses Has not recovered from those job losses It would be better to bring back the same types of jobs that were lost It would be better to create jobs in new industries Doesn’t matter/Both (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Don’t know Refused No, the area where they live has not experienced a loss of jobs Don’t know/Refused 11 Total Rural - 79 32 44 - - - 13 - - - 27 4 * * 2 * - - - 20 1 - - Q39. (Ask if live in a rural area and say the area where they live has recovered from job losses) Would you say that recovery has happened mostly through (a return to the same types of jobs that were lost), or mostly through (growth in new industries)? (rotate items in parentheses in same order as Q37) Total - Same types of jobs that were lost Growth in new industries Both equally (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Untwd N Rural 42 52 3 3 320 Suburban - Urban - Suburban Urban Q35a-d/Q36/Q39 Combo Table Based on total who live in a rural area Yes, the area where they live experienced a loss of jobs in at least one industry Has mostly recovered from those job losses Mostly through return to same types of jobs that were lost Mostly through growth in new industries Don’t know Refused Has not recovered from those job losses Don’t know Refused No, the area where they live has not experienced a loss of jobs in any industry, or didn’t know or refused to say Total Rural - 79 32 - - - 14 17 1 1 44 2 * - - - 21 - - Q40. In the last few years, have any of your close friends or family members moved away from the area where you live because they couldn’t find work nearby? Total 31 68 1 * Yes No Don’t know Refused 12 Rural 42 57 1 * Suburban 27 72 1 - Urban 29 69 2 - Q41. (Ask if live in a rural area) When it comes to improving the job situation in your local area, how important is it for the federal government to do each of the following? First/Next (INSERT ITEM)? [IF NECESSARY: When it comes to improving the job situation in your local area, how important is it for the federal government to (INSERT ITEM)?] (READ LIST FOR FIRST TWO ITEMS, THEN AS NECESSARY) (scramble items a-g) -------IMPORTANT-----------NOT IMPORTANT------NET Very Somewhat NET Not too Not at all important important important important a. Decrease regulations on businesses Total Rural 68 37 31 28 17 11 Suburban Urban - Should not be done (Vol.) DK Ref * - 4 - * - * - 1 - * - d. Invest in infrastructure projects like fixing roads, bridges, and schools Total Rural 93 74 19 6 5 1 Suburban Urban - 1 - * - f. Make better trade deals with other countries Total Rural 79 50 28 19 11 Suburban Urban - b. Lower taxes on business Total Rural 79 46 Suburban Urban - 32 - 19 - 12 - 8 - 8 - - 3 - * - g. Crack down on immigrants working in the U.S. illegally Total Rural 63 45 18 35 18 17 Suburban Urban - * - 1 - * - Q42. (Ask if live in a rural area) Which comes closer to your view of what the government should do to improve the job situation for people living in your area? (READ LIST) (rotate response options 1-2/2-1) Provide more opportunities for education and training Do more to create jobs that use the skills people already have Both (Vol.) Something else (Vol.) Government shouldn’t do anything (Vol.) Don’t know Refused 13 Total Rural Suburban Urban - 49 - - - 41 6 * 3 1 * - - READ TO ALL: On another topic… Q44. Do you think the federal government does more to help (people in rural areas and small towns), more to help (people living in and around large cities), or does it help both about equally? (rotate items in parentheses) Total More to help people in rural areas and small towns 4 More to help people living in and around large cities 45 Help both about equally 46 Don’t know 5 Refused * Rural 4 56 37 3 1 Suburban 4 43 48 5 - Urban 4 40 49 7 * Q45. (Ask if live in a rural area) In general, how much do you think people who live in your community rely on the federal government to get by? Would you say they rely a great deal, a fair amount, just a little, or not much on help from the federal government? Total - A great deal/A fair amount (NET) A great deal A fair amount Just a little/Not much (NET) Just a little Not much Not at all (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Rural 67 26 41 30 18 12 2 * Suburban - Urban - Q46. What about you personally? How much do you rely on help from the federal government to get by? Would you say you rely a great deal, a fair amount, just a little, or not much on help from the federal government? Total 20 9 11 63 14 48 16 * * A great deal/A fair amount (NET) A great deal A fair amount Just a little/Not much (NET) Just a little Not much Not at all (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Rural 20 10 10 63 14 49 17 * * Suburban 20 9 11 63 12 51 16 1 - Urban 22 10 11 61 19 41 17 * 1 Q47. Which of these two situations do you think happens more often in America today—(needy people going without government help), or (irresponsible people getting government help they don't deserve)? (rotate items in parentheses) Needy people going without government help Irresponsible people getting government help they don’t deserve Don’t know Refused 14 Total 40 Rural 32 Suburban 40 Urban 47 55 4 1 64 4 1 55 4 1 48 3 1 READ TO ALL: On another topic… Q49. Which comes closer to your view--even if neither is exactly right? (READ LIST) (rotate response options 1-2/2-1) Immigrants today strengthen our country because of their hard work and talents Immigrants today are a burden on our country because they take our jobs, housing and health care Both (Vol.) Neither (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Total Rural Suburban Urban 62 48 62 71 29 4 2 2 1 42 3 3 2 1 31 2 3 2 1 16 6 2 2 2 Q50. Do you think most immigrants coming to the U.S. in the last 10 years are doing enough to adapt to the American way of life, or not? Yes, are doing enough No, not doing enough Depends/Some are doing enough and some aren’t (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Total 55 39 3 2 * Rural 46 49 2 3 * Suburban 55 40 2 2 1 Urban 62 31 5 2 * Q55. Which of these do you think is the bigger problem in this country—(blacks and Hispanics losing out because of preferences for whites), or (whites losing out because of preferences for blacks and Hispanics)? (DO NOT READ LIST) (rotate items in parentheses) Blacks and Hispanics losing out because of preferences for whites is a bigger problem Whites losing out because of preferences for blacks and Hispanics is a bigger problem Don’t know Refused Total 42 Rural 34 Suburban 37 Urban 56 28 34 27 23 20 10 21 10 23 12 15 6 READ TO ALL: Now thinking about your own financial situation… Q56. Was there any time during the last 12 months when you were worried that income from all the members of your household would not be enough to meet all your expenses and bills, or not? Q57. (Asked if say that there was a time during the last 12 months when they were worried that income from all the members of their household would not be enough to meet all of their expenses and bills) And was there a time during the last 12 months when your household actually could not pay all its bills, or not? Q56/Q57 Combo Table Based on Total Yes, there was a time during the last 12 months when you were worried that household income would not meet all expenses and bills Yes, there was a time when your household actually could not pay all its bills No, there was not a time when your household actually could not pay all its bills Don’t know Refused No, there was not a time during the last 12 months when you were worried that household income would not meet all expenses and bills 15 Total Rural Suburban Urban 39 42 37 40 22 21 22 23 17 * - 21 * - 15 - 17 - 61 57 62 60 Don’t know Refused * * * * * * * READ TO ALL: Now thinking about health care… Q63. Do you think your community has enough (INSERT ITEM) to serve the needs of local residents, or not? Yes, has enough No, does not have enough DK Ref a. Doctors Total Rural Suburban Urban 73 67 74 78 25 33 24 20 2 * 2 2 * * - b. Hospitals Total Rural Suburban Urban 84 77 86 87 15 23 13 12 1 * * 1 * * - Q63a. Thinking about Medicaid – the government health insurance and long term care program for certain low-income adults and children – how important is Medicaid for your local community? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important? Total 90 63 27 8 7 1 2 * Important (NET) Very important Somewhat important Not important (NET) Not too important Not at all important Don’t know Refused 16 Rural 95 68 27 4 3 * 1 * Suburban 88 59 29 10 9 1 2 * Urban 89 66 23 9 7 2 2 - Q58. Are you, yourself, now covered by any form of health insurance or health plan or do you not have health insurance at this time? (READ IF NECESSARY: A health plan would include any private insurance plan through your employer or a plan that you purchased yourself, as well as a government program like Medicare or [Medicaid/Medi-CAL])?) [IF REFUSED: We understand and respect that this information is private, we ask only for research purposes, and all your answers are recorded confidentially] Total Rural Suburban Urban Covered by health insurance 89 87 89 92 Not covered by health insurance 11 13 10 8 Don’t know * 1 Refused * * Q65. (Ask if insured) Which of the following is your MAIN source of health insurance coverage? Is it a plan through an employer, a plan you purchased yourself either from an insurance company or a state or federal marketplace, are you covered by Medicare or (Medicaid/[INSERT STATE-SPECIFIC MEDICAID NAME]), or do you get your health insurance from somewhere else? [INTERVIEWER NOTE: IF R SAYS THEY GOT INSURANCE THROUGH HEALTHCARE.GOV, OBAMACARE, OR A STATE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE/EXCHANGE, CODE AS 3]. [IF REFUSED: We understand and respect that this information is private, we ask only for research purposes, and all your answers are recorded confidentially] Plan through an employer Plan you purchased yourself Medicare Medicaid/[STATE-SPECIFIC MEDICAID NAME] Through military/VA Somewhere else Plan through your parents/mother/father (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Unwtd N Total 53 8 20 11 2 2 3 * * 1500 Rural 42 11 25 13 2 2 4 1 1 940 Suburban 57 7 22 8 2 2 2 * 282 Urban 54 8 15 12 3 3 5 * * 286 Total 89 47 7 18 9 2 2 3 * * 11 * * Rural 87 36 9 22 12 2 1 3 1 1 13 * Suburban 89 51 6 19 7 1 2 2 * 10 1 - Urban 92 50 8 14 11 2 3 4 * * 8 - Q58/Q65 Combo Table Based on total Covered by health insurance Plan through an employer Plan you purchased yourself Medicare Medicaid Through military/VA Somewhere else Plan through your parents/mother/father (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Not covered by health insurance Don’t know Refused 17 Q59. In general, how easy or difficult is it for you to afford to pay your family’s health care costs (including the cost of insurance and any other costs you have to pay out of your own pocket)? (READ LIST) (INSERT “including the cost of insurance and any other costs you have to pay out of your own pocket” IF Q58=1) Total 53 22 32 45 26 18 1 1 Easy (NET) Very easy Somewhat easy Difficult (NET) Somewhat difficult Very difficult Don’t know Refused Rural 50 20 30 48 24 24 1 1 Suburban 55 22 33 43 25 18 1 * Urban 53 22 31 44 31 14 1 1 Q60. (Ask if live in a rural area) In the past 12 months, have you or another family member living in your household skipped or postponed getting any type of health care you needed, including doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, or mental health services? Total - Yes No Don’t know Refused Rural 37 62 * * Suburban - Urban - Q61. (Ask if live in a rural area and say that they or another family member living in their household have skipped or postponed health care) Thinking about the times when you skipped or postponed getting health care, was (INSERT ITEM) a reason why you skipped or postponed care, or not? What about (INSERT ITEM)? (READ IF NECESSARY: Was that a reason why you skipped or postponed care, or not?) (scramble items a-d) Yes, was a reason a. Not being able to afford the cost Total Rural 75 Suburban Urban - No, was not reason b. Not being able to find a doctor or get an appointment Total Rural 24 Suburban Urban - Ref Unwtd N 25 - - - 360 - 75 - * - - 360 - - - 360 - d. Difficulty traveling to the doctor’s office, clinic, or pharmacy Total Rural 18 82 Suburban Urban - 18 DK DEMOGRAPHICS READ: Now just a few more questions to help classify your answers…[IF REFUSED ON ANY QUESTIONS: We understand and respect that this information is private, we ask only for research purposes, and all your answers are recorded confidentially] RSEX. Pardon, but I have to ask, are you (male) or (female)? Total 49 51 - Male Female Other (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Rural 50 50 - Suburban 49 51 - Urban 49 51 - Q67. To the best of your knowledge, do you have any family or close friends who are or have been addicted to prescription pain pills or heroin, or not? Total 27 73 1 * Yes No Don’t know Refused Rural 24 75 * * Suburban 28 72 * - Urban 26 73 1 - RELIG. What is your present religion, if any? Are you Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Orthodox such as Greek or Russian Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, something else, or nothing in particular? (DO NOT READ LIST) CHR. (Ask if religion is other, none, or don’t know or refused to say) Do you think of yourself as Christian, or not? BORN. (Ask if religion is Protestant or other Christian domination, or if respondent thinks of themselves as Christian) Do you happen to be a born-again or Evangelical Christian, or not? [IF REFUSED: We understand and respect that this information is private, we ask only for research purposes, and all your answers are recorded confidentially] Religion Combo Table based on total Evangelical Protestant Mainline Protestant Catholic Other Christian Atheist/Agnostic/None Other Total 28 27 20 2 16 8 Rural 34 34 15 2 12 3 Suburban 27 26 22 2 12 11 Urban 26 25 20 1 22 7 Total 16 19 10 11 7 37 Rural 26 27 7 10 4 27 Suburban 15 19 11 13 6 36 Urban 11 13 11 7 11 47 Race Religion Combo Table based on total White Evangelical Protestant White Mainline Protestant Black Protestant White Catholic Hispanic Catholic Other Q68. Do you usually say grace or give blessings to God before meals every day, a few times a week, roughly once a week, or less often than that? Total 48 Every day/A few times a week (NET) 19 Rural 51 Suburban 45 Urban 51 Every day A few times a week Roughly once a week/Less often (NET) Roughly once a week Less often Never (Vol.) Don’t know Refused 35 13 41 6 35 10 * 1 39 12 40 7 33 8 * 1 32 13 44 6 38 10 1 1 35 16 36 4 32 13 * Q54. Do you think that Christian values are under attack in America today, or not? Total 51 47 2 * Yes, are under attack No, not under attack Don’t know Refused Rural 59 39 2 * Suburban 52 46 1 1 Urban 44 53 2 * MARITAL. Are you currently married, living with a partner but not married, widowed, divorced, separated or single? Total 50 50 10 6 8 2 25 * * Married Not married (NET) Living with a partner but not married Widowed Divorced Separated Single Don’t know Refused Rural 49 51 9 8 9 2 22 * * Suburban 56 44 7 5 8 1 22 - Urban 41 59 13 5 8 3 30 - Q71. In the past year, have you or another family member living in your household received (INSERT ITEM)? What about (INSERT ITEM)? (READ IF NECESSARY: Have you or another family member living in your household received (INSERT ITEM) in the past year?) [(scramble items a-e) Yes a. Food assistance, such as Food Stamps or SNAP benefits Total 16 Rural 17 Suburban 16 Urban 16 b. Health insurance through the Medicaid program Total Rural Suburban Urban c. Unemployment benefits Total Rural Suburban Urban e. Government disability payments Total Rural Suburban Urban Q71 a-e Summary Table Based on total 20 No DK Ref 84 83 84 84 * * - * * - 23 26 22 22 77 74 78 77 * * 1 * * - 7 8 4 9 93 92 96 90 * * 1 * * - 14 15 16 12 85 84 84 88 * * * - * * - Yes, you or another family member living in your household received any public assistance No, you or another family member living in your household received no public assistance Total Rural Suburban Urban 37 41 36 35 63 59 64 65 VOTE1. As you may know, roughly forty percent of the public does not vote in presidential elections. How about you - did you vote in the presidential election when Hillary Clinton ran against Donald Trump, or did you not have a chance to vote that time? Total 71 29 * * Yes No Don’t know Refused Rural 71 29 * Suburban 73 27 * - Urban 69 31 - VOTE2. (Ask if voted in the 2016 presidential election) Confidentially and for statistical purposes only which candidate did you vote for? [PROBE IF REFUSED: We understand and respect your privacy. We’re only asking for research purposes. All your answers are confidential. You can just tell me the number: Did you vote for ONE (Hillary Clinton), TWO for (Donald Trump), (THREE for (Gary Johnson), or FOUR for (Jill Stein (STINE))?] (DO NOT READ) (rotate “Hillary Clinton” with “Donald Trump” and rotate “Gary Johnson” with “Jill Stein) Clinton Trump Johnson Stein Other (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Unwtd N Total 47 40 2 3 2 1 6 1285 Rural 34 54 3 1 2 1 5 799 Suburban 45 43 2 3 3 * 5 241 Urban 61 25 1 4 1 * 8 241 Total 71 33 28 1 2 2 * 4 29 * * Rural 71 24 38 2 1 2 1 3 29 * Suburban 73 33 31 1 2 2 * 4 27 * - Urban 69 42 17 * 3 1 * 5 31 - VOTE1/VOTE2 Combo Table Based on total Yes, voted in the 2016 presidential election Clinton Trump Johnson Stein Other (Vol.) Don’t know Refused No, did not vote in the 2016 presidential election Don’t know Refused 21 VOTE3. (Ask if did not vote in the 2016 election for president) Are you registered to vote at your present address? Total 38 61 * * 398 Yes No Don’t know Refused Untwd N 22 Rural 46 52 2 * 269 Suburban 33 67 65 Urban 41 59 62 VOTE1/VOTE3 Combo Table Based on total Yes, voted in the 2016 presidential election No, did not vote in the 2016 presidential election Yes, registered to vote at present address No, not registered to vote at present address Don’t know Refused Don’t know Refused Total 71 29 11 18 * * * * Rural 71 29 13 15 * * * Suburban 73 27 9 18 * - Urban 69 31 13 18 - Q901. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as: [(READ LIST) (rotate response options 1-2/2-1) Total 30 22 36 8 2 1 A Democrat A Republican An Independent Something else (vol.) Don’t know Refused Rural 26 29 34 5 4 2 Suburban 28 23 40 8 1 * Urban 37 17 32 10 3 1 Q904. (Ask if are not Democrat or Republican) Do you lean more towards the: (READ LIST) (rotate response options 1-2/2-1 in same order as Q901.) Democrat party Republican party Neither (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Untwd N Total 34 33 26 5 2 709 Rural 26 40 23 8 3 446 Suburban 30 37 27 6 * 134 Urban 49 23 24 2 2 127 Total 47 38 12 2 1 Rural 37 47 10 4 1 Suburban 43 41 13 3 * Urban 59 28 11 1 1 Q901/Q904 Combo Table Based on total A Democrat/Lean Democrat A Republican/Lean Republican Neither (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Q908a. Would you say your views on most political matters are liberal, moderate, or conservative? Total 26 34 35 3 2 * Liberal Moderate Conservative Don’t think in those terms (Vol.) Don’t know Refused 23 Rural 19 32 42 2 3 1 Suburban 26 36 33 3 2 - Urban 30 34 30 3 2 - Q909. What is the last grade of school you completed? (DO NOT READ LIST) Q909a. (Ask if graduated college) Was that an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or what? Q909/Q909a Combo Table Based on total 8th grade or less Some high school Graduated high school Some college Graduated college College grad other Post graduate Don’t know Refused Total 4 9 30 29 13 2 12 1 * Rural 4 11 36 30 10 1 8 * * Suburban 3 8 29 30 12 3 14 - Urban 5 9 27 27 17 1 14 1 - Total 43 13 30 29 28 26 2 1 Rural 51 15 36 30 19 18 1 * Suburban 41 12 29 30 29 26 3 - Urban 41 14 27 27 32 31 1 1 Rural 56 42 * 2 Suburban 42 56 * 2 Urban 27 72 1 Education Table Based on total H.S. Grad or Less (NET) Less than high school High school grad Some college College or Post Graduate (NET) College grad College grad other Don’t know/Refused Q72. Do you or does anyone in your house own a gun, or not? Total 41 58 * 1 Yes No Don’t know Refused Q918. Are you of Hispanic origin or background? [IF "YES," ASK: Are you White Hispanic or Black Hispanic? IF "NO," ASK: Are you white, black, Asian or some other race?] White Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Hispanic (NET) White- Hispanic Black-Hispanic Hispanic (no race given) Asian Other race Don’t know Refused Total 62 11 15 10 1 4 3 8 * 1 Rural 76 8 8 6 1 2 * 6 * 1 Suburban 66 11 12 10 2 3 8 1 Urban 44 15 25 15 3 8 5 9 1 1 Total 62 11 15 9 6 3 8 * 1 Rural 76 8 8 5 3 * 6 * 1 Suburban 66 11 12 9 3 3 8 1 Urban 44 15 25 14 11 5 9 1 1 Q918/Q918x Combo Table Based on total White Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Hispanic Born in U.S. Born outside U.S. Asian Other race Don’t know Refused 24 Q74. How many of your close friends are of a DIFFERENT race than you--Most of them, some of them, hardly any of them, or none of them? Total 20 53 17 7 1 1 * Most of them Some of them Hardly any of them None of them All of them (Vol.) Don’t know Refused Rural 14 49 22 14 * 1 * Suburban 18 57 17 5 1 2 * Urban 29 49 15 5 1 * * INCOME. Last year – that is in 2016 – what was your total household income before taxes, from all sources? (READ LIST. ENTER ONE ONLY) [Just stop me when I get to the right category.] [PROBE: Your best estimate is fine.] INCOME2. (Ask if total household income before taxes in 2016 was $100,000 or more) Is that 100 to under 150 thousand, 150 to under 200 thousand, 200 to under 250 thousand, or 250 thousand or more? INCOME/INCOME2 Combo Table Based on total Total 17 15 12 17 11 21 11 4 2 3 1 3 4 Under 20 thousand dollars 20 to under 35 thousand 35 to under 50 thousand 50 to under 75 thousand 75 to under 100 thousand 100 thousand or more 100 to under 150 thousand 150 to under 200 thousand 200 to under 250 thousand 250 thousand or more 100 thousand or more unspecified Don’t know Refused Question 75 held for future release. 25 Rural 24 16 12 17 10 12 7 2 1 2 * 3 7 Suburban 15 12 9 19 12 25 12 6 3 3 1 4 4 Urban 15 17 15 14 12 21 12 3 2 4 1 2 4 METHODOLOGICAL DETAILS The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation Survey Project is a partnership combining survey research and reporting to better inform the public. The Post-Kaiser Survey of Rural America, the 31st in this series, was conducted by telephone April 13 – May 1, 2017, among a random representative sample of 1,070 adults age 18 and older living in rural counties, 303 adults in urban counties, and 307 in other counties that were considered suburban. Interviews were administered in English and Spanish, combining random samples of both landline and cellular telephones. Sampling, data collection, weighting and tabulation were managed by SSRS in close collaboration with The Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation researchers. Respondents’ metropolitan status was operationalized using the CDC’s 2013 NCHS UrbanRural Classification Scheme for Counties. Respondents were asked for their county of residence (or zip code if they were unsure) and classified into one of 6 codes in the classification scheme. Those in groups 4-6 (Small Metropolitan, Micropolitan, and Noncore) were considered Rural, those in group 1 (Large Central Metropolitan) were considered Urban, and the rest (Large Fringe Metropolitan, Medium Metropolitan) were considered Suburban. The sampling procedures were designed to oversample those living in rural areas, with minimum goals for reaching rural residents who were between the ages of 18-34; Hispanic; black residents of Southern states; and residents of the rust belt states of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Some respondents were reached by calling back those living in rural areas who had previously completed an interview on the SSRS Omnibus poll and indicated they fit one of these oversample criteria. The dual frame landline and cellular phone sample was generated by Marketing Systems Group (MSG) using random digit dial (RDD) procedures. All respondents were screened to verify that they belonged to the correct metropolitan classification. For the landline sample, respondents were selected by asking for the youngest adult male or female currently at home based on a random rotation. If no one of that gender was available, interviewers asked to speak with the youngest adult of the opposite gender. For the cell phone sample, interviews were conducted with the adult who answered the phone. A multi-stage weighting design was applied to ensure an accurate representation of the population of each race group, within each of the three metropolitan areas and for both the cell phone and landline frames. The first stage of weighting involved corrections for sample design, including accounting for non-response for the re-contact sample. In the second weighting stage, demographic adjustments were applied to account for systematic non-response along known population parameters. Population parameters included gender, age, race, Hispanicity, education, region, and phone status (cell phone only or reachable by landline). The rural sample was also weighting based on metropolitan subgroup (category NCHS code 4, 5, or 6). Population parameters were derived using Census-based estimates provided by Nielsen Pop-Facts through Marketing Systems Group. Estimates of phone status were derived from the SSRS Omnibus 2016-2017 data. All sampling error margins and tests of statistical significance have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect, which is 2.5 for results based on the full sample. The design effect is a factor representing the survey’s deviation from a simple random sample, and takes into account decreases in precision due to sample design and weighting procedures. Sample sizes and margin of sampling errors for key groups are shown below; other subgroups are available by request. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. 26 Group Total Metropolitan area Urban Suburban Rural N (unweighted) 1686 Margin of sampling error (percentage points) ±4 303 307 1070 ±7 ±6.5 ±3.5 This questionnaire was administered with the exact questions in the exact order as appears in this document. If a question was asked of a reduced base of the sample, a parenthetical preceding the question identifies the group asked. Some questions were only asked of those in rural areas. Since some of the demographic questions could be sensitive and due to the nature of the survey content, interviewers were given specific instructions on how to cope with respondents who refused questions, including a statement reaffirming that answers were recorded confidentially for the sole purpose of research. The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation each contributed financing for the survey, and representatives of each organization worked together to develop the survey questionnaire and analyze the results. Each organization bears the sole responsibility for the work that appears under its name. The project team from the Kaiser Family Foundation included: Mollyann Brodie, Ph.D., Liz Hamel, and Bryan Wu. The project team from The Washington Post included: Scott Clement and Emily Guskin. Both The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation public opinion and survey research are charter members of the Transparency Initiative of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. 27 The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Headquarters 2400 Sand Hill Road Menlo Park, CA 94025 Phone: (650) 854-9400 Fax: (650) 854-4800 Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center 1330 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 347-5270 Fax: (202) 347-5274 www.kff.org This publication (#9040-T) is available on the Kaiser Family Foundation website at www.kff.org. Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Menlo Park, California.