Report 1

Most Missourians view the state as a desirable place to live, characterized by safe and welcoming communities. However, the report also highlights significant challenges facing the state, including concerns about economic hardship, the high cost of health care, and drug and alcohol use.

Most residents are likely to recommend Missouri as a place to live.

When we asked respondents about the likelihood of recommending Missouri as a place to live using a 1-10 scale (1= not at all likely, 10= very likely), most Missourians answered favorably.

Poll report graphic. to download text cross tabs go to https://mffh.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Speak-Up-MO-2024-Crosstabs.pdf

Missourians most often describe their community as safe and welcoming, but also as impoverished and rural.

When asked, in their own words, to describe their community in two- or three-word phrases, respondents said the word “safe” more than any other.

Missourians report being engaged in their communities in a variety of ways.

When asked in what ways are you involved in your community, belonging to a church or faith community or volunteering were the top responses.

Missourians widely view their communities as “a good place to raise kids.”

When presented with a list of descriptors, respondents were asked how well each word or phrase described their community.

White respondents offer more broadly positive evaluations of their communities, with men offering more favorable opinions than women. Democrats are more likely to view their community as politically divided.

Top Concerns

When asked, in their own words, to name the top issues facing Missouri, several concerns stand out: 18% of Missourians identified public safety/crime as the top problem, followed by cost of living/inflation in general (14%), the economy/jobs/bad wages/workers’ rights (14%), and reproductive rights/abortion (11%).

When asked to rank a series of potential problems facing the state in terms of seriousness, 71% identified the rising cost of living an “extremely serious” or “very serious” problem and labeled the cost of health care (67%) and drug and alcohol use (61%) as top concerns as well.

Notably, Black Missourians ranked crime, generally (80%) and gun violence (83%), as top concerns. Republicans and white respondents followed the pattern of all respondents, labeling the rising cost of living and the cost of health care as extremely/very serious problems. Democrats identified gun violence (83%) and restrictions on reproductive rights (81%) as top concerns. Independents are most concerned with the rising cost of living (71%) and drug and alcohol use (66%).

How Missourians View Their Communities