Loretta Singletary

Migration to rural intermountain communities in the western United States has remained steady over the past two decades. Presumably, migrants are fleeing cities and suburbs in search of a higher quality of life. However, research suggests that rural quality of life may be declining. Localized unemployment, few amenities, quality of public education, at-risk youth and access to adequate health care are a few of the critical issues facing rural communities.

This paper reviews the results of a Cooperative Extension community situation assessment of perceived quality of life in six rural counties located along the eastern and western edges of the Sierra Nevada. The survey sample consists of 2,400 randomly identified registered voters. The authors use a broad array of indicators to assess rural citizens’ perceptions of their quality of life, including community assets, community development needs, youth issues and demographic information. The results indicate that several socioeconomic factors influence perceived quality of life in rural communities. Specifically, these include income, marital status, family status, education and ethnicity. White respondents who were married, had children and earned above average income rated quality of life in these communities significantly higher than did their counterparts. These findings challenge romantic notions about rural life and suggest the potential for community level Cooperative Extension education programs designed to help citizens address public policy issues facing rural communities.