In the 11th annual Nebraska Rural Poll conducted by the University of Nebraska's Center for Applied Rural Innovation, a quarter of those who replied didn't think newcomers to rural communities improved the quality of life there. 44 percent had no opinion.
Bruce Johnson, a University of Nebraska agricultural economist who worked on the poll says lack of opinion on newcomers may be due to the many rural Nebraskans driving to larger communities for work, which cuts into time for "social networking, engagement and integration" in their own towns.
Surveys were mailed to about 6,200 households in 84 rural counties. Results were based on 2,482 responses.