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Trust in Community Organization (Baseline Survey)

Open in Report

This indicator presents regionally representative data on how much trust residents place in key community institutions, including local government, local news/media, and the police. Based on responses from the Baseline Survey 2024, the data reflect public confidence levels across five categories—from “Strongly distrust” to “Strongly trust”—offering valuable insight into how these institutions are perceived in both rural and urban communities.

Note: The Baseline Survey 2024 data collection did not yield any responses from the following 12 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. As a result, these states are not represented in the current dataset.

Source

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, 2024.

Source Description

The Baseline Survey 2024, led by NCRCRD in partnership with SRDC and NERCRD, provides open access, regionally representative data on trust and well-being across rural and urban communities in the North Central, Southern, and Northeast U.S. regions. Using a shared questionnaire and methodology, the survey captures public trust in key local institutions like educators, healthcare providers, neighbors, and more. With over 14,000 total respondents, the data enables cross-regional comparisons and supports policy, research, and community development efforts. Trust metrics are especially valuable for identifying strengths and gaps in civic and institutional relationships.

Source: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD). https://ncrcrd.ag.purdue.edu/

Methodology

The NCR-Stat: Baseline 2024 dataset was developed through a collaborative effort between the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD), the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), and Auburn University. This survey was conducted primarily through an online platform (Qualtrics) between August and November 2024, designed to take about 20 minutes to complete. To reach populations with limited internet access, additional responses were gathered using computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) in selected states. The survey maintained high data quality through mandatory responses and attention-check mechanisms, and all data were de-identified to ensure confidentiality.

The Baseline 2024 methodology was also replicated in the Northeast (NER-Stat) and Southern (SR-Stat) regions by partnering with the Northeast and Southern Rural Development Centers. This consistency allows for comparative research across major U.S. regions and provides a deeper understanding of regional differences and shared challenges. The surveys were carefully designed to ensure representativeness across geographic areas, household types, and demographic groups, offering a reliable foundation for research and policy.

For more information, visit the NCRCRD NCR-Stat Project Page.

Data Breakouts Available

  • Trust in Community Organization by Area
  • Trust in Community Organization by Sex
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