Western Region Household Data. WR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024

<p>The WR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024 is a collaborative initiative of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development, the Southern Rural Development Center, the Western Rural Development Center, and Auburn University. The survey explores essential topics related to household, business, and community well-being. It aims to learn more about the conditions, issues, and challenges faced by rural and urban communities and their residents in the Western Region.</p>

<p>Conducted as a 20-minute online survey through the Qualtrics platform, it covers a broad spectrum of topics, including household demographics, income, workforce participation, entrepreneurship, caregiving, housing, broadband access, migration and staying behavior, civic engagement, community belonging, health, food security, well-being, and environmental concerns. The survey was designed to maximize participation across a diverse range of household types, geographic locations, genders, ages, and racial and ethnic groups, ensuring comprehensive and balanced representation.</p>

<p data-end="2180" data-start="1232">Building on the 2022 survey, the WR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024 features both adapted and expanded questions, introducing new topics like climate change perceptions and the recreation economy. Data collection took place from June to August 2025 through the Qualtrics platform. High data quality was maintained through attention-check questions and mandatory responses, with all collected data fully coded and de-identified to safeguard participant confidentiality.</p>