Release of the 2025 5-Year Comparison of Survey Results

Thank you to all respondents to the 2025 Alumni & Resident survey conducted and analyzed by Maximize NWMO and MU Exceed! The results are in, and we are releasing the information as quickly as possible.

Please see the "2025 Results and Releases" and "2025 Videos - Results Presentations & Discussions" sections of this page to download a summary and further details as they are available.

Join us on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT to participate in the 2026 Regional Online Community Forum! Alan Spell from the University of Missouri Exceed, and Steve Wenger and Christel Gollnick from Maximize NWMO, will share further details and conclusions as they engage participants in several discussions on, "What can be done better together than any one organization or community can do on its own to maximize the potential quality of life experienced in the 18 counties of northwest Missouri?"

REGISTER HERE for a free link to the online event planned for May 20, 2026!

Learn what we discovered the first time! Over 2,500 alumni and resident perspectives on northwest Missouri were gathered in 2020

Leaders involved in Maximize NWMO’s 18 counties gathered responses in a survey from July to September 2020, to help guide community prosperity-building. Preliminary results were shared in the Fall 2020 Regional Community Forum on November 18th, 2020. The final results were made available in March, 2021. Check out what people appreciate most about living, learning, working, and playing in our part of the Midwest by viewing the video presentation or slide deck on this page. Learn what we can do to take advantage of some big opportunities in the region!

THE SUMMARY STORY OF THE RESULTS ARE HERE! Download the 2-page handout and detailed data in the Results and Releases section of this page.

Watch the 20-minute SUMMARY STORY VIDEO!

You can also dig a little deeper into the results by reading a peer-reviewed academic article in Regional Science Policy & Practice published in May, 2022 that was wirtten by Sarah A. Low, Mallory L. Rahe, and Andrew J. Van Leuven. The title is "Has COVID-19 made rural areas more attractive places to live? Survey evidence from Northwest Missouri." The authors' abstract concludes that owning a business and having a stronger sense of belonging are both associated with a positive attitude towards rural living. This finding has practical implications for rural migration policy as well as for rural community development and economic developers. Check out the article by visiting https://doi.org/10.1111/rsp3.12543 or https://rsaiconnect.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/rsp3.12543.

July 2020—A survey was launched to capture what people appreciate about the 18-county region as well as what they would like to see grow and improve. Community leaders in northwest Missouri have been asking – especially since COVID-19 hit – what people who either grew up here, have strong ties here, and/or have chosen to live here feel are the best qualities of our communities. The survey results will help in prioritizing and coordinating efforts that can further strengthen and enhance our towns as a great place to live, learn, work, play, and raise children.

“Our Communications CollaborACTION Team enlisted the help of the University of Missouri’s Exceed group of professionals to design the survey ensuring it is simple, short, and meaningful to help us better understand what keeps and attracts people here,” said Christel Gollnick, president of JUPER Communications and member of Maximize NWMO’s Navigation Team.

Maximize NWMO serves the region in a neutral role providing administrative, communications, data access, and coaching support on systems-thinking and community wealth building for individuals, communities, and the region. The initiative’s Navigation Team supports leaders and communities who want to dream big, decide wisely, and maximize our region’s potential by growing together.

Maximize NWMO is the regional vitality initiative of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri. It is made possible through partnerships with Communities of Excellence 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD), University of Missouri Extension, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Northwest Missouri State University and Evergy.