The Household New Resident Survey is a self-administered questionnaire that was mailed to new residents of the 6 communities in May/June 2009. This link provides information on: characteristics of the new residents, their motivations for moving to new communities and their satisfaction with their new community. Results from the survey can be used to identify the impacts new in-migrants have had in their new communities and identify strategies to attract and retain new residents. This information is applicable to all Great Plains states.

 

The average age of new residents across all six communities ranged from 43 to 54.

  • Highest average age occurs among new residents to Hot Springs/Edgemont.
  • Over one-half of the new residents to both Groton and Wayne are under the age of 40. Groton had the highest proportion of new residents who moved with children (44%).

Most of the new residents to each of the six communities had lived in their current state before.

  • These proportions were especially high in Underwood (91%) and Groton (95%).
  • Many of the new residents to Groton (65%) had also previously lived in the county.
  • Majority had not lived in current community before.

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Over one-half of the new residents to Underwood, Hot Springs/Edgemont and Sidney had moved from a metropolitan county.

  • Most new residents to Stanley, Groton and Wayne moved from other nonmetropolitan counties.

Most of the new residents are employed.

  • Only 43 percent of the new residents to Underwood reported being employed. However, the majority of the respondents from this community were female and 85 percent of their spouses were employed.
  • Almost 50% of residents in all communities earned more than $50,000
  • Majority have college degrees

Demographics of New Residents Table

Push Factors (new residents' reasons for leaving previous communities)

Underwood Residents

  1. High cost of living (39%
  2. Too far from relatives (37%)
  3. Fear of crime (28%)
  4. High state and /or local taxes (28%)

Stanley Residents

  1. Lack of job opportunities (26%)
  2. Too far from relatives (25%)
  3. Urban congestion (22%)

Groton Residents

  1. Family considerations were important
  2. One third (33%) said being too far from relatives

Hot Springs/Edgemont Residents

  1. Undesirable climate (39%)
  2. High cost of living (36%)
  3. Urban congestion (36%)
  4. Too far from relatives (31%)
  5. High state and/or local taxes (30%)

Wayne Residents

  1. Lack of job opportunities (27%)
  2. Too far from relatives (26%)
  3. High cost of living (20%)

Sidney Residents

  1. Lack of job opportunities (32%)
  2. Urban congestion (28%)
  3. Long commute (27%)
  4. High cost of living (25%)

New Resident Push Factors Table

Pull Factors (new residents' reasons for choosing new community)

Underwood Residents

  1. Lower the cost of housing (58%)
  2. Lower taxes (58%)
  3. Lower the cost of living (58%)
  4. Spend more quality time with family (58%)
  5. Less congested place to live (53%)

Stanley Residents

  1. Spend more quality time with family (50%)
  2. Closer to relatives (44%)
  3. Simpler pace of life (44%)

Groton Residents

  1. Closer to relatives (49%)
  2. Better environment for raising children (49%)
  3. Better quality local schools (46%)
  4. Spend more quality time with family (43%).

Hot Springs/Edgemont Residents

  1. Desirable natural environment (65%)
  2. Simpler pace of life (59%)
  3. Less congested place to live (52%)
  4. More outdoor recreational activities (51%)

Wayne Residents

  1. Closer to relatives (39%)
  2. Obtain a higher paying job (37%)
  3. Spend more quality time with family (36%)

Sidney Residents

  1. Obtain a higher paying job (57%)
  2. Obtain a job more in line with my skills (52%)
  3. Spend more quality time with family (50%).

New Resident Pull Factors Table

 

Job Considerations (new residents' employment reasons)



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Employment was a high consideration for new residents to Stanley, Wayne and Sidney. In these three communities, over one-half (51%) moved there to accept employment by a new employer.

Sidney Residents

  • Over one-half of the new residents agreed with the statement, "I (we) moved here for a job, this just happens to be where that job was located"
  • (28%) said they had job opportunities in multiple locations and selected their community as the best job offer

Groton Residents

  • One-third of new residents agreed that they wanted to move to this location and the availability of a job made that possible

Underwood Residents

  • (23%) said they had job opportunities in multiple locations and selected their community as the best job offer

Employment considerations were not as important in Hot Springs/Edgemont. One quarter of the new residents to these communities said they wanted to move to this specific location and looked for work after they arrived.

New Resident Job Considerations

Likelihood of Living in Current Community Five Years from Now

Underwood (63%) Stanley (63%) Groton (72%) Hot Springs/Edgemont (71%) Wayne (61%) Sidney (47%)

 

Most new residents to most of the communities say they probably or definitely will be living there five years from now. However, most new residents to Sidney either plan to move from the community or don't know if they will stay there.

When asked how helpful various efforts were in helping them adapt to their new community, most new residents to Stanley said the local news media were somewhat or very helpful. Most new residents to Wayne found welcome information to be helpful and new residents to Sidney found both welcome information and information on community web sites as helpful.

Helpful Efforts Table

community

Satisfaction Ratings (Excellent)

Underwood

  1. Safety of community (90%)
  2. School system (90%)
  3. Suitable housing and neighborhoods (86%)
  4. Standard of living (80%)
  5. Environment for children (75%)

Stanley

  1. Environment for children (85%)
  2. Fire protection (82%)
  3. Safety of community (82%)
  4. Job security (81%)
  5. School system (80%)

Sidney

  1. Safety of community (84%)
  2. Fire protection (82%)
  3. Environment for children (80%)

Groton

  1. School system (97%)
  2. Fire protection (97%)
  3. Environment for children (95%)
  4. Police protection (95%
  5. Safety of community (95%

Hot Springs/Edgemont

  1. Natural, scenic or recreational amenities (93%)
  2. Safety of community (85%)
  3. Fire protection (81%)
  4. Environment for children (79%)
  5. Senior living/services (76%)

Wayne

  1. Safety of community (93%)
  2. Environment for children (89%)
  3. Fire protection (87%)
  4. Educational opportunities (82%)
  5. Suitable housing and neighborhoods (75%)

Satisfaction Ratings Table


For more detailed information: Household Survey
Current Survey: Household New Resident Survey.