Rural, metro Nebraskans disagree on top concerns; rural residents say jobs No. 1, metro say crime

A pair of University of Nebraska polls show that rural residents ranked jobs as the biggest concern, while metro residents ranked crime highest, Henry Cordes reports for the Omaha World-Herald. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conducted a poll of rural residents. The University of Nebraska Omaha conducted a similar poll of metro residents.  

The rural poll was mailed to 7,000 residents, asking their opinions on climate and energy, community involvement, education, well-being and community. Similar questions were asked of metro residents in the metro poll.

While 46 percent of metro residents listed crime as the No. 1 concern, crime didn't even crack the top 10 in rural areas, Cordes writes. "The top issue was the economy—including jobs, better wages and keeping local businesses—cited by 31 percent of rural respondents. Health care also was a top-three concern for 15 percent of rural residents." The only issue to make the top 10 on both lists was taxes, with rural residents ranking taxes as the second biggest concern and metro residents ranking it third. (Read more)