A new survey from the American Communities Project found that optimism has risen in several rural communities, with about six in ten Rural Middle America residents saying they feel hopeful about the country’s future—up from 43 percent in 2024.

Experts say this may reflect a sense of political alignment and cultural recognition rather than material improvements, though rural residents still face concerns like rising costs and long-term economic and health challenges. 

Rural communities have “leaned increasingly conservative” for several decades, and support for Trump is “especially strong” among these communities, which could mean they feel the country's leadership reflects their priorities, particularly on cultural and social issues, says Shannon Monnat, Lerner Chair in Public Health Promotion and Population Health.

“This is less about measurable improvements on the ground and more about perceived political representation and the feeling that someone they like is in charge,” she says.

Read more in the Newsweek article, “Rural America Feels Differently About The Future.”