WASHINGTON, DC — Most Americans feel safe and comfortable in their communities, but only about one in four believe they have real influence over how their communities are run, a new national survey released today finds.
The American Immigration Council’s Center on Inclusion and Belonging is conducting a second national wave of the Belonging Barometer, this time focusing on belonging at the local level. This study provides a nuanced and actionable picture of Americans’ sense of belonging to their communities and shows that there is a significant opportunity to build that sense of belonging through investments at the local level.
Belonging means feeling emotionally connected to others, feeling safe to be yourself, and feeling able to contribute to shaping the communities in which you live, work, and participate. The findings of this study reveal that there is more to a sense of belonging to a community than simply feeling connected. Although many Americans feel accepted in their communities, far fewer feel able to influence local decisions or help shape their communities. This difference is particularly pronounced among Americans 65 and older, who report having the highest sense of belonging (48%) compared to younger adults aged 18 to 29 (34%).
Key findings from The Belonging Barometer: Understanding Belonging Where It Is Lived include:
61% of Americans don’t have a clear sense of belonging to their community or feel excluded. A relatively low percentage of Americans (14%) actually reported feeling excluded. Rather, the majority of Americans (47%) live in a state of uncertainty and ambiguity about their place in their communities, offering opportunities for significant improvement through local action. Local media is important. People who watch and follow local news at least weekly are significantly more likely to feel a strong sense of belonging to their hometown. No such relationship is found in national news consumption. Financial stability leads to a greater sense of belonging. As Americans’ incomes increase, so does their sense of local belonging. Only 34% of Americans making less than $50,000 a year say they feel a sense of belonging in their local community, compared to 47% of Americans making more than $100,000 a year. People feel safe in their communities, but they don’t have power. Although respondents reported feeling comfortable being themselves and having a voice locally, only about a quarter (24%) of survey participants felt able to influence local decision-making or understand how their community works. Belonging to a region is not defined by geography or politics. Research shows that a sense of belonging is not significantly influenced by whether you live in a small town or an urban environment, or by your political affiliation. A sense of belonging is not limited to a particular place or group, but can be achieved anywhere.
“A sense of belonging has become one of the defining social issues of our time. As communities grapple with increased loneliness, declining trust, and increasing polarization, researchers and public health leaders are recognizing that a sense of belonging is a measurable condition that impacts health, civic engagement, and community resilience,” said Emily Baird Chrysohon, program manager at the Center for Inclusion and Belonging.
“These findings point to a clear opportunity for cities, nonprofits, funders, and community agencies to strengthen a sense of belonging by listening to what people are experiencing and creating more ways for people to participate in civic life. People don’t need perfect communities. They need to feel invited, seen, and have a real say in what’s happening.”
This study builds on previous research that has revealed consistent patterns. In other words, Americans report a lower sense of belonging to their local community than they do in nearly every other area of life. This research takes a deeper look at local belonging to better understand how people’s sense of connectedness is shaped, where these gaps persist, and what communities can do to foster stronger, more inclusive places where everyone feels a sense of belonging. The full research summary is available at https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/report/belonging-barometer-2026/.
How communities can take action
The Belonging Barometer is the first tool of its kind to measure the quality of a person’s “fit” within a group or environment. This is a simple, research-based set of 10 questions that assess three key dimensions: emotional connection, psychological safety, and community impact.
Barometer is freely available to the community to gather actionable insights. Cities, nonprofits, funders, employers, schools, and other institutions can use the Belonging Barometer to understand whether their communities and organizations feel connected, safe, and contributing, to guide investments and track progress over time. To learn more about the Belonging Barometer and how communities and organizations can start measuring and strengthening their sense of belonging, visit https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/report/the-belonging-barometer/.
Research method
The study was conducted by SSRS. This survey is a general population survey conducted during three waves of the SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus platform. The SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus is a twice-monthly probability-based national survey of more than 3,000 respondents. To complement the survey results, SSRS conducted 16 in-depth interviews with panelists who participated in one of the three surveys.
The Belonging Barometer tool, a 10-question survey introduced in the 2023 report “The Belonging Barometer: The State of Belonging in America,” was used again here with new survey and interview data. The original report was authored by Over Zero and the American Immigration Council’s Center on Inclusion and Belonging.
This research was made possible through funding from the Walmart Foundation. The findings, conclusions, and recommendations contained in this research brief are those of the American Immigration Council and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Walmart Foundation.
About the Center for Inclusion and Belonging
The American Immigration Council’s Center on Inclusion and Belonging is dedicated to changing the conversation about immigration and building a more welcoming nation. Through research, narrative strategies, and cross-disciplinary partnerships, the Center works to foster a culture of belonging where all people, regardless of their background, can thrive, connect, and contribute fully to their communities.
Media contact:
Anjule Alvarez Cinque
American Immigration Council Center on Inclusion and Belonging
[email protected]
