The rural and urban halves of America don't agree on much, with a big exception: 'One thing that truly unites the country is economic angst' | Fortune

"Pessimism about the country's future has risen in cities since last year, but rural America is more optimistic about what's ahead for the U.S., according to a new survey from the American Communities Project. And despite President Donald Trump's insistence that crime is out of control in big cities, residents of the nation's largest metropolitan centers are less likely to list crime and gun violence among the chief concerns facing their communities than they were a couple years ago. Optimism about the future is also down from last year in areas with large Hispanic communities."

"These are some of the snapshots from the new ACP/Ipsos survey, which offers a nuanced look at local concerns by breaking the nation's counties into community types, using data points like race, income, age and religious affiliation. The survey evaluated moods and priorities across the 15 different community types, such as heavily Hispanic areas, big cities and different kinds of rural communities."

"The $15 price tag on a variety pack of Halloween candy at the Kroger supermarket last month struck Carl Gruber. Disabled and receiving federal food aid, the 42-year-old from Newark, Ohio, had hardly been oblivious to lingering, high supermarket prices. But Gruber, whose wife also is unable to work, is hopeful about the nation's future, primarily in the belief that prices will moderate as Trump suggests. "Right now, the president is trying to get companies who moved their businesses out of the country to move them back," said Gruber"

Pessimism about the country's future has risen in cities since last year, while rural America is more optimistic about the nation's trajectory. Residents of large metropolitan centers are less likely to list crime and gun violence among the chief concerns confronting their communities than they were a couple years ago. Optimism has declined in areas with large Hispanic populations. The ACP/Ipsos survey categorizes counties into 15 community types using race, income, age and religious affiliation to assess local moods and priorities. A common denominator across community types is widespread worry about daily household costs and inflation.

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