While the persistently high cost of living is causing many Coloradnas to worry about how they can afford to stay in our state today, the 2024 Colorado Health Foundation Pulse Poll also reveals that many Coloradans are also struggling to see themselves living here long-term — 70% of respondents to this year’s survey shared that they 

In addition to concerns about housing and cost of living, a surprising number of Coloradans shared concerns about not feeling welcome in various settings in the state based on their political beliefs with 40% of respondents indicating that their political beliefs have made them feel like they didn’t belong somewhere.

Coloradans also shared concerns about a range of other pressing issues — a majority of respondents said the following issues were extremely or very serious issues in their minds: drug overdoses (65%), crime (59%), mental health (59%), jobs and the economy (57%), immigration (53%), wildfires and other natural disasters (53%).

A Sense of Belonging

Respondents were asked about their sense of belonging in various places they travel through in their daily lives and the individual elements of their identity that may impact the degree to which they feel a sense of belonging in their community. While the poll data reveal that many Coloradans feel they belong – about 75% feel they belong in their neighborhood, 78% in their workplace, and 61% feel belonging in public places in their community all or most of the time – the numbers begin to decrease when looking at specific groups of people. 

But even with the strength of feeling a sense of belonging at home, the Poll’s Phase I release revealed a troubling pattern showing that a majority of Coloradans are not confident they will be able to remain in the places where they currently feel belonging as they look to the future. More than 70% of respondents are worried that they may not be able to afford to live in Colorado in the future. And for those with children, the concerns extend to the next generation as well with 90% of respondents worried that their children will not be able to continue living in Colorado due to the high costs of living and housing.   

Additionally, while three out of five respondents (61%) said they feel a sense of belonging, “always” or “most of the time,” in public places like parks and local businesses, the numbers start to decline when looking specifically at the experiences of people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people living with disabilities: 

• AAPI, Black, and Native American/Indigenous respondents are more likely to say their culture or background was a reason they didn’t feel a sense of belonging.  
• LGBTQ+ Coloradans and those living with disabilities express less belonging than others. LGBTQ+ Coloradans feel somewhat less welcome in parts of their communities, including 11% less in their neighborhoods and 4% less in other public places.  

Political Beliefs Become Polarizing

For those respondents that did not always feel like they belonged, a staggering 40% indicated that their political beliefs made them feel like they didn’t belong somewhere. The response was more than double any other factor considered, dropping to just 19% for respondents’ age, 16% for race, 14% for culture or background, 14% for physical appearance, and 13% for religion. 

Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Use

Stress and uncertainty fueled by high costs of living, housing instability and other daily stressors has taken its toll with 59% of Coloradans saying they’ve experienced mental health strains such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, or stress in the last year. And, of those who have experienced mental health strain, 41% report postponing mental health care in the past year,  a notable increase from the 27% who reported postponed mental health care in the 2023 poll.

Although respondents’ overall rating of  “mental health” as a serious concern in Colorado dropped 10% to 59% year over year, the percentage of people saying it's a serious problem remains stable at 27%.  

Mental Health Strain and Potential Solutions

With three in five respondents rating mental health as a very serious problem and more than a quarter saying they have postponed mental health care in the last year, the strain and isolation remain significant factors across diverse demographics.

When asked about the most important actions that could improve mental health or health care in Colorado, 40% said “increasing the ability to use health insurance to pay for mental health services.” Nineteen percent said, “increasing government funding and resources for local mental health services and facilities,” and another 19% said “increasing government funding and resources for mental health prevention programs and services in communities.”

Crime

While 59% of respondents see "crime, in general" as an extremely or very serious problem in Colorado, the number drops to 25% when respondents were asked specifically about "crime in your neighborhood" - the lowest ranked concern in 2024 across all that were tested in this year’s poll. 

Immigration Concerns Rise Dramatically

Concerns about illegal immigration (the act of immigrating without approved credentials, not in reference to any specific individuals) increased about 20% (34% in 2023 to 53% in 2024) and jumped from Coloradans’ last ranking concern in 2023 to 8th among all concerns in 2024.

And, in an open-ended question about the most important issues facing Colorado right now, the percentage of people citing immigration rose from just 1% in 2023 to 13% in 2024. It was the largest and only double-digit increase of the open-ended topics over the last year. 

You can learn more about these findings, and others, by exploring our Colorado Health Foundation Pulse Poll website or by joining our final briefing.

 

• Deep Dive on Responses from Hispanic and Latino People in Colorado 

(Presented in Spanish and English. Simultaneous interpretation will be available)

Data available online at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3
Briefing at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 9 | Register

In a state where Hispanic and Latino people comprise 22% of the population, it is crucial to understand their experiences and concerns. This session will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month by providing valuable insights into the recent Colorado Health Foundation Pulse Poll data on the perspectives of Hispanic and Latino Coloradans, including the unique challenges, issues and aspirations of this significant and diverse demographic group. Simultaneous interpretation will be available, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are heard and valued.