“Nice to Have” No Longer: Americans Agree Nature Is Essential to Well-Being
New national research from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation confirms what leaders in parks, land conservation, and public gardens have always known.
Recent research conducted by Gallup on behalf of the Walton Family Foundation confirms what leaders in parks, land conservation, and public gardens have always known: access to nature is essential to our sense of well-being.
Better Lives & Stronger Communities
The study, How Opportunity Takes Root: Understanding the Conditions for People and Places to Thrive, examines U.S. adults’ satisfaction with their lives and communities, how hopeful they feel about the future, and the conditions that contribute to those sentiments. The authors’ premise is that “opportunity” is America’s brand promise, defined as the capacity Americans have to “shape their own futures to build better lives and stronger communities.”
The research includes 17 indicators of U.S. adults’ feelings of agency in their lives, outlook on the future, investment in their communities, and confidence in leadership. The overarching research question explores what conditions — such as a feeling of empowerment, a strong local economy, affordable housing, and responsive local leaders — are most influential.
84% of Americans Say Access to Nature Improves Their Lives
Of the 17 indicators assessed, more Americans agreed with the statement “Access to nature improves quality of life in my town or city” than any other.
More than eight in 10 adults polled — 84% to be exact — “strongly agree” or “agree” that spending time in nature is important to their community’s well-being.
This sentiment is especially striking in contrast with another, closely linked indicator: just 38% of U.S. adults are “very satisfied” with the area where they live. That percentage is even lower for young adults ages 18 to 34 (27%), Black and Hispanic adults (29% and 30%, respectively), and lower-income adults.
This means that most Americans believe their communities need to be improved, and that increasing access to nature could be an important strategy to do just that.
Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Say Nature Is Essential to the Economy
64% of U.S. adults agreed with the statement: “Nature is essential to the economy in my town or city.”
While there were some differences in sentiment depending on whether people live in large cities (50%), small towns (70%), or rural areas (82%), the majority holds regardless of urbanicity.
In addition, the study indicates that household income is a significant factor in U.S. adults’:
- Sense of agency
- How they evaluate their ability to thrive now and in the future
- Optimism for the future
- Satisfaction with their communities
- Perception of long-term value of their communities, and
- Confidence that they can solve local problems
Taken together, this means that investing in nature as an essential economic driver that increases household income could have multiple, positive downstream effects on opportunity in every kind of American community.
Most Americans Have Been Impacted by Extreme Weather
Loss of reliable access to clean, safe drinking water; flooding; drought; and other types of extreme weather have impacted 57% of U.S. adults.
In addition, 63% of adults who have been impacted by extreme weather in the past year are “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about a potential recurrence. Again, this means that investing in nature — through proven strategies to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and mitigate the effects of extreme heat — could help communities not only adapt to extreme weather but also reduce its negative mental health consequences.
Key Takeaways
- 84% of U.S. adults agreed with the statement: “Access to nature improves quality of life in my town or city.”
- Just 38% of U.S. adults are “very satisfied” with the area where they live. That percentage drops further still for young adults, Black and Hispanic adults, and lower-income adults.
- 64% of U.S. adults agreed with the statement: “Nature is essential to the economy in my town or city.”
- 57% of U.S. adults have been impacted by extreme weather. Of those impacted, 63% are worried the event may reoccur.
Methodology
Results for How Opportunity Takes Root: Understanding the Conditions for People and Places to Thrive are based on a Gallup Panel web study completed by 6,732 U.S. adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. All responses were collected between Feb. 26–March 6, 2026.
Marissa Ferrari is a researcher, facilitator, and brand strategist for parks and recreation, land trusts, and public gardens and arboretums. Find more research analysis and best practices on LinkedIn.
