Willmar age-friendly community survey results

Key findings

• Willmar residents rated the community favorably as a place to live.
  • Of the respondents, slightly more than half rated Willmar as a “good” place to live with an additional third rating it as “fair.”
• For future housing plans, residents were relatively evenly split between considering plans to move into a different home in Willmar, to move to a different community, or to stay in their current home.
  • Respondents aged 65 and older were more likely to report a desire to stay in their current home.
  • Those under 35 were more likely to consider a move into a different home in Willmar.
• The most highly rated factor that might drive respondents to move out of Willmar as they age was the opportunity for social interaction followed by a desire to be closer to family, and the desire to live in an area with better healthcare
• Survey respondents rated Willmar on 57 factors on a scale in which 1 = “poor” and 4 = “excellent.” Extension grouped the factors into five primary categories. Average rating of the age-friendly community factors:
  • Housing and home maintenance (six factors in category): 2.18 (lowest rated item) 
  • Jobs, activities, and civic engagement (16 factors in category): 2.21 
  • Transportation (seven factors in category): 2.30 rating
  • Community assets and information (16 factors in category): 2.37
  • Healthcare and wellness (12 factors in category): 2.41 (highest rated item)