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All Work and No Play?
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All Work and No Play?
All Work and No Play?
Listening to What Kids and Parents Really Want from Out-of-School Time
The following results are based on a national random sample of 1,003 parents of K-12th graders. The survey was conducted by telephone from June 3-13, 2004. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.
Results of less than 0.5 are signified by an asterisk (*). Results of zero are signified by a dash (-). Responses may not always total 100% due to rounding. Combining answer categories may produce slight discrepancies between the numbers in these survey results and numbers in the report.
1. Are you the parent or guardian of any school-age children who currently live with you, or not? |
| | | | 100% | Yes, parent of school-age child |
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2. Grade of oldest child |
| | | | | 7% | | Kindergarten | | 6% | | First | | 6% | | Second | | 5% | | Third | | 8% | | Fourth | | 7% | | Fifth | | 8% | | Sixth | | 7% | | Seventh | | 8% | | Eighth | | 10% | | Ninth [freshman] | | 9% | | Tenth [sophomore] | | 11% | | Eleventh [Junior] | | 10% | | Twelfth [Senior] |
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3. Please tell me, is this child a girl or a boy? |
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4. Which of these comes closest to describing your child's day-to-day schedule? |
| | | | | 16% | | It's too hectic with too many things to do | | 13% | | Child has too much free time on their hands | | 71% | | Things are just about right | | 1% | | Don't know |
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5. There are lots of things that parents worry about when it comes to their children. Which of these things—if any—is most likely to worry you? |
| | | | | 44% | | How well your child is doing in school | | 35% | | Who your child's friends are | | 13% | | What your child is doing when not in school | | 8% | | [VOL.] Neither | | 1% | | Don't know |
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6. Which comes closer to your own view? |
| | | | | 83 % | | These are dangerous times to raise kids—when it comes to their safety you can never be too careful 11% Kids today are actually safer than ever—people exaggerate the dangers they face | | 4% | | [VOL.] Neither | | 2% | | Don't know |
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I am going to read you some statements. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with each one. [Q7-13]
7. Which of these comes closer to describing your child's after-school routine? |
| | | | | 58% | | Child has a relaxed afternoon where she comes home, takes it easy, does homework and spends time with friends | | 37% | | Child has a scheduled place to go and activities to do after school | | 4% | | [VOL.] Neither | | 1% | | Don't know |
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8. And which would be your ideal routine? For your child to have: |
| | | | | 52%
| | A relaxed afternoon where s/he comes home, takes it easy, does homework and spends time with friends | | 43% | | A scheduled place to go and activities to do after school | | 4% | | [VOL.] Neither | | 2% | | Don't know |
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9.How comfortable are you leaving your child home alone for a few hours after school? Would you say it is: |
| | | | | 16% | | Something you're reluctant to do unless there's no choice | | 45% | | Not a problem at all, your child can handle it | | 38% | | Something you never do | | * | | Don't know |
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10. And in a typical school week, how often is your child home alone after school? |
| | | | | 9% | | Five days a week | | 5% | | Three to four days a week | | 22% | | Once or twice a week | | 64% | | Never | | * | | Don't know |
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Now, I am going to ask you about the kinds of activities your child does when s/he's NOT in school—that is, after school and on weekends. Please think about the current school year from September 2003 through June 2004. [Q11-20]
11. Did your child participate in any kind of sports activitieseither after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 64% | | Yes | | 36% | | No | | - | | Don't know |
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12. Did your child participate in any school clubs or extracurricular activities after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 53% | | Yes | | 47% | | No | | * | | Don't know |
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13. Did your child take lessons in things like music, dance or art after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 38% | | Yes | | 62% | | No | | - | | Don't know |
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14. Did your child participate in an organization like the Scouts after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 24% | | Yes | | 76% | | No | | - | | Don't know |
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15. Did your child get regular tutoring or extra academic preparation after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 24% | | Yes | | 76% | | No | | * | | Don't know |
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16. Did your child participate in religious instruction or a church youth group after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 57% | | Yes | | 43% | | No | | * | | Don't know |
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17. Did your child do volunteer work after school or on weekends, or not? |
| | | | | 35% | | Yes | | 65% | | No | | * | | Don't know |
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18. Did your child participate in an after-school program either at school or another location, or not? |
| | | | | 38% | | Yes | | 62% | | No | | * | | Don't know |
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19. Did your child have a part-time job after school or on weekends, or not? |
Base: High school student (n=392) | | | | | | 46% | | Yes | | 54% | | No | | - | | Don't know |
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20. Is there some other activity that I haven't mentioned that your child took part in after school or on weekends? |
| | | | | 2% | | Yes | | 93% | | No | | 5% | | [VOL.] Unstructured Activity | | - | | Don't know |
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21. Typically, did these things take place only on school days, only on weekends or both? |
Base: Participants (n=929) | | | | | | 15% | | Only on school days | | 7% | | Only on weekends | | 78% | | Both | | * | | Don't know |
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22. Thinking back, how active and involved was your child in organized activities and programs? |
Base: Participants (n=940) | | | | | | 43% | | Very active and involved | | 39% | | Somewhat active and involved | | 10% | | Not too active or involved | | 8% | | Hardly involved at all | | * | | Don't know |
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23. Think about the organized activity your child took part in most recently. Would you describe it as: |
Base: Participants (n=927) | | | | | | 71% | | Of good quality and well run by adults who know what they're doing | | 3% | | Of poor quality and not well organized | | 25% | | Somewhere in the middle | | 1% | | Don't know |
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24. Generally speaking, when it comes to joining organized activities or programs, is your child usually: |
| | | | | 7% | | Unwilling and reluctant | | 50% | | Eager and willing | | 43% | | Somewhere in the middle | | * | | Don't know |
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25. Whether or not your child participates in any organized activities or programs, how carefully would you say your family has looked into the options available in your community? |
| | 53% | | Very carefully | | 36%
| | Somewhat carefully | | 5% | | Not too carefully | | 5% | | Not carefully at all | | 1% | | Don't know |
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Please tell me how easy or hard you think it is to find activities and programs in your community that have each of the following characteristics. [Q26-31]
26. How about things that are run by adults you could trust—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find? |
| | 32% | | Very easy | | 34% | | Somewhat easy | | 19% | | Somewhat hard | | 13% | | Very hard | | 2% | | Don't know |
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27. How about things that are affordable—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find? |
| | 19% | | Very easy | | 38% | | Somewhat easy | | 24% | | Somewhat hard | | 18% | | Very hard | | 1% | | Don't know |
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28. How about things that are conveniently located—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find? |
| | 33% | | Very easy | | 32% | | Somewhat easy | | 19% | | Somewhat hard | | 15% | | Very hard | | 1% | | Don't know |
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29. How about things that are interesting to your child—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find? |
| | 33% | | Very easy | | 34% | | Somewhat easy | | 20% | | Very hard | | 1% | | Don't know |
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30. How about things that are appropriate for your child's age—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find? |
| | 35% | | Very easy | | 32% | | Somewhat easy | | 20% | | Somewhat hard | | 13% | | Very hard | | 1% | | Don't know |
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31. How about things that are of high quality—do you think that is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat hard, or very hard to find? |
| | 25% | | Very easy | | 34% | | Somewhat easy | | 25% | | Somewhat hard | | 13% | | Very hard | | 3% | | Don't know |
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32. Other than safety, which of these do you think is the best reason for a child to be involved in organized activities and programs when they are not in school? |
| | 41% | | To develop their interests and hobbies | | 27% | | To keep them busy and out of trouble | | 16% | | To have fun | | 15% | | To improve how well they do in school | | 1% | | [VOL.] None of these | | 1% | | Don't know |
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33. Thinking about how your child spends his/her time when she/he's not in school, if you could choose, would you basically stick with things the way they are now, or would you want to change things? |
| | 58% | | Basically stick with things the way they are now | | 41% | | Would want to change things | | 1% | | Don't know |
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34b. Suppose you were looking at different activities or programs for your child when s/he is not in school. Which of these three would be the best match? A program that focused on: |
| | 48% | | Teaching the value of hard work and commitment | | 33% | | Helping other people in the community | | 17% | | Reinforcing your religious faith | | 2% | | Don't know |
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35b. Suppose you were looking at different activities or programs for your child when s/he is not in school. Which of these three would be the best match? A program that focused on: |
| | 37% | | Providing extra academic preparation and skills | | 32% | | Athletic activity or team sports | | 29% | | Teaching things like art, music or dance | | 3% | | Don't know |
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36b. Now if you had to choose between [top choices in Q34b and Q35b], which of these two would you pick as the best match: |
| | 27% | | A program that focused on teaching the value of hard work and commitment | | 19% | | A program that focused on providing extra academic preparation and skills | | 16% | | A program that focused on helping other people in the community | | 12% | | A program that focused on reinforcing your religious faith | | 12% | | A program that focused on teaching things like art, music or dance | | 11% | | A program that focused on athletic activity or team sports | | 3% | | Don't know |
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37b. How important would it be to you to find an after-school program that provides time for your child to do homework in a supervised setting—is that: |
| | 34% | | Something you would go out of your way to find | | 37% | | Something nice but not essential | | 28% | | Not important to you | | * | | Don't know |
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[There is no Q38-41]
42. Which of these groups would you trust most to run a program? |
| | 40% | | Your child's school | | 33% | | A local religious organization | | 19% | | A local non-profit organization, such as the Y | | 6% | | Your city or town | | * | | [VOL.] None of these | | 2% | | Don't know |
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43. When it comes to deciding how your child spends his/her time when s/he's not in school, would you say that ultimately: |
| | 42% | | Things mostly go according to what you and your spouse want | | 23% | | Things mostly go according to what your child wants | | 34% | | [VOL.] Both equally | | * | | Don't know |
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44. As a parent, how much of a struggle is it for you to make sure your child has things to do when s/he's not in school? Is it: |
| | 55% | | Something you have under control | | 33% | | Something you struggle with only occasionally | | 13% | | Something you struggle with on a regular basis | | * | | Don't know |
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45. And which time would you say is the hardest to make sure your child has things to do? Is it during: |
| | 58% | | The summer months | | 14% | | The hours after school | | 13% | | The weekend | | 6% | | [VOL.] Never have to struggle | | 2%
| | [VOL.] All equally a struggle | | 1% | | Don't know |
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46. Are you generally satisfied with the organized activities and programs available to your child during the summer months, or do you find that you really don't have enough good options? |
| | 50% | | Generally satisfied with the organized activities and programs | | 48% | | Really don't have enough good options | | 2% | | Don't know |
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47. For the most part, have you already decided what your child is going to be doing during the summer, or are things still pretty much up in the air? |
| | 66% | | Already decided | | 34% | | Still up in the air | | * | | Don't know |
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When you think about your child's summer, how concerned are you—if at all—about each of the following? [Q48-52]
48. How about that your child will be bored if she/he has nothing to do? |
| | 24% | | Very concerned | | 27% | | Somewhat concerned | | 17% | | Not too concerned | | 33% | | Not concerned at all | | - | | Don't know |
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49. How about that you might have trouble finding someone to watch him/her? |
| | 8% | | Very concerned | | 9% | | Somewhat concerned | | 15% | | Not too concerned | | 69%
| | Not concerned at all | | - | | Don't know |
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50. How about that s/he will fall behind on academics? |
| | 20% | | Very concerned | | 18% | | Somewhat concerned | | 17% | | Not too concerned | | 45%
| | Not concerned at all | | * | | Don't know |
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52. How about that there’s not enough things to capture his/her interest? |
| | 17% | | Very concerned | | 26% | | Somewhat concerned | | 21% | | Not too concerned | | 35% | | Not concerned at all | | * | | Don't know |
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53. These days, is it your sense that the public schools in your community are raising academic standards and expectations for students, lowering them, or are things not changing either way? |
| | 45% | | Raising them | | 18% | | Lowering them | | 32% | | Things are not changing either way | | 6% | | Don’t know |
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54. Are there academic subjects where you feel your child needs extra help and attention, or not? |
| | 48% | | Yes | | 52% | | No | | * | | Don’t know |
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55. Which statement comes closer to your own view? |
| | 54% | | Kids get more than enough academics during the school day, so after-school programs should focus on other things that capture their interest | | 38% | | Since schools are putting so much emphasis on standardized tests and higher academic standards, kids are better off in after-school programs that focus on academic skills | | 5% | | [VOL.] Neither | | 4% | | Don’t know |
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56. Does your child use the Internet at home to surf the Web, play games or chat, or not? |
| | 65% | | Yes | | 34% | | No | | 1% | | [VOL.] No computer at home | | - | | Don’t know |
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57. And do you mostly see this as: |
Base: Uses internet at home (n=649) | | | 58% | | A good use of time where child is learning something while having fun | | 21% | | A harmless way to pass the time | | 19% | | A negative and potentially risky thing to be doing | | 2% | | Don’t know |
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58. Does your child have his/her own cell phone, or not? |
| | 26% | | Yes | | 74% | | No | | * | | Don't know |
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59. Do you find that you give your child more freedom to move from place to place because the cell phone allows you to check in with each other, or is this not the case for you? |
Base: Has own cell phone (n=260) | | | 62% | | Give child more freedom to move from place to place | | 39% | | This is not the case | | - | | Don't know |
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60. Is the mall a place where your child sometimes goes to hang out, or not? |
| | 11% | | Yes | | 88% | | No | | 1% | | [VOL.] There is no mall | | - | | Don’t know |
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61. In general, which of these comes closest to your view of the mall as a place for kids to hang out? |
| | 60% | | It’s a place with a lot of potential for bad things to happen | | 19% | | It's a place that’s safe but a waste of time | | 18% | | It’s a nice place where kids can be with friends and have something to do | | 3% | | Don’t know |
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62. Think about the times when your child has nothing in particular to do. Do you think that this time usually ends up being: |
| | 45% | | Wasted time | | 39% | | Productive time | | 14% | | [VOL.] My child always has something to do | | 2% | | Don’t know |
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63. Do you think that your child is the type who might do the wrong thing if s/he’s hanging out with the wrong crowd, or is this not an issue for your child? |
| | 31% | | Child might do the wrong thing if hanging out with the wrong crowd | | 68% | | This is not an issue | | 1% | | Don’t know |
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64. Would you say your neighborhood is generally the kind of place where: |
| | 91% | | It's safe for your child to be outside and have fun | | 8% | | It's too dangerous for your child to be outside | | 1% | | Don’t know |
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65. And would you say your neighborhood is the kind of place where people really watch out for each other’s kids, or not? |
| | 81% | | Yes | | 17% | | No | | 2% | | Don’t know |
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66. When it comes to having enough things for elementary school children to do, do you think your community is doing as much as can be expected, or do you think that it could realistically do much more? |
| | 46% | | Doing as much as can be expected | | 51% | | Could realistically do much more | | 4% | | Don’t know |
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67. And how about when it comes to having enough things for TEENAGERS to do? Do you think your community is doing as much as can be expected, or do you think that it could realistically do much more? |
| | 22% | | Doing as much as can be expected | | 70% | | Could realistically do much more | | 9% | | Don’t know |
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68. When it comes to giving kids things to do when they're not in school, what do you think your local government's role should be? Is it enough to make sure there are parks, playgrounds and libraries in the community, or should it also provide quality organized activities and programs? |
| | | | | 27% | | Make sure there are parks, playgrounds and libraries in the neighborhood | | 71% | | It should also provide quality organized activities and programs | | 3% | | Don't know |
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69. How often do you rely on your child to keep an eye on his/her younger siblings when you are not home? |
Base: Has younger siblings (n=475) | | | | | | 17% | | Routinely | | 32% | | Once in a while | | 32% | | Hardly ever | | 19% | | [VOL.] Never | | - | | Don't know |
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70. In your family, who takes care of most of the day-to-day needs of the children?s it mom, dad, equally split between the two of you, or is it someone else? |
| | | | | 58% | | Mom | | 4% | | Dad | | 37% | | Equally split | | 1% | | Someone else | | * | | Don't know |
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71. And how personally involved would you say you are in deciding how your child spends his/her time when they're not in school? |
| | | | | 79% | | Very involved | | 18% | | Somewhat involved | | 3% | | Only a little | | 1% | | Not at all | | * | | Don't know |
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72. Which of these best describes your family's current employment situation? |
| | | | | 38% | | Both parents work full time | | 18%
| | One works full time and the other works part time | | 27% | | One works full time and the other is mainly at home | | 15% | | I am a single parent | | 3% | | [VOL.] Something else | | * | | Don't know |
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73. How often, if ever, do you attend religious services? |
| | | | | 13% | | Never | | 21% | | A few times a year | | 12% | | About once a month | | 15% | | Nearly every week | | 24% | | Every week | | 14% | | More than once a week | | * | | Don't know |
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74. What is the highest level of school you completed? |
| | | | | 5% | | Less than High School | | 29% | | High School graduate | | 22% | | Some College or Trade School, no degree | | 13% | | Associate's or 2-year degree | | 21% | | Bachelor's or 4-year degree | | 10% | | Graduate degree | | * | | Don't know |
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75. Are you white, black or African American, Hispanic, Asian, or something else? |
| | | | | 76% | | White | | 11% | | Black/African American | | 8% | | Hispanic | | 2% | | Asian | | 1% | | Native American/ Amer. Ind. | | 3% | | Something else | | * | | Don't know |
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76. I'm going to read some ranges of annual household income. Please stop me when I read the one that best describes your total household income in 2003. |
| | | | | 14% | | Under $25,000 | | 30% | | $25,000 to less than $50,000 | | 24% | | $50,000 to less than $75,000 | | 15% | | $75,000 to less than $100,000 | | 15% | | $100,000 or more | | 2% | | Don't know |
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Region |
| | | | | 18% | | Northeast | | 23% | | Midwest | | 36% | | South | | 23% | | West |
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Urbanicity |
| | | | | 24% | | Rural | | 49% | | Suburban | | 27% | | Urban |
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