Key Points
College graduates report having more access to community spaces than Americans with a high school diploma or less. More than one in five Americans lack access to the 10 most common types of commercial and public spaces. In 1990, 49% of Americans with a high school diploma or less reported having at least six close friends. By 2024, that number had fallen to just 17%.
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executive summary
American social and civic life was once characterized by robust social connections and networks of activity. However, in the post-pandemic years when social opportunities and community activities have been restricted, there are few signs of recovery. According to the American Social Capital Survey, American civic life continues to trend downwards, with social connections declining and fewer Americans reporting membership in social and civic organizations. Two major institutions, labor unions and religious organizations, have seen dramatic declines in membership. This coincides with a rapid contraction of Americans’ social networks. Americans have fewer close friends and fewer people to rely on for social support, such as for commuting, caregiving, and financial support.
The report also reveals widening class disparities in Americans’ social activities, support, and affiliations. Thirty years ago, college-educated Americans had as many close friends as Americans with less formal education, but the social circumstances of both groups have changed dramatically. Today, college-educated Americans have many more close friends than those without a college education. Among Americans with a high school education or less, 24% report having no close friends. Racial disparities are also stark: Black Americans without a college education have some of the poorest social and civic outcomes of any group.
Americans without a college education are also more likely to live in civic deserts, where people have limited access to public and private gathering spaces, such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, and community centers. As formal social, civic, and religious organizations struggle to retain members, informal meeting places have become increasingly important, perhaps contributing to class divisions in social and civic life.
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