The NEed
Park County’s most pressing needs and opportunities.
Resident Informed, Data Driven
We Will is a resident-informed initiative that provides insight and guidance to inform the future of Park County. On an annual basis, we combine public opinion with hard data in our We Will Report to illuminate our most pressing needs and opportunities.
Based on our annual We Will reports, residents have identified five Community Priority Areas:
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Landscapes & Natural Amenities
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Housing & Affordability
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Health, Safety & Education
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Small Town & Rural Lifestyle
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Economic Performance
ThroughWe Will report data, Park County residents have told us:
Community Priority Areas
Landscapes and Natural Amenities
The Vision:
We Will remain one of the most beautiful places to live on earth.
Although Park County residents have differing opinions on many topics, the importance of our landscapes and natural amenities is nearly universally agreed upon.
94% Believe it’s important for the area to remain one of the most beautiful places to live on earth.
95% Believe it’s important to preserve natural resources — water, air, etc. — for future generations.
Housing and Affordability
The Vision:
We Will support good solutions that address affordability for all who choose to live and work here.
For the last four years, housing has led the survey list of Park County’s most significant challenges, and survey respondents consistently agree that it’s important to support solutions for all who choose to live and work here. However, there are varying opinions and data about what’s happening, as the 2025 housing and affordability survey results highlight:
Decreased concerns about housing:
69% in 2025 vs. 77% in 2024Increased beliefs that first-time buyers are not able to afford to buy a home in the area:
5% believe they can vs. 13% in 2024Decreased understanding and awareness of the number of people needing food assistance:
60% in 2025 vs. 66% in 2024
Health, Safety and Education
The Vision:
We Will continually strive to improve the well-being of all our residents.
In 2025, we included two new sources of information to better understand the mental health challenges Park County faces.
One of the most significant changes in the last four years is the percentage of survey respondents who believe Park County is a safe place to live (down from 84% in 2022 to 74% in 2025). Although the survey doesn’t ask them to define “safe”, it’s interesting to note the increase in search warrants since 2014 and criminal cases involving minors are at a 10-year high.
Other 2025 findings include:
29% don’t know if kids in Park County are struggling less with mental health issues or suicides. Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services data show that 32% of Park County high school students have felt depressed or sad most days. Fortunately, 86% say they feel very close to their family.
27% of survey respondents don’t know if there is a decrease in mental health issues and/or suicides. Data from Livingston HealthCare outlines an increasing number of primary mental health diagnoses; although this trend may indicate more people actively seeking care vs. suffering without help.
Small Town and Rural Lifestyle
The Vision:
We Will embrace and nurture our sense of community.
Growth continues to be cited by survey respondents as one of Park County’s greatest challenges, and concern about the degradation of our small town and rural lifestyle is one of the most common themes behind pessimistic future outlooks. Consistent issues noted in the survey include:
Lack of planning for growth (trending up at 66%)
Zoning in this county is not restrictive enough (trending up at 54%)
Too much ranching and farming land is being subdivided (trending up at 62%)
Economic Performance
The Vision:
We Will support varied and viable economic opportunities consistent with the character of the community.
Cost of living continues to be a top concern, demonstrated both in the opinions and in the data. Third-party data show Park County’s median household income declined for the first time in 13 years to less than $67,000, while the cost of living for two working adults and one child increased to more than $95,700.
Simply stated, the cost of living now exceeds the median income by 30%.
When it comes to finding living wage jobs and quality employees, four-year trends from the We Will survey indicate the following:
In 2025, only 6% believe it’s easy for people to find a good paying, living wage job (vs. 13% in 2022).
In 2025, 62% believe it’s not easy for employers to get quality employees (vs. 75% in 2022).
You talk, we listen.
The We Will Park County Community Survey is conducted annually, giving residents an opportunity to share their opinions and perspectives about life in Park County. In addition to the survey, PCCF also conducted live community-wide listening sessions. All of the information gleaned from the community helps inform PCCF's grant-making decisions.
2025 Outreach Snapshot:
Over 1200 survey participants
Survey Demographics:
Over 40% reside outside of Livingston City limits
89% are fulltime residents
64% are female
33% are retired
47% have lived in Park County more than 21 years
Post-survey Outreach:
Live community-wide listening session
Two virtual community conversations
Thank you
The We Will initiative is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors.
We are also grateful to Park County Fairgrounds for hosting the 2025 We Will event and for all those who joined us for our in-person and virtual gatherings.
We Will Annual Reports
Click to view each report.
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2025 We Will Report
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2024 We Will Report
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2023 We Will Report
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2022 We Will Report
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