Willmar’s commitment to becoming an age-friendly community continues to move forward. In 2023, the City of Willmar was awarded an Age-Friendly Minnesota Community Grant to better understand local needs and identify priorities that support residents at every stage of life. The first step was a comprehensive Age-Friendly Community Survey.
What Was the Purpose of the Age-Friendly Community Survey?
The survey gathered input on housing, transportation, healthcare, community engagement, and overall livability. The goal was simple: listen to residents and use their feedback to guide practical, data-driven next steps that improve quality of life for people of all ages.
What Did the Survey Results Show?
A total of 203 individuals responded, including 147 Willmar residents whose responses were included in the analysis. Of those, 112 completed the full survey including demographic questions.
Key findings include:
- Residents rated Willmar favorably as a place to live. Slightly more than half described it as a “good” place to live, and about one-third rated it as “fair.”
- Future housing plans were evenly divided among staying in a current home, moving within Willmar, or relocating to another community.
- Residents age 65 and older were more likely to want to remain in their current homes.
- Residents under 35 were more likely to consider moving to a different home within the community.
- The top factors that might influence a move as residents age were opportunities for social interaction, proximity to family, and access to healthcare.
Survey participants rated 57 community factors on a scale from 1, meaning poor, to 4, meaning excellent. These were grouped into five primary categories:
- Healthcare and wellness: 2.41 average rating
- Community assets and information: 2.37
- Transportation: 2.30
- Jobs, activities, and civic engagement: 2.21
- Housing and home maintenance: 2.18
Healthcare and wellness ranked highest, while housing and home maintenance received the lowest average rating, highlighting an area for continued focus.
What Happens Next for Willmar as an Age-Friendly Community?
The survey phase concluded in 2023. The next step is translating community feedback into action. The data provides a roadmap for strengthening housing options, improving transportation access, expanding opportunities for social connection, and maintaining strong healthcare services.
Becoming an age-friendly community is an ongoing process. It requires collaboration among local leaders, organizations, businesses, and residents. Vision 2040 supports continued partnership and practical strategies that help make Willmar a livable, connected, and welcoming community for people of all ages.
Creating an age-friendly community means planning intentionally today so residents can thrive tomorrow.