An estimated 860,000 Connecticut residents volunteered in 2010, ranking 15th in the nation. Historically, overall volunteer rates in Connecticut are higher than the national average.



Working with neighbors in addressing community problems is another important indicator of civic health. Like other forms of volunteerism, local engagement has dropped since 2009, ranking Connecticut 37th in the nation.








In Connecticut, who volunteers and in what ways? We analyzed volunteerism by race/ethnicity, household income, geography (urban, suburban and rural) and education level. More women volunteer than men. And when the numbers are broken down by race, Whites are more likely to volunteer than Latinos, African Americans and Asian Americans.







Income is a predictor of volunteerism. People who earn more than $85,000 a year are more than twice as likely to volunteer, work to solve local problems and serve on or lead committees (community leadership) than those who earn less than $35,000.







The gaps in neighbor collaboration and volunteering narrow when you consider urban, suburban and rural location. In general, a greater percentage of people in rural communities volunteer and take a leadership role, but people in suburban communities are most likely to work with their neighbors.












What is striking—and underscores the need for educational solutions—is that people with some college experience are more than twice as likely to volunteer, and nearly three times as likely to work locally to solve neighborhood problems and assume a leadership role.