This year has been challenging for many of us – with a pandemic that has taken so many lives, a national reckoning on race that’s long overdue, and political polarization that’s threatening our communities like never before.
It’s times like these when I’m particularly grateful for The Colorado Health Foundation’s commitment to listening to Coloradans. After a year like this (and it’s not over yet!), we know it’s important to hear what’s keeping people up at night, what’s bringing them joy and what Coloradans really think about health.
That’s why we’ve been digging deep into the results of Pulse: The Colorado Health Foundation Poll. The results of 20-minute interviews with 2,275 Coloradans about their opinions, experiences and priorities. If you’re wondering what that looks like, it’s about 600 pages of very small text.
I know not everyone has the time to analyze all that data. So below are 8 takeaways. These are the data points that jumped off the page at me. If you do have the time, you can use our interactive tool to explore and search for the data points that jump out at you.
1. A significant minority of Coloradans are anxious about being able to afford basic expenses – with people of color and people living on low incomes more likely to feel worried.
- 20% of Coloradans are worried they will not be able to afford food for their family.
- 51% of Coloradans making less than $30,000 are worried.
- 31% of Black/African American Coloradans are worried.
- 28% of Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are worried.
- 22% of Coloradans are worried about losing their home because they can’t pay the rent or mortgage.
- 52% of Coloradans making less than $30,000 are worried about losing their home.
- 42% of renters are worried about losing their home.
- 37% of Black/African American Coloradans are worried about losing their home.
- 27% of Coloradans are concerned that they will lose their health insurance.
- 54% of people living on low income are concerned.
- 33% of Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are concerned.
- Nearly two in five Coloradans have at least one of these three financial concerns.
|
Issue |
% of Coloradans worried |
% of low-income worried |
|
Not being able to afford food for their family |
20% |
51% |
|
Losing their home because they can’t pay |
22% |
52% |
|
Losing their health insurance |
27% |
54% |
2. The economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic has not fallen equally on all Coloradans, widening income inequality.
- 13% of Coloradans have been laid off, including 29% of people living on low incomes.
- 31% of Coloradans have had hours cut back or wages reduced.
- 34% of people of color (compared to 28% of White Coloradans) have had hours cut back or wages reduced.
- 47% of people living on low incomes have had hours or wages cut.
- 44% of Coloradans have been able to work from home.
- Only 37% of people of color (compared to 47% of White people) have been able to work from home.
- Only 20% of people living on low incomes (compared to 61% of those making more than $100K) have been able to work from home.
- Many Coloradans living on low incomes say their finances have taken a hit while a third of the wealthiest say they’re better off now.
|
Financial Status |
All |
<$30K |
$100K+ |
|
Better off |
25% |
16% |
34% |
|
Same/DK |
50% |
42% |
49% |
|
Worse Off |
25% |
42% |
17% |
3. Despite ongoing financial insecurity for many, Coloradans narrowly favor saving lives from COVID-19 over reopening the economy, but there is no majority consensus.
- 39% of Coloradans say we need to fully reopen the economy, while 50% say we need to save as many lives as possible, even if it hurts the economy.
- 61% of people of color prioritize protecting public health, compared to 47% of White Coloradans.
- Even majorities of those who have been laid off (60%) or have their hours or wages cut (54%) want to err on the side of protecting lives.
- Rural residents are most likely to favor reopening the economy, while urban and suburban residents are most likely to support saving as many lives as possible.
- Coloradans are conflicted about what’s more worrisome: keeping kids in online learning too long or going back to in-person classrooms too soon (44% to 46%)
- A majority of parents of school-aged children (54%) are more concerned about children falling behind in their education than the health risks of restarting in-person learning too soon.
- The partisan differences on reopening are stark.
- 73% of Republicans want to fully reopen the economy, while 82% of Democrats overwhelmingly want to prioritize health; Independents narrowly favor a delayed reopening to save lives (48%).
- On school reopening, 69% of Republicans are more worried about prolonged online learning, while 70% of Democrats worry more about premature in-person classes; Independents are evenly split.
|
Party |
It is more important to save as many lives as possible by delaying fully reopening the economy, even if it hurts the economy and leads to job losses. |
It is more important to fully reopen the economy to get people back to work, even if it means that it takes longer to fight the pandemic and more lives are lost. |
|
All Respondents |
50% |
39% |
|
Democrats |
82% |
10% |
|
Independents |
48% |
39% |
|
Republicans |
16% |
73% |
|
Party |
That children will go back to in-person classroom instruction too soon, and that students, teachers, and staff will be exposed to serious health risks from the coronavirus |
That children will be kept in online remote learning too long, and will fall behind in their education while also losing opportunities for social and emotional development |
|
All Respondents |
46% |
44% |
|
Democrats |
70% |
21% |
|
Independents |
46% |
44% |
|
Republicans |
20% |
69% |
4. While most people consider their mental health to be excellent or very good, the coronavirus has caused mental health strain for a majority of Coloradans.
- 64% of Coloradans rate their mental health as excellent/very good; 23% rate it good; 12% rate it only fair or poor.
- Asian Americans are more likely to report fair/poor mental health (29%) as are Coloradans living on low incomes (25%).
- 53% of Coloradans report experiencing increased mental health strain, such as anxiety, loneliness, or stress as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
- Mental health strain is often tied to financial stress with unemployed Coloradans (70%) and those who are worried about paying their rent or mortgage (77%) more likely to report anxiety, loneliness or stress.
5. Coloradans are concerned about a number of the challenges facing Colorado, yet there are significant partisan divides.
- Nearly three-in-four Coloradans (74%) think that harm to the economy caused by coronavirus is a serious challenge facing the state, followed by the cost of housing (67%) and homelessness (67%).
- Less than half of Coloradans (43%) think illness and deaths caused by the coronavirus is a serious challenge.
- 21% of Republicans consider illness and deaths from coronavirus to be a serious problem, compared to 68% of Democrats and 40% of Independents.
- 55% of Coloradans think mental health is a serious problem in the state.
- 37% of Republicans consider mental health a serious problem, compared to 67% of Democrats and 61% of Independents.
- 42% of Coloradans consider racial bias and discrimination to be a serious problem.
- 17% of Republicans consider racial bias and discrimination a serious problem, compared to 59% of Democrats and 41% of Independents.
- 17% of Republicans consider racial bias and discrimination a serious problem, compared to 59% of Democrats and 41% of Independents.
|
Issue |
All Resp. |
Dem. |
Ind. |
Rep. |
|
Harm to economy caused by coronavirus |
74% |
80% |
70% |
75% |
|
Illness and deaths caused by the coronavirus |
43% |
68% |
40% |
21% |
|
Mental health |
55% |
67% |
61% |
37% |
|
Racial bias and discrimination |
42% |
59% |
41% |
17% |
6. In a year of protests over police use of force and police-involved deaths, concerns about police violence and fear of the police is more common among Coloradans of color, LGBTQ people and Coloradans living on low incomes.
- 38% of Coloradans consider police violence and misconduct to be a serious problem.
- 63% of Black/African Americans and 50% of Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans consider it a serious problem.
- 56% of LGBTQ Coloradans consider it a serious problem.
- 64% of Coloradans living on low incomes.
- 14% of Coloradans have had a negative experience with police.
- 21% of people of color have had a negative experience, compared to 12% of White people.
- 24% of LGBTQ Coloradans report having had a negative police experience.
- 26% of Coloradans living on low income have had a negative police experience.
- 17% of Coloradans report feeling afraid of police.
- 42% of Black/African American and 24% of Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans have felt afraid of the police, compared to 14% of White people.
- 49% of LGBTQ people have felt afraid of the police.
- 31% of Coloradans with incomes under $30,000 have felt afraid, compared to 14% of those with six-figure household incomes.
|
Demographic |
Consider police violence and misconduct to be a serious problem |
Negative police experience |
Felt afraid of police |
|
All Respondents |
38% |
14% |
17% |
|
Black/African American |
63% |
18% |
42% |
|
Hispanic/Latinx |
50% |
20% |
24% |
|
White |
35% |
12% |
14% |
|
LGBTQ |
56% |
24% |
49% |
|
Income >$30,000 |
64% |
26% |
31% |
7. Most Coloradans see racism as negatively impacting the lives of Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans.
- 58% of Coloradans say that Black Coloradans are more likely than White people to be treated unfairly by police.
- 70% of Black/African Americans say they are more likely to be treated unfairly by police.
- 49% of Coloradans say that Black Coloradans are more likely than White people to receive poor quality or inadequate healthcare.
- 65% of Black/African Americans say they are more likely to receive poor quality or inadequate healthcare.
- 52% of Coloradans say that Black Coloradans are more likely than White people to lose their jobs or have a reduction in income during an economic downturn.
- 69% of Black/African Americans say they are more likely than White people to lose their jobs or have a reduction in income during an economic downturn.
- 51% of Coloradans say that Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are more likely than White Coloradans to be treated unfairly by police.
- 50% of Coloradans say that Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are more likely than White Coloradans to receive poor quality or inadequate healthcare.
- 54% of Coloradans say that Hispanic/Latinx Colorado are more likely than White Coloradans to lose their jobs or have a reduction in income during an economic downturn.
|
Issue |
All Coloradans |
|
Black/African American Coloradans are more likely than White people to be treated unfairly by police |
58% |
|
Black/African American Coloradans are more likely than White people to receive poor quality or inadequate healthcare |
49% |
|
Black/African American Coloradans are more likely than White people to lose their jobs or have a reduction in income during an economic downturn. |
52% |
|
Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are more likely than White Coloradans to be treated unfairly by police |
51% |
|
Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are more likely than White Coloradans to receive poor quality or inadequate healthcare |
50% |
|
Hispanic/Latinx Coloradans are more likely than White Coloradans to lose their jobs or have a reduction in income during an economic downturn |
54% |
8. Despite partisan differences across many issues, majorities of Coloradans across party lines want state government to do more to protect and improve the health of Coloradans.
- 72% of Coloradans support requiring the wearing of masks in businesses, including 53% of Republicans, 71% of Independents and 96% of Democrats.
- 74% want state government to provide discounted or free access to the COVID-19 vaccine, including 53% of Republicans, 75% of Independents and 94% of Democrats.
- 80% want state government to ensure that no Coloradan goes hungry, including 66% of Republicans, 78% of Independents and 95% of Democrats.
- 74% want state government to ensure all Coloradans have access to healthcare, including 56% of Republicans, 72% of Independents and 95% of Democrats.
- 74% want state government to help people who are not currently working to find employment, including 70% of Republicans, 72% of Independents and 83% of Democrats.
- 68% want state government to provide mental health or substance use treatment for all who need it, including 54% of Republicans, 63% of Independents and 89% of Democrats.
- 66% want state government to help people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, including 50% of Republicans, 62% of Independents and 85% of Democrats.
|
Issue |
All Resp. |
Dem. |
Ind. |
Rep. |
|
Requiring the wearing of masks in businesses |
72% |
96% |
71% |
53% |
|
Providing discounted or free access to the COVID-19 vaccine |
74% |
94% |
75% |
53% |
|
Ensure no Coloradan goes hungry |
80% |
95% |
78% |
66% |
|
Ensure all Coloradans have access to healthcare |
74% |
95% |
72% |
56% |
|
Help Coloradans who are not currently working find employment |
74% |
83% |
72% |
70% |
|
Providing mental health or substance use treatment for all who need it |
68% |
89% |
63% |
54% |
|
Helping Coloradans experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness |
66% |
85% |
62% |
50% |