MRV Wellbeing Survey – Mad River Valley Planning District

The 2021 Mad River Valley Wellbeing Survey is being shared to provide our community with a deeper understanding of how the MRV’s people, environment, and local economy are doing.

In what ways are we thriving, or struggling? Where can we improve? How does wellbeing in the MRV compare to the rest of Vermont?

This survey is being conducted by the Mad River Valley Planning District (MRVPD) with support from the MRV Community Dashboard Advisory Committee as part of the MRV Community Dashboard project. The MRV Community Dashboard is an initiative of the MRVPD launched in summer 2020 with the purpose of improving overall wellbeing and resilience in the MRV. By enhancing and expanding the MRVPD's annual MRV Data Report, the goal is to better support the ability of community members and decision-makers to access, interpret and incorporate relevant local data.

To learn more about the MRV Community Dashboard, visit the project site here.

The MRV Wellbeing Survey opened on April 7th and closed on May 2nd, 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can take the survey?

How was the survey created?

Survey questions are based on the Vermont Happiness Study led by the University of Vermont’s Center for Rural Studies, the Vermont State Data Center, and Gross National Happiness USA. A few questions were added or adjusted by the MRV Community Dashboard Advisory Committee to better reflect the specific needs of the Mad River Valley.

The survey has a long and interesting history! The Vermont Happiness Study is in fact based on the "Gross National Happiness Index" created by the Happiness Alliance, a non-profit that helps communities access and utilize tools and research to implement wellbeing metrics. The Index is a scientifically vetted and valid instrument for measuring wellbeing; the methodology was developed by the Happiness Alliance's Laura Musikanski with researchers from Arizona State University, and can be found here. The survey questions found in each of these survey iterations are largely taken from existing wellbeing surveys or other documented sources; see Appendix A on p. 20 of Musikanski et al. for a detailed overview of question sources.

In addition to not re-inventing the wheel by relying on an existing, tested survey source, we will be able to compare the results from the MRV Wellbeing Survey to the Vermont Happiness Study, which will give us a useful benchmark with which to measure against.

What do you mean by "wellbeing"?

Our use of "wellbeing" refers to the broad conditions the contribute to a positive quality of life and thriving community, including healthy people, environment, and economy. Many of these conditions - such as housing, tax receipts, and water quality - have historically been reported on through the annual MRV Data Report. The Community Dashboard project builds on this existing work by refining what matters most for the MRV by examining prior community visioning efforts, town plans, and stakeholder input. In addition, the MRV Wellbeing Survey contributes a new, deeper understanding of community wellbeing by addressing questions such as personal health, work life balance, and social connectedness.

How is the survey being distributed?

The MRV Wellbeing Survey is being distributed electronically primarily via email listservs, Front Porch Forum, and social media; it will remain open for responses until April 30, 2021.

While we are unlikely to be able to reach enough respondents to create a representative sample, the more folks take the survey the more accurate a picture of wellbeing we'll be able to see. Please share the survey with your networks, and if you have any suggestions for how we can further our reach please feel free to let us know!

Where can I find the survey results?

Who can I contact for more information?

Did you say raffle?

Participants may enter to win a 2021 Summer Pass to Sugarbush Resort! These passes entitle the winners to complimentary scenic lift rides, downhill mountain biking access and disc golf. Passes are valued at $299+. Summer operations at Sugarbush are expected to begin June 26 and run through Columbus Day Weekend.

When you have completed the survey, you will be prompted to provide your email address to be entered into the raffle. The winners will be randomly chosen after the survey has closed (April 30).

A big thanks to Sugarbush Resort for their generous support!