Special Report
People in These High Risk Areas Are the Most Worried About Climate Change
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Published: October 18, 2024 7:35 am
24/7 Wall St. Insights
Nationwide, 64.1% of Americans are worried about climate change.
In counties facing the highest risk of natural disaster, the shares are much higher.
23 of the 50 most worried counties are in the South.
18 of the 50 most worried counties are considered relatively high or very high risk for natural disaster by FEMA.
In 31 of the 50 most worried counties, summer 2024 was at least 3.0°F hotter than historical normals.
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Twice a year, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication conducts the most comprehensive survey on climate change knowledge and opinion in the United States. Out of 30 questions, one of the most contentious is about how much global warming will harm participants personally.
In their survey, Yale asked participants, “How much do you think global warming will harm you personally?” with options ranging from “not at all” to “a great deal”. While nationwide 45.8% of Americans think global warming will harm them personally a moderate amount or a great deal, large regional disparities persist throughout the country.
In Bronx County in New York, 61.0% of residents believe climate change will harm them personally, the most of any county nationwide. Meanwhile, in Mason County in northwest West Virginia, just 28.3% of residents believe climate change will harm them personally, the least of any county. On average, 49.7% of residents in the West believe climate change will harm them personally, compared to 48.1% of residents in the Northeast, 44.8% in the South, and 40.9% in the Midwest.
While climate change opinions tend to correlate with political affiliation, many of the counties most worried about global warming are also the ones at the highest risk of natural diaster. In FEMA’s National Risk Index, 18 of the 50 counties most worried about climate change are considered “relatively high” or “very high” risk of natural disaster. In 31 of the 50 most worried counties, summer 2024 was at least 3.0°F hotter than historical normals for 1901 through 2000.
To determine the counties that believe climate change will harm them personally the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on climate change belief from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication . Counties were ranked based on the percentage of surveyed residents who answered that they think global warming will harm them “a moderate amount” or “a great deal” in 2023. Supplemental data on median household income and the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and is for 2022. Data on natural hazard risk rating is from FEMA .
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 52.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 74.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8%
Median household income: $40,699
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Socorro
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 80.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.5%
Median household income: $55,145
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Taos
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 80.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 57.1%
Median household income: $86,267
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Atlanta
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 75.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.1%
Median household income: $32,279
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Hot Springs
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 44.1%
Median household income: $59,606
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Richmond
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.9%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 76.8%
Median household income: $137,387
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Arlington
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 64.1%
Median household income: $145,165
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Fairfax
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 74.9%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2%
Median household income: $29,012
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Marfa
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 77.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.1%
Median household income: $47,826
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: N/A
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 80.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.4%
Median household income: $67,275
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: San Antonio
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 53.8%
Median household income: $92,731
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Austin
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 54.2%
Median household income: $85,853
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Denver
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 53.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 73.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.4%
Median household income: $67,756
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Fresno
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.0%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.7%
Median household income: $34,578
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: San Luis
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 73.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6%
Median household income: $59,984
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Laredo
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 76.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.8%
Median household income: $43,490
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Las Vegas
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 75.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.8%
Median household income: $42,292
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Hebbronville
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 73.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.7%
Median household income: $35,979
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Rio Grande City
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 72.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3%
Median household income: $35,061
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Zapata
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79.9%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 41.3%
Median household income: $78,304
FEMA disaster risk level: Very High
County seat: Chicago
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 86.7%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 62.6%
Median household income: $101,722
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Washington
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.5%
Median household income: $104,409
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Santa Cruz
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 54.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 62.8%
Median household income: $99,880
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Manhattan
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.0%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 78.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.3%
Median household income: $95,000
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Elizabeth
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 52.9%
Median household income: $149,907
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Redwood City
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 80.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.6%
Median household income: $97,935
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Upper Marlboro
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 60.0%
Median household income: $125,583
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Rockville
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 82.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 49.2%
Median household income: $87,669
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Boston
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 81.7%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.9%
Median household income: $58,349
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Baltimore
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.6%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 76.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6%
Median household income: $56,207
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Jonesboro
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 80.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.8%
Median household income: $46,930
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Petersburg
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 81.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 44.5%
Median household income: $120,020
FEMA disaster risk level: Very High
County seat: Martinez
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 81.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.6%
Median household income: $99,816
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Honolulu
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 47.7%
Median household income: $83,668
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Portland
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 55.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 85.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 66.0%
Median household income: $113,179
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Alexandria
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 56.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 81.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.6%
Median household income: $86,854
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Jersey City
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 56.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 78.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.0%
Median household income: $55,417
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: El Paso
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 56.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 83.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 55.3%
Median household income: $153,792
FEMA disaster risk level: Very High
County seat: San Jose
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 56.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.4%
Median household income: $73,785
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Newark
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 57.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 82.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.7%
Median household income: $51,116
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: New Orleans
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 57.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 77.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.5%
Median household income: $64,215
FEMA disaster risk level: Very High
County seat: Miami
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 57.6%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 84.7%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.7%
Median household income: $76,044
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Decatur
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 57.6%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 81.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.6%
Median household income: $40,231
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Mora
Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 58.2%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 78.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 7.8%
Median household income: $50,697
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: San Diego
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 58.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 86.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 50.9%
Median household income: $122,488
FEMA disaster risk level: Very High
County seat: Oakland
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 58.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 87.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 59.8%
Median household income: $136,689
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: San Francisco City and County
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 58.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 80.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.6%
Median household income: $57,537
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Philadelphia
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 58.6%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 76.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.6%
Median household income: $83,411
FEMA disaster risk level: Very High
County seat: Los Angeles
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 59.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 82.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.8%
Median household income: $82,431
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Queens
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Residents who believe climate change will harm them personally: 61.0%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 79.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2%
Median household income: $47,036
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively High
County seat: Bronx
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