Large demographic shifts are reshaping America. The country is growing in numbers, it’s becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, and the population is ageing. According to this analysis, these trends are playing out differently across community types.

For women working in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) jobs, the workplace is a different, sometimes more hostile environment than the one their male coworkers experience. Discrimination and sexual harassment are seen as more frequent, and gender is perceived as more of an impediment than an advantage to career success.

As more students enroll in online courses, their educational value is perceived differently by college presidents and the general public. As online college courses have become increasingly prevalent, the general public and college presidents offer different assessments of their educational value. Just three-in-ten American adults (29%) say a course taken online provides an equal educational...