The product of a needs assessment (via 4,627 mailed questionnaires) in Iowa's rural Region V, this report exemplifies need assessment techniques designed to assist local residents, their leaders, area change agents, and regional groups in making community decisions for rural areas. The survey used to develop this databook requested information re: evaluations of selected services; opportunities and social factors operating at the local community level; the level of improvement necessary for services and opportunities; perceptions of an ideal community; attitudes toward the community; and respondent characteristics. Information is presented in tabular form by community size (the 27 communities surveyed were divided as follows: 499 or less; 50-999; 1,000-2,499; 2,500-9,999; and 10,000 or more). Comprised primarily of tables and data, the contents of this report include: a brief introduction; a brief description of the study communities; the household sampling plan (every other respondent was male); mail questionnaire construction; mail questionnaire strategy; brief additional comments; social factors in the community; community services; community opportunities; changing selected community factors; attitudes toward community; land use and the environment; quality of life; friends and relatives in the community; respondent characteristics; additional tables (a summary re: questionnaire return); and additional community comments (positive vs negative). (JC)