Trying to find a consensus on anything these days can be a challenge. But if there’s one thing the people in our community can agree on, it’s that Raleigh is a pretty great place to live. For more than a decade, survey after survey has shown Raleigh as one of the top places in America to reside.
In the most recent community survey, Raleigh continues to shine with 84 percent of residents surveyed indicated that the overall quality of life in Raleigh is “excellent” or “good.”
ETC Institute, one of the nation’s leading firms in the field of local government research, conducted the survey and presented the findings to the Raleigh City Council at its May 6 meeting. Ranking at the top of the list, the quality of fire services, the quality of parks and recreation programs, and access to parks, greenways, and community centers.
“Every day, I witness the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff to deliver services and high-quality experiences for Raleigh,” said Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David. “As a result, our residents love living , working, playing and learning in Raleigh. The survey is a snapshot of both the things we've accomplished and the work we have ahead of us to continue our commitment to service excellence."
Feelings of Safety
The first priority of any community is to provide for the safety of its residents. On that front, Raleigh received top marks from surveyed residents. Eighty-five percent of those surveyed ranked the quality of fire services as either “excellent” or “good.” Additionally, 91 percent felt either “very safe” or “safe” in their neighborhood and 76 percent felt that way in Raleigh overall. Residents were most concerned about safety downtown, where the City and partners continue to invest in security measures.
High Praise for Parks
Raleigh’s residents also cited both the quality (81 percent) and ease of access to the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources facilities (80 percent) as a beloved aspect of life in the City of Oaks. The availability of arts and cultural programs (79 percent) also scored well amongst those surveyed.
Top Issues and Takeaways
More than three-quarters of those surveyed indicated they were likely or very likely to recommend living in Raleigh. However, that enthusiasm is tempered by growing concerns about the City’s future. Residents identified affordable housing, the pace of growth, and transportation as the three biggest issues Raleigh will face over the next five years. The cost of housing was where Raleigh received its lowest marks.
Raleigh rated significantly above its peers. The satisfaction ratings rated Raleigh above the US average with populations greater than 250,000 in 25 of the 29 surveyed topics.
The full report is available online.
