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2024 community survey: Raleigh scores high on services but residents name housing, growth and transportation as top issues
Summary
A statistically valid survey of 1,108 residents found 84 percent rate Raleigh’s quality of life as excellent or good, while affordability, pace of growth and transportation remain the top concerns; results will inform the city’s strategic planning.
City staff and ETC Institute presented the results of Raleigh’s 2024 community survey, a statistically representative survey of 1,108 residents conducted by ETC Institute that will inform the city’s strategic planning and service priorities.
The survey found that 84 percent of respondents rated the overall quality of life in Raleigh as excellent or good and that the city rates higher than peer large U.S. communities in 25 of 28 service areas the consultant benchmarked. The top three priorities residents identified for the next five years were affordable housing, pace of growth and transportation — the same order as the 2022 survey.
Jason Marano of ETC Institute summarized methodology and headline findings, saying the final sample provides a plus‑or‑minus 2.9 percentage‑point margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level. Macy Rush of the Office of Strategy and Innovation highlighted actionable findings: 30 percent of respondents said they experienced a significant financial burden from housing costs in the past 12 months; of those, 57 percent are renters. Rush said the result points to renter‑focused strain and directed departments should consider targeted responses.
The survey also showed low transit usage: 73 percent of respondents reported never using the bus in the past year; about 5 percent reported frequent use. Rush said the city’s current housing density is lower than needed to support frequent, high‑quality bus service and that increased housing near transit is one tool to expand alternatives to driving. Councillors asked for deeper data on definitions of “affordable housing,” and staff noted the question did not provide a single technical definition, which likely reflects multiple resident interpretations.
City staff said the findings will be used to align projects and department initiatives in the next strategic plan, produce curated data packets for service areas, and post the survey materials publicly.
