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Hayward resident satisfaction survey shows improved city service ratings; housing remains top concern
Summary
A March–April 2025 survey of Hayward residents found rising satisfaction with city services and quality of life but highlighted housing cost as the top community concern; the city plans to use the findings to inform budget and strategic priorities.
City staff and polling consultant FM3 Research presented results of the 2025 Hayward resident satisfaction survey at a March 22 work session, reporting increased overall satisfaction with city services but rising concern about housing costs.
“These results are hot off the presses,” Miranda Everett, partner at FM3 Research, told the council as she introduced the survey methodology and key findings. The multimodal survey ran from March through April 9 and included at least 200 responses from each new council district, producing a 1,200‑plus sample size that staff said will allow district-level analysis.
The survey found 80% of respondents were satisfied with quality of life in Hayward, and satisfaction with city services is now comparable to levels seen in pre‑pandemic years. At the same time, respondents ranked cost of housing as the most serious problem facing the city; about three quarters called housing costs an “extremely” or “very” serious problem.
Miranda Everett summarized the findings for council and noted several service areas that scored well — timely 911 response, trash pickup, street lighting and disaster preparation — and other areas with more mixed satisfaction, including street and sidewalk repair and traffic circulation.
Public Information Officer Chuck Finney and FM3 noted the expanded sample was intended to support analysis by the newly adopted council districts and to provide additional data ahead of budget decisions. Finney said the results are intended as “another set of data for your consideration in the prioritization of city resources.”
Councilmembers asked for additional analysis and follow-up. Mayor Pro Tem Roach and others sought more detail about sampling, the questionnaire’s protections against scams (postcards and multimodal outreach were used), and how the city can compare Hayward’s results with other Bay Area cities. Councilmember Seier asked staff to provide comparisons to peer cities so the council can benchmark Hayward’s ratings.
Miranda Everett and staff said the underlying dataset allows cross-tabulation by district, homeowner versus renter status and other demographics; they also said FM3 can run additional qualitative research, such as focus groups, to probe reasons behind responses. The presentation included a focused look at housing: renters showed higher intensity of concern about affordability and eviction prevention than homeowners, and renters reported lower satisfaction with eviction-protection services.
Ending: Staff said the survey data will be used in upcoming budget and strategic-priority discussions and offered to return with more cross-tabulated and comparative information, including potential district-level and demographic breakdowns requested by council members.
