Stafford Residents Feel County is Safe, But Transportation is a Problem
Results of the 2024 Stafford Community Survey
by Adele Uphaus
MANAGING EDITOR AND CORRESPONDENT
Stafford residents feel more positive about the economy, their overall health, and the county’s snow removal service and emergency preparedness than they did in 2022.
They feel less positive about the county’s garbage collection, recycling, the availability of affordable quality childcare and preschool, and the overall health and wellness opportunities in the county than they did two years ago.
There was also a decrease in residents’ sense that county government treats all citizens fairly.
These were the areas of greatest change between the results of a community survey conducted in 2022 and the survey conducted this year. Results from this year’s survey were presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The county contracted with Polco to conduct the survey. Out of 4,500 randomly selected households that received the survey, 495 completed it—an 11% response rate, according to the results. All but three were completed in English.
A majority of respondents said that Stafford’s safety, natural environment, parks and recreation, utilities, and economy are excellent or good.
Forty-seven percent said health and wellness are excellent or good. Just 34 to 38% of respondents rated the county’s community design, inclusivity, and arts and culture opportunities as excellent or good, and just 21% said mobility is good—much lower than the national benchmark, according to the survey results.
The economy, safety, community design, utilities, and parks and recreation were rated as being essential or of greatest importance by at least 80% of respondents.
A majority of respondents said their overall confidence in the local government is fair or good, but almost half of respondents said transportation is poor.
See the full survey results here.
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