2023 resident survey results
The results are in from the most recent resident survey, which is done every few years by the City of Georgetown to guide planning, budgeting, projects, and services.
The Texas State University Center for Public Policy, Research, and Training conducted the survey in fall 2023. The anonymous survey is intended to measure the perceptions of residents. The survey was mailed to 2,500 households in Georgetown and 390 residents responded. The margin of error was 5 percent.
In addition to the mailed survey, an open survey was shared online with 823 residents responding.
“We are grateful for this feedback from our residents who took the survey,” City Manager David Morgan said. “The City does this survey to listen to our residents to find out where we are succeeding and other places where we need to improve. The results are invaluable in helping us determine priorities for budgets and operations.”
Here are some highlights from the mailed survey results.
Ninety-four percent of residents said the overall quality of life in Georgetown was good or excellent and 70 percent said for city taxes paid, the value of city services was good or excellent. This is an improvement compared to 90 percent and 68 percent, respectively, in the 2020 resident survey. Quality of life ratings have remained above 90 percent since 2016.
The survey found when residents were asked about city services, these percentages of residents gave a rating of good or excellent:
- Fire and EMS services: 98 percent
- Police services: 94 percent
- Library: 94 percent
- Parks: 93 percent
- Garbage collection: 94 percent
- Recycling: 87 percent
- Water service: 76 percent
- Electric service: 79 percent
The survey also asked about perceptions of safety. Respondents reported safety as good or excellent for these areas or services:
- In their neighborhood in daytime: 95 percent
- In their neighborhood after dark: 88 percent
- In city parks: 82 percent
- At shopping centers: 84 percent
- On the downtown Square: 92 percent
- In recreational waters: 75 percent
Traffic continues to be a top concern for residents. In rating traffic flow on major streets, only 25 percent said it was good or excellent with 41 percent who said it was fair and 33 percent who said it was poor.
An open-ended question in the survey asked residents to identify their top priorities for quality-of-life improvements. The most frequent top priorities mentioned were growth management, traffic flow, lower utility costs, and public transportation. Other open-ended questions offer insight into mobility improvements, development priorities, special events, and communication preferences.
Survey results are used to inform the annual budget process as well as capital improvement plans and changes to City services.
The complete 2023 City of Georgetown Resident Survey Report is available here.
