What is the Community Survey?

Every two years, the City conducts a scientific survey of randomly selected households from each of the City’s Council Districts to hear directly from community members on their priority issues, gauge their level of satisfaction with City services, and gather information to track certain topics and trends over time.

The biennial survey uses rigorous statistical methodology to provide City leaders with a critical snapshot of which services and issues community members feel are important, which service areas have improved over time, and which service areas could improve in the future. The survey results are used by departments and divisions throughout the entire City organization to help identify budgeting and funding priorities, target specific services or programs for improvements, and to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of nearly every part of the City’s day-to-day operations.

2023-2024 Community Survey

The 2024 Community Survey was conducted in June and July of 2024. A total of 905 residents were surveyed with a minimum of 150 from each of the five Council District. Key demographics including race, gender, and household income were matched to census data to ensure survey respondents were representative of the overall Tacoma population. 

• View the full report.
• View GIS maps of results by Council District.
• View GIS maps of results by Census Block Group.
• View crosstabulations of the data by each demographic group surveyed.
• View the Dashboard displaying results by demographics, by importance level, Council District maps, and in comparison to other survey question results. You can also view a series of instructional videos on how to use the dashboard. 
• View the benchmarking to national data report.
• Watch the recording of August 6, 2024 Council Study Session presentation.

2021-2022 Community Survey

The 2022 Community Survey was conducted between November 15, 2021 and January, 2022. 750 Tacoma residents were be randomly surveyed on which City services they feel are important and what future challenges the City might face.

• The results of the survey were shared with the City Council at the March 29th Study Session.
• The full report is available here.
•  See FAQ's on the 2021-2022 Community Survey Here. 

2019-2020 Community Survey

The City of Tacoma conducted a community survey from November 4, 2019 through December 31, 2019. A total of 750 randomly sampled households – 150 from each Councilmanic District – across Tacoma had the opportunity to identify which services and issues they feel are important, which service areas have improved over time, and which service areas could improve in the future.

• View the 2020 survey results
• View survey results from previous years:

-  2018 survey results

-  2014 survey results 

  -  2010 survey results 

Questions? Contact Ted Richardson from the City’s Office of Strategy at trichardson@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 341-8702.