Cambridge Council Reviews Resident Survey Showing Gains in Quality-of-Life Ratings

CAMBRIDGE — February 5, 2024 — Cambridge City Council reviews 2023 Resident Satisfaction Survey at February 5 roundtable, marking the city's first annual survey and first national benchmarking effort. City Manager Yi-An Huang and Assistant City Manager Owen O'Riordan presented results from the 13th survey in the series, conducted by Polity Research CEO Ernie Paikopoulos at a cost of approximately $25,000. The telephone survey of 400 residents found 56 percent rated Cambridge an "excellent" place to live, up from 48 percent in 2022, while affordable housing and public transit remained the largest performance gaps — 64 percent of respondents called affordable housing "extremely important" while only 9 percent rated city performance "excellent" on the issue. Councilor Paul Toner warned that a survey question showing 70 percent of residents preferring a $50 street-cleaning fine over towing "wasn't what I was presented with as a councilor to make a decision on." Results will feed directly into goal-setting sessions on February 13 and March 7.