Citizen Survey

Strategic Plan Check-in Survey 2021

In 2020, the Davidson Board of Commissioners and town staff developed the 2020-21 strategic plan based on objectives that had been identified by the community. The board prioritized which areas they wanted to focus on for the next two years and settled on these six following categories:

  • A Well-Planned and Livable Community
  • Historic Preservation
  • Connecting People and Places
  • Operational Excellence
  • Equity and Inclusion
  • Sustainability and Natural Assets

In September 2021, the town offered an online survey to ask how we are doing in the above six areas. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in this year's survey!

The results are in!

Please view the full 2021 report here.

2021 Report Now Available

Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2021 National Citizen Survey (NCS). The Town of Davidson has received the 2021 NCS Report, which is available online here or as a PDF here. 

2021 Highlights

Davidson residents award exceptional ratings to the town as a place to live and raise children.

As in past years, virtually all residents gave positive ratings to Davidson as a place to live (98% excellent or good in 2021), the overall quality of life in the Town (99%), Davidson as a place to raise children (97%) and Davidson’s overall image or reputation (96%). About 9 in 10 residents gave favorable marks to K-12 education and overall opportunities for education, culture, and the arts, while about 7 in 10 were pleased with the availability of affordable quality child care. About 9 in 10 residents or more would recommend living in Davidson to someone who asks and planned to remain in the community for the next five years. All of these ratings were higher than those given  in other communities across the nation and similar to those observed in past years. 

Ratings for government performance are strong and outshine national averages.

Nine in 10 residents gave excellent or good reviews to the overall quality of services provided by the Town of Davidson, and about 8 in 10 survey respondents or more gave positive scores to the job Davidson government does at welcoming resident involvement, generally acting in the best interest of the community, being honest, being open and transparent to the public, informing residents about issues facing the community, and treating all residents fairly and with respect. Further, about three-quarters of respondents awarded favorable reviews to the value of services for taxes paid and overall confidence in Davidson government. All of these government performance-related ratings were higher than the national benchmarks and were similar to those given in 2019 except for generally acting in the best interest of the community, being honest, and treating all residents fairly, which increased in 2021.

Citizen Survey logoEconomy ratings in Davidson are also robust.

About 9 in 10 residents gave excellent or good ratings to the overall economic health of the town, Davidson as a place to work and to visit, and the overall quality of business and services establishments in Davidson. At least three-quarters of community members were pleased with the vibrancy of the downtown/commercial area and with economic development. About half of residents felt the economy would have a positive impact on their income in the next six months. All of these ratings were higher than those given in other communities and several, including Davidson as a place to work, overall quality of business and service establishments, economic development, and the percentage of residents with a positive future economic outlook, improved from 2019 to 2021.

Mobility ratings have improved since 2019, with some of these changes as a likely result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ratings in 2021 increased for a number of Mobility-related items. These included traffic flow on major streets (45% excellent or good), ease of public parking (50%), ease of travel by car (69%), and ease of travel by bicycle (72%). Additionally, a number of Mobility-related services, including traffic signal timing (68%), street repair (66%), street cleaning (83%), street lighting (77%), and snow removal (81%), were rated higher than the national benchmark comparisons and also increased from 2019 to 2021. Davidson residents were also much more likely than residents in other communities to have walked or biked instead of driving. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the increases for car and street-related travel in particular, may be due, at least in part, to fewer cars on the road during lockdowns associated with the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-2021.

Davidson Custom Questions

The Town of Davidson asked three custom questions related to affordable housing and quality of life. You can view the visualization of the response data here.

As a reminder, you can read the full report online here or as a PDF here.

About the National Citizen Survey (NCS)

This benchmarking survey provides a comprehensive and accurate picture of livability and resident perspectives about local government services, policies and management. Hundreds of communities in nearly every U.S. state conduct the NCS.

Researchers use scientific survey methods and best practices to guarantee valid findings and put results into meaningful context. Results draw from the largest resident opinion database of its kind, representing over 30 million Americans. The NCS compares local results with benchmarks compiled from surveys conducted across the U.S.

NCS Overview

There are typically about 16 questions total:

  • 12 or so standard across all communities
  • 3-4 custom questions specific to Davidson

There are also 14 demographic questions pertaining to households.

In 2019, questions specific to Davidson included: 

  1. Strategic Plan – priority for quality of life in town
  2. Public Facilities – amount willing to pay for new facilities (if tax increase)
  3. Affordable Housing – which projects to support
  4. Affordable Housing – preferences for funding affordable housing

In 2021, questions specific to Davidson included:

  1. Affordable Housing – which projects to support
  2. Affordable Housing – preferences for funding affordable housing
  3. Priority for quality of life in town

Past NCS Data

For past surveys, please click here.