Bay Area Benchmark Comparisons
Table 1: Quality of Life
Quality of Life Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of communities
in comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall image or reputation of
Palo Alto 76% 5 10 Similar
The overall quality of life in
Palo Alto 86% 5 12 Similar
Palo Alto as a place to live 90% 5 12 Similar
Recommend living in Palo Alto
to someone who asks 77% 8 10 Similar
Remain in Palo Alto for the
next five years 77% 8 10 Similar
Table 2: Governance
Governance Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall confidence in Palo Alto
government 52% 7 11 Similar
The overall direction that Palo Alto is
taking 54% 8 13 Similar
The value of services for the taxes
paid to Palo Alto 57% 3 10 Similar
Generally acting in the best interest
of the community 55% 6 10 Similar
Being honest 62% 4 10 Similar
Being open and transparent to the
public 57% 3 9 Similar
Informing residents about issues
facing the community 61% 2 9 Similar
The job Palo Alto government does
at welcoming citizen involvement 55% 6 10 Similar
Treating all residents fairly 62% 8 10 Similar
Treating residents with respect 71% 3 9 Similar
Overall customer service by Palo Alto
employees (police, receptionists,
planners, etc.) 78% 6 10 Similar
Governance Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
The City of Palo Alto 74% 5 10 Similar
The Federal Government 45% 2 10 Similar
Table 3: Economy
Economy Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall quality of business and
service establishments in Palo Alto 74% 6 10 Similar
Variety of business and service
establishments in Palo Alto 58% 5 9 Similar
Vibrancy of downtown/commercial
area 65% 5 10 Similar
Shopping opportunities 69% 2 10 Higher
Palo Alto as a place to visit 73% 6 11 Similar
Palo Alto as a place to work 85% 2 10 Higher
Employment opportunities 62% 2 10 Higher
Cost of living in Palo Alto 8% 9 10 Lower
Table 4: Mobility
Mobility Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Traffic flow on major streets 51% 5 11 Similar
Ease of travel by car in Palo Alto 73% 5 10 Similar
Ease of travel by public
transportation in Palo Alto 32% 8 10 Similar
Ease of travel by bicycle in Palo
Alto 77% 2 10 Higher
Ease of walking in Palo Alto 80% 4 10 Higher
Ease of public parking 68% 3 10 Similar
Traffic enforcement 65% 2 11 Similar
Traffic signal timing 63% 1 10 Similar
Street repair 42% 7 11 Similar
Street cleaning 79% 3 11 Higher
Mobility Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Sidewalk maintenance 63% 2 10 Similar
Used bus, rail or other public
transportation instead of driving 44% 3 10 Similar
Carpooled with other adults or
children instead of driving alone 59% 3 10 Similar
Walked or biked instead of
driving 84% 1 10 Higher
Table 5: Community Design
Community Design Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall “built environment” of Palo Alto
(including overall design, buildings,
parks and transportation systems) 72% 3 10 Similar
Your neighborhood as a place to live 92% 4 10 Similar
Overall quality of new development in
Palo Alto 40% 7 10 Similar
Variety of housing options 26% 9 10 Similar
Availability of affordable quality housing 11% 10 10 Similar Land use, planning and zoning 40% 6 11 Similar
Code enforcement (weeds, abandoned
buildings, etc) 53% 3 10 Similar
Table 6: Utilities
Utilities Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Affordable high-speed internet
access 45% 7 9 Similar
Drinking water 86% 2 9 Higher
Sewer services 87% 3 9 Similar
Storm water management (storm
drainage, dams, levees, etc.) 73% 5 10 Similar
Utility payment options 85% 1 9 Much higher
Table 7: Safety
Safety Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of communities
in comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall feeling of safety in
Palo Alto 84% 5 12 Higher
Police emergency services 84% 3 13 Similar
Crime prevention 68% 5 10 Similar
Animal control 78% 1 9 Higher
Ambulance or emergency
medical services 90% 2 9 Similar
Fire emergency services 93% 3 10 Similar
Fire prevention and
education 77% 4 9 Similar
Table 8: Natural Environment
Natural Environment Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall quality of natural
environment in Palo Alto 90% 3 10 Higher
Preservation of natural areas
(open space, farmlands and
greenbelts) 83% 4 10 Similar
Palo Alto open space (e.g.
Foothills, Baylands) 93% 1 10 Much higher
Table 9: Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Availability of paths and walking
trails 73% 5 10 Similar
City parks 93% 1 11 Higher
Recreational opportunities 77% 3 11 Similar
Recreation programs or classes 83% 2 10 Higher
Recreation centers or facilities 85% 2 10 Higher
Fitness opportunities (including
exercise classes and paths or trails,
etc.) 76% 4 10 Similar
Table 10: Health and Wellness
Health and Wellness Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of communities
in comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall health and wellness
opportunities in Palo Alto 84% 3 10 Higher
Availability of affordable
quality mental health care 38% 5 10 Similar
Table 11: Education, Arts, and Culture
Education, Arts, and Culture
Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Opportunities to attend
cultural/arts/music activities 72% 3 11 Higher
Availability of affordable quality
child care/preschool 43% 4 10 Similar
K-12 education 87% 2 10 Much higher
Adult educational opportunities 78% 2 10 Higher
Table 12: Inclusivity and Engagement
Inclusivity and Engagement Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Residents’ connection and
engagement with their community 61% 3 9 Similar
Palo Alto as a place to raise children 83% 5 12 Similar Palo Alto as a place to retire 53% 7 11 Similar
Openness and acceptance of the
community towards people of diverse
backgrounds 64% 3 10 Similar
Making all residents feel welcome 66% 6 9 Similar
Attracting people from diverse
backgrounds 57% 7 9 Similar
Valuing/respecting residents from
diverse backgrounds 68% 5 9 Similar
Taking care of vulnerable residents
(elderly, disabled, homeless, etc.) 50% 5 9 Similar
Opportunities to participate in social
events and activities 65% 5 11 Similar
Opportunities to participate in
community matters 68% 4 10 Similar
Table 13: Participation
Participation Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Contacted the City of Palo Alto (in-
person, phone, email or web) for help or
information 54% 1 11 Higher
Contacted Palo Alto elected officials (in-
person, phone, email or web) to express
your opinion 17% 5 10 Similar
Attended a local public meeting (of local
elected officials like City Council or
County Commissioners, advisory boards, 20% 5 10 Similar Watched (online or on television) a local
public meeting 18% 8 10 Similar
Volunteered your time to some
group/activity in Palo Alto 39% 1 10 Higher
Participation Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Voted in your most recent local election 70% 8 9 Similar
Table 14: Focus Areas
Importance Items
Percent
essential or
very important Rank
Number of
communities in
comparison
Comparison to
benchmark
Overall economic health of Palo
Alto. 87% 8 10 Similar
Overall “built environment” of Palo
Alto (including overall design,
buildings, parks and transportation
systems) 81% 2 10 Higher
Overall feeling of safety in Palo Alto 87% 8 10 Similar Overall quality of natural
environment in Palo Alto 84% 4 10 Similar
Overall health and wellness
opportunities in Palo Alto 71% 6 10 Similar
Overall opportunities for education,
culture and the arts 72% 5 10 Similar
Residents’ connection and
engagement with their community 61% 7 10 Similar