City of Palo Alto Resident Survey
April 2015
1241 John Q. Hammons Dr, Suite #203
Madison, WI 53717
info.polco.us • 608-709-8683
CITY OF PALO ALTO
COMMUNITY SURVEY 2024
Supplemental Benchmarks
November 2024
Report of Results
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 78% 5 14 Higher The overall quality of life in Palo Alto 89% 4 15 Similar Palo Alto as a place to live 91% 5 15 Similar
Recommend living in Palo Alto to someone who
asks
78% 11 14 Similar
Remain in Palo Alto for the next five years 79% 11 14 Similar
Table 2: Governance
Governance Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities
in
comparison
Comparison
to
benchmark
Overall confidence in Palo Alto government 49% 7 14 Similar The overall direction that Palo Alto is taking 47% 9 14 Similar The value of services for the taxes paid to Palo
Alto
56% 4 14 Similar
Generally acting in the best interest of the
community
53% 7 14 Similar
Being honest 61% 5 14 Similar
Being open and transparent to the public 53% 6 13 Similar Informing residents about issues facing the
community
58% 2 13 Similar
The job Palo Alto government does at
welcoming citizen involvement
54% 6 14 Similar
Treating all residents fairly 66% 3 14 Similar
Treating residents with respect 74% 3 13 Similar
The City of Palo Alto 74% 2 14 Similar
The Federal Government 41% 6 14 Similar
Report of Results
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
71% 6 14 Similar
Variety of business and service establishments
in Palo Alto
54% 7 13 Similar
Vibrancy of downtown/commercial area 59% 7 13 Similar
Shopping opportunities 66% 4 14 Higher
Palo Alto as a place to visit 70% 8 14 Similar
Palo Alto as a place to work 84% 2 14 Higher
Employment opportunities 64% 2 14 Higher
Cost of living in Palo Alto 8% 12 14 Lower
Table 4: Mobility
Mobility Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities
in
comparison
Comparison
to
benchmark
Traffic flow on major streets 48% 6 15 Similar
Ease of travel by car in Palo Alto 72% 6 14 Similar
Ease of travel by public transportation in Palo
Alto
31% 11 14 Similar
Ease of travel by bicycle in Palo Alto 81% 2 14 Higher
Ease of walking in Palo Alto 82% 2 14 Higher
Ease of public parking 68% 4 14 Similar
Traffic enforcement 56% 8 15 Similar
Traffic signal timing 57% 4 14 Similar
Street repair 52% 7 15 Similar
Street cleaning 80% 2 15 Higher
Sidewalk maintenance 57% 5 14 Similar
Used bus, rail or other public transportation
instead of driving
43% 5 14 Similar
Carpooled with other adults or children instead
of driving alone
59% 4 14 Similar
Walked or biked instead of driving 86% 1 14 Higher
Report of Results
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)
75% 2 14 Higher
Your neighborhood as a place to live 93% 3 14 Similar
Overall quality of new development in Palo Alto 41% 9 14 Similar Variety of housing options 24% 12 14 Similar
Availability of affordable quality housing 11% 12 14 Similar Land use, planning and zoning 41% 8 15 Similar
Code enforcement (weeds, abandoned
buildings, etc.)
44% 7 14 Similar
Table 6: Utilities
Utilities Items
Percent
positive Rank
Number of
communities
in
comparison
Comparison
to
benchmark
Affordable high-speed internet access 44% 10 13 Similar Drinking water 84% 3 13 Higher
Sewer services 83% 4 13 Similar
Storm water management (storm drainage,
dams, levees, etc.)
77% 2 14 Similar
Utility payment options 80% 1 12 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 88% 4 14 Higher
Police emergency services 81% 4 15 Similar
Crime prevention 69% 5 14 Similar
Animal control 82% 1 13 Higher
Ambulance or emergency medical services 91% 1 13 Higher Fire emergency services 92% 2 13 Similar
Fire prevention and education 80% 3 13 Similar
Report of Results
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
87% 5 14 Similar
Preservation of natural areas (open space,
farmlands and greenbelts)
81% 5 14 Similar
Palo Alto open space (e.g. Foothills, Baylands) 89% 2 14 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% 8 14 Similar City parks 90% 2 14 Higher
Recreational opportunities 79% 5 15 Similar
Recreation programs or classes 80% 2 14 Higher
Recreation centers or facilities 81% 2 14 Higher
Fitness opportunities (including exercise
classes and paths or trails, etc.)
78% 6 14 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
85% 2 14 Higher
Availability of affordable quality mental health
care
34% 7 14 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
70% 3 15 Higher
Availability of affordable quality child
care/preschool
34% 9 14 Similar
K-12 education 89% 1 14 Much Higher
Adult educational opportunities 83% 1 14 Higher
Report of Results
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% 4 13 Similar
Palo Alto as a place to raise children 84% 4 15 Similar Palo Alto as a place to retire 54% 7 15 Similar
Openness and acceptance of the community
towards people of diverse backgrounds
71% 4 14 Similar
Making all residents feel welcome 68% 8 13 Similar
Attracting people from diverse backgrounds 59% 9 13 Similar Valuing/respecting residents from diverse
backgrounds
71% 6 13 Similar
Taking care of vulnerable residents (elderly,
disabled, homeless, etc.)
52% 6 13 Similar
Opportunities to participate in social events
and activities
65% 5 14 Similar
Opportunities to participate in community
matters
68% 5 14 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
57% 1 14 Higher
Contacted Palo Alto elected officials (in-
person, phone, email or web) to express your
opinion
17% 6 14 Similar
Attended a local public meeting (of local
elected officials like City Council or County
Commissioners, advisory boards,
17% 11 14 Similar
Watched (online or on television) a local public
meeting
16% 11 14 Similar
Volunteered your time to some group/activity
in Palo Alto
40% 2 13 Higher
Voted in your most recent local election 73% 6 12 Similar
Report of Results
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. 78% 14 14 Similar Overall “built environment” of Palo Alto
(including overall design, buildings, parks and
transportation systems)
79% 3 14 Similar
Overall feeling of safety in Palo Alto 82% 12 14 Similar Overall quality of natural environment in Palo
Alto
79% 8 14 Similar
Overall health and wellness opportunities in
Palo Alto
61% 14 14 Lower
Overall opportunities for education, culture and
the arts
69% 7 14 Similar
Residents’ connection and engagement with
their community
60% 13 14 Similar