HIGHLIGHTS | 2 | 2014 R RESULTS MAY 2 2014 | | http://zandanpoll.com
Thank you for taking the time to read the highlight results of this 2014 public opinion poll of the Austin community. ! I undertook this project as a longtime citizen of Austin who has watched the community grow and evolve over the years, for better and worse. More and more, I have heard friends, family, colleagues, community leaders and the media talk about Austin's past and future. Now, more than ever, there seems to be a divergence of opinion ! regarding our growth and the impact it has brought to our community. ! ! This survey stemmed from my Austin experience and my professional curiosity to find a way to objectively and scientifically measure how Austin citizens feel about the changes going on around them and about their connection to the city. The demographically representative online poll surveyed 804 Austin-area residents 18 years of age or older, and was fielded from April 15-29, 2014. It was offered in English and Spanish. Respondents were from the City of Austin, as well as surrounding Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell and Bastrop counties. You can find the full research results at: http://zandanpoll.com. I have conducted survey research and social analytics for more than 30 years, and I know the benefits it can bring, through discussions with civic groups and organizations, in addressing challenges and opportunities. ! ! I hope this poll helps achieve that goal for the Austin community. ! Peter Zandan, Ph.D. Poll Director and Sponsor 2
Overall, We Like Ourselves A majority of Austin-area residents ! Austin R n Resident nts… say Austin is the “Top City” in the U.S. (77% somewhat/strongly describes), they would recommend it to others (74% probably/ definitely would), and that they are proud of Austin (68% agree). Almost two-thirds say they are unlikely to move. Those who are most likely to ! recommend the city are: 77 77% 74 74% Highly active community 68% 68% ! 65% 65% members – 82% would recommend Newcomers (been in Austin ! five or fewer years) – 81% Say Austin is the Recommend Proud to live in Unlikely to would recommend Top City in the living in or Austin move or only if Young (18-34) – 80% would U.S. around Austin to had to ! recommend friends 3
Yes, We’re Keeping it Weird…and Growing Most Austinites (89%) believe ! Austin U n Uni niquene ness “Austin is weird.” More than half (51%) say it is unique but becoming more similar to other say describes major U.S. cities. 89% 89% the Austin area Other features that Austinites ! believe somewhat/strongly describe Austin include: Austin is… Fastest growing city (93%) ! Live Music Capital of the ! Doing a good job of Unique but becoming World (92%) Similar to other remaining unique from more similar to other major U.S. cities other major U.S. cities major U.S. cities Best nightlife (90%) ! 11% 11 38% 38% 51% 51 Best dining and ! entertainment (89%) Best city to start a business ! (84%) Best city to start a career ! (79%) Healthiest city (78%) ! 4
No City for Old Slackers The best way to look at Austin is ! Austin i n is… through the lens of age. Using the age cohort as a filter, those who are younger are significantly more Millennials Older Population positive than older Austinites (particularly those who have been in Austin 21+ years). Millennials (18-34 years old) are ! Right direction more likely than older Austinites 46% 46% Austin is headed 67% 67% (35+) to believe that Austin is 37 37% 19 19% in the… Wrong track “moving in the right direction” and to agree with the statement “Austin is my city.” (This supports findings that Austin is the #1 city for Millennials.*) Perceptions of Austin are not ! Austin is differentiated, but are quite 64 64% 43% 43% uniform, across the following “My City” groups: Income levels ! Gender ! Political parties ! Live in City of Austin/Live ! outside City of Austin 5 *According to Nielsen, Austin indexes highest in the U.S. for concentration of Millennials.
Millennials See Blue Skies Ahead Almost two-thirds of Millennials ! Austin C n Cha hang nging ng f for t the he B Better believe Austin has stayed the same or gotten better over the past five years, and will continue this trend Millennials Older Population in the next five years. Far fewer older Austinites believe the same. In fact, almost half (46%) of the ! Austin has stayed older population believe Austin has become worse over the last five the same or 63% 63% 47 47% years, and 41% believe this gotten better deterioration will continue. (past f five y years) Millennials also feel that: ! They have personally ! benefitted from Austin’s economic growth (56% of Austin will stay Millennials say they have the same or get benefitted somewhat/ 60% 60% 46% 46% greatly vs. 43% of the older better population) (ne next f five y years) Austin is doing a good job of ! remaining unique (51% of Millennials agree vs. 30% of those who are older) 6
Traffic Tops Our List of Concerns The top unaided mentions from What do you think are the three most important problems ! Austinites of the most important facing Austin today? (Verbatim feedback) ! problems are traffic/roads/ transportation, population Traffic/Roads/Trans nsportation ! 80% ! “Traffic. Traffic. Traffic.” 80% growth, housing affordability and “Population and the factors that come with water/drought. 29% 29% ! Popula lation Gr n Growth h rapid growth.” A common theme that emerges ! “Lack of affordable housing for the many new is the overall perception that 26% ! 26% Housing ng A Affordabili lity y families moving in to the city.” Austin is growing at a faster clip than resources can currently 20% ! Water/Dr Drought ht “Drought; shrinking water supply.” 20% accommodate. Traffic is a major driver of ! Austin' n's V View o of T Traffic dissatisfaction for Austinites. Among the 20% who would not Reason t n to no not recommend Austin to a friend, Bla lame me t the he c city y recomme mmend nd A Austin t n to a a “Too much traffic” is the primary pla lanne nners f for t traffic friend nd ( (amo mong ng t tho hose reason. Support for possible The he t traffic i is who ho w would ld no not solutions includes: The he t traffic ma makes anno nnoyi ying ng recomme mmend nd) 85% support “Improving the hem a m ang ngry e y every d y day y ! 63% 63% 47% 47 33% 33% public transportation” 84% support “Building ! 48% 48% more roads” 69% say the City of Austin ! should increase urban rail routes into congested areas of downtown Austin 7
Affordability Is Also a Big Concern Austin is seen as particularly well How w well s ll suited i is A Austin f n for e each o h of t the he f follo llowing ng g groups ? ? ! (6 to 10 on a 0-10 point scale) suited for young adults without children (89%), gays and lesbians ldren ! Young ng a adult lts w witho hout c chi hild 89% ! 89% (85%), and Asian Americans (81%). 85% ! Ga Gays ys a and nd le lesbians ns 85% However, Austinites note this city is Asian A n Ame mericans ns 81% ! 81 not a great place for the poor (only Fami mili lies w with y h young ng c chi hild ldren n 76% ! 76 27%). Two-thirds of Austin-area residents Hispani nics 76% ! 76 ! say they are dissatisfied with Young ng c colle llege g graduates lo looki king ng f for w work k 71% ! 71 housing affordability and the cost African A n Ame mericans ns 69% 69% ! of housing, and 59% are Middle le c cla lass 68% ! 68% dissatisfied with the cost of living. People le o over t the he a age o of 5 50 67% ! 67% When asked how Austin compares ! Sing ngle le p parent nts 65% ! 65% to other cities in terms of housing Immi Immigrant nts 59% 59% ! affordability: 62% feel Austin is less The he p poor 27% ! 27 ! affordable than Austini nites A Are Di Dissatisfied W With… h… ! “comparable” cities Only 9% consider Austin less ! affordable than large cities 65% 65% 59% 59% 67% 67% such as L.A. and New York Availability of Cost of housing Cost of living affordable housing 8
No Longer Dazed and Confused Satisfaction a n and nd C Conf nfidenc nce i in E n Emplo loyme yment nt ! Overall job satisfaction is very ! high (87%), with 44% saying they are “somewhat satisfied” and 43% saying the are “very 71 71% 87 87% 3% 3% satisfied” with their current job. When asked to describe job ! status, only 3% said they were Job Satisfaction Describe themselves as If lost job, could find equal job in “under-employed.” (% somewhat/very satisfied “under-employed” Austin within six months with current job) (% somewhat/very confident) Austinites also have confidence ! that if they were to lose their In your life, with which group do you feel the strongest sense of current job, they could find an community? ! equal job within six months. For many, a sense of community People le f from w m work ! 22% 22% comes primarily from the people People le f from y m your ne neighb hborho hood with whom they work. 16 16% Reli ligious c commu mmuni nity Neighbors, religious 13 13% ! communities, and people Hobbies Hob es 13 13% known through shared Scho hool 12% 12% hobbies also provide a Non-w n-work o k orgs. 9% 9% sense of community. The he c city 7% 7% Onli nline ne 4% 4% Ethni hnic 4% 4% 9
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