2026 National Community Survey

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Your voice helps shape the future of Richland.

The City of Richland is conducting its third National Community Survey in 2026. The City previously conducted the survey in 2022 and 2024, and the biennial process allows us to track changes in resident perceptions over time.

The National Community Survey gathers feedback about the quality of life in Richland, City services and community priorities. Results help City leaders identify strengths, understand areas where residents see opportunities for improvement and make informed decisions about future planning and services.

The Survey Process

The 2026 survey will be conducted in two phases.

Phase One: Randomly Selected Households

Beginning in July, randomly selected Richland households will receive a postcard in the mail inviting them to participate in the survey. You may also receive a text message with a link to the survey. This is a legitimate outreach method. This scientific sampling process is designed to provide representative feedback from across the community.

If your household receives an invitation, please follow the instructions on the postcard or text message and complete the survey. The survey invitation is intended for the selected household and should not be shared.

Phase Two: Community-Wide Survey

Not selected to participate in the initial survey? You will still have an opportunity to share your feedback.

Later this summer, the survey will open online to all Richland residents. Information and a link to the community-wide survey will be posted on this page when it becomes available.

What Does the Survey Measure?

The National Community Survey asks residents about several areas that contribute to community livability, including:

Economy
Mobility and transportation
Community design
Utilities
Safety
Natural environment
Parks and recreation
Health and wellness
Education, arts and culture
Inclusivity and community engagement

The results help the City understand what residents value, where Richland is performing well and where there may be opportunities for improvement. The survey also allows Richland to compare its results with other communities across the country and track changes from previous survey years.

Why Are There Two Surveys?

The random sample survey is designed to gather statistically reliable feedback from a representative sample of Richland households. Households are randomly selected from residential addresses within the community.

The community-wide survey gives all Richland residents an opportunity to participate and share their perspectives.

Results from the random sample and community-wide surveys are analyzed separately. This allows the City to maintain the scientific integrity of the random sample while also providing an opportunity for everyone in the community to be heard.

How Will the Results Be Used?

The City will use survey results to:

Evaluate community perceptions of City services and quality of life
Identify community priorities
Track trends from the 2022 and 2024 surveys
Compare Richland with communities across the country
Help inform future planning and decision-making

Once the survey process and analysis are complete, the results will be shared with the community.

About the National Community Survey

The National Community Survey was developed by the National Research Center at Polco specifically for local governments. It is a standardized resident survey that allows communities to gather feedback and compare results with other communities nationwide.

Who can I contact with additional questions?