County releases findings from 2024 National Community Survey

Los Alamos County has released the results of the 2024 National Community Survey, which was conducted in August. Administered by Polco, the survey gathered residents' insights into ten key facets of livability in Los Alamos County and compared these findings with 2020 and 2022 results and to national benchmarks from over 500 communities. The findings highlight both high-performing areas and opportunities for improvement.

 

County officials thank the community for taking the time to provide this valuable feedback.  Polco will present the findings to the Los Alamos County Council via Zoom at the October 29 Council meeting, held at White Rock Fire Station #3 at 6 p.m. The full presentation and report are available now on the Los Alamos County website.  

The ten facets of livability covered in the survey are 1. Safety, 2. Mobility, 3. Community Design, 4. Inclusivity & Engagement, 5. Health & Wellness, 6. Economy, 7. Utilities, 8. Parks and Recreation, 9. Natural Environment, and 10. Education, Arts & Culture.

 

Of these, two - Natural Environment and Mobility - scored higher than the national benchmarks and one - Safety - scored notably much higher than national benchmarks. Los Alamos residents reported an overwhelmingly strong sense of safety, with 97% rating the overall feeling of safety in the county as excellent or good. In addition, 94% of respondents rated the quality of the natural environment as excellent or good, and 74% of residents rated Mobility as good or excellent. 

 

Seven facets were rated similar to national benchmarks: 84% of respondents rated Parks and Recreation as good or excellent, followed by 73% for Health and Wellness, 71% for Utilities, 66% for Education, Arts & Culture, 61% for Economy, 59% for Inclusivity and Engagement, and 52% for Community Design.

 

Residents gave particularly positive feedback on recreational and fitness opportunities, with walking trails receiving ratings much higher than national averages. Public library services were also highly rated, surpassing national benchmarks. 

 

Additionally, 74% of residents rated the quality of services provided by Los Alamos County as good or excellent, a significant increase from 2022. However, only 47% and 42% rated services from the federal and state governments, respectively, as good or excellent.

 

Several challenges remain, particularly in the local economy. Although some economic indicators have improved since 2022, the overall quality and variety of business and service establishments, vibrancy of the downtown area, and shopping opportunities were rated lower than national averages. Affordability is also a concern, with the cost of living and availability of affordable housing, health care, and food scoring below national benchmarks.

 

In terms of community design, areas such as residential and commercial growth, housing options, and overall quality of new development also received lower ratings than the national average.

 

The survey's custom questions provided additional insights into evolving community needs. Residents emphasized the importance of addressing housing and supporting local businesses, followed by governance issues, such as fiscal stewardship and maintaining effective and reliable services.

Of the 122 evaluative questions asked in both 2022 and 2024, 31 items showed upward trends, while two showed downward trends. Satisfaction with the county’s power utility services increased by 23%, and the overall quality of utility infrastructure improved by 22%. However, satisfaction with open space saw an 11% decline and satisfaction with the federal government saw a 9% decline.

 

The complete results of the 2024 National Community Survey and a PowerPoint presentation are available on the Los Alamos County website. For more information, please contact Julie Williams-Hill or Leslie Bucklin in the Public Information Office at julie.williams@lacnm.us or le.bucklin@lacnm.us.