Sacramento, California – Residents across Sacramento recently had an opportunity to share how they feel about life in their city, and the results of that feedback are now publicly available.
The City of Sacramento has released the findings from its 2026 community survey, offering a fresh look at how people view the quality of services, public spaces, and everyday experiences throughout the city.
The information can now be explored through an interactive online dashboard designed to make the results easy for residents and officials alike to review.
The survey was organized by the City Auditor’s Office as a way to gather insight directly from the community. Participants were asked to weigh in on a wide range of topics that shape daily life in Sacramento. Questions covered issues such as public safety, transportation, the economy, parks and recreation, and how connected residents feel to the broader community.
To ensure the results reflected a balanced cross-section of voices, invitations were sent to a randomly selected group of 7,500 households. The survey period ran from January 2 through February 13, 2026. By the end of the process, 450 residents had completed the questionnaire. That number provided enough responses to offer a statistically representative picture of public opinion across the city.
Several trends stood out in this year’s findings. Overall, residents appear to feel slightly more positive about living in Sacramento than they did in the previous survey. Roughly two-thirds of respondents described the city’s overall quality of life as either excellent or good, marking an improvement compared with earlier results.
Public spaces also received encouraging marks. About 64 percent of respondents expressed favorable views of Sacramento’s parks and recreation opportunities. That figure represents a noticeable increase since the city’s 2023 survey, suggesting that investments in public amenities may be resonating with residents.
The survey also explored how people feel about the social environment of the city. More than half of respondents—56 percent—said Sacramento does a good job of helping people feel welcome. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed, about 65 percent, agreed that the city draws residents from a wide range of backgrounds, reflecting Sacramento’s diversity.
Read also: Sacramento webinar to guide residents on water saving landscaping rebates worth up to $3000
Not all areas received strong praise. Transportation and road conditions were among the concerns highlighted by respondents. Fewer than half of residents gave positive ratings to traffic flow on major streets, and satisfaction with street repair was even lower, with fewer than one in five respondents rating those efforts favorably.
When asked about priorities for Measure U funding, residents pointed to several areas where they believe resources should be focused. Affordable housing and services addressing homelessness ranked among the most significant concerns, along with community-based mental health programs and public safety efforts.
In addition to the scientifically selected sample, the city also invited broader public participation. An open version of the survey was made available to all Sacramento residents, generating 1,454 additional responses. Those results were analyzed separately and are also included in the online dashboard.
City Auditor Farishta Ahrary said the survey offers a valuable glimpse into how residents experience their city.
“The community survey gives us an important snapshot of how residents experience life in Sacramento,” Ahrary said. “The results help City leaders understand what is working well and where residents want to see continued improvement.”
The findings will be formally presented to the Sacramento City Council during a meeting scheduled for March 17 at 2 p.m., where officials will review the results and consider how the feedback may help shape future decisions.