The Flagstaff Resident Survey serves as a consumer report card for the City of Flagstaff, providing residents the opportunity to rate their satisfaction with the quality of life in the city, the community’s amenities and local government itself. The survey also permits residents to share their priorities for community planning and resource allocation.

The Flagstaff Resident Survey was administered by mail to 2,000 randomly selected households in Flagstaff. Each selected household received three mailings beginning in March 2021. Completed surveys were collected over the following six weeks. Of the 2,000 surveys mailed, 88 were returned because they could not be delivered as addressed. Of the 1,912 households that received a survey, 434 completed the survey, providing a response rate of 23%.

Comparisons of the City of Flagstaff survey results are made to benchmark ratings from resident surveys conducted across the nation as well as in selected peer communities. Additionally, comparisons are made between the 2021 survey results and prior survey years, when available. Differences of seven percentage points or more between results from 2021 and 2013 can be considered meaningfully different.

Key findings of the 2021 survey results include:

• Flagstaff residents continue to experience a high quality of life.
• Affordability and availability of housing remain barriers to homeownership and staying within the community.
• Mobility and transportation options are highly regarded by residents, with high usage rates of the Mountain Line bus service and the Flagstaff Urban Trail System.
• Perceptions of City services were favorable and fared well when compared to ratings given in other communities.
• Residents generally feel safe in the community but express concerns over certain types of crime and discrimination.
• Residents’ assessments of Flagstaff government performance were less positive than other survey items, with some aspects declining over time.