Residents of Arlington County are highly satisfied with Arlington’s core services and quality of life and report positive experiences with County staff, according to the most recent Resident Satisfaction Survey.
More than 1,600 individuals participated in the seventh such survey, with 82% of respondents satisfied with the quality of services provided by Arlington County. That represents a 4% increase compared to the previous survey, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. In addition, participation increased by about 300 people from the 2022 survey.
News Release: Residents “Highly Satisfied” with by Key County Services, Survey Finds
Survey Highlights
- 81.9% of residents indicated they were satisfied with the overall quality of services provided by the County and 79.5% with the overall image of Arlington.
- Satisfaction has rebounded meaningfully across several service areas since 2022, with notable gains in police services (increased 8% from 2022), human services (13%), and the quality of public schools (7%). Satisfaction for the quality of Parks and Recreation programs and facilities nearly matched 2018 levels, while that for arts and cultural programs jumped 9%, surpassing 2018 levels.
- Parks and Recreation is one of the strongest performing sections in the entire survey, with satisfaction ratings consistently high across all the surveyed items.
- Final Report(PDF, 7MB) (prepared by Zilo International Group)
- Presentation for the June 17, 2026, County Board Recessed Meeting(PDF, 3MB) (prepared by Zilo International Group)
- Complete data set(XLSX, 2MB) (Excel Spreadsheet)
Methodology
The statistically valid survey was conducted by Zilo International Group, a strategic management consulting firm that provides advisory services to public, private, and nonprofit organizations.
The 2026 Arlington County Resident Survey employed a rigorous and inclusive methodology designed to capture diverse resident perspectives across neighborhoods, demographics, and service experiences. A multi-modal distribution strategy, extensive in-person outreach, and partnerships with community-based and faith-based organizations helped broaden participation and improve representation, particularly among traditionally underrepresented populations. The survey, which was also translated into Spanish, was available both online, on paper, and by phone.