Stafford County Community Survey Highlights Resident Priorities and Community Strengths

Stafford County has released the results of its 2026 National Community Survey, providing valuable feedback from residents on community strengths, challenges and priorities for the future.

The survey, conducted in partnership with Polco and the National Research Center, gathered feedback from a representative sample of Stafford County households and will help inform future planning, budgeting and service improvements.

Overall, residents reported positive experiences living in Stafford County. Nearly three-quarters of respondents rated Stafford as a good or excellent place to live, and more than seven in 10 rated it positively for raising children. About 71 percent said they plan to remain in Stafford County over the next five years.

Safety remains one of the County's strongest attributes. More than 90 percent of residents reported feeling safe in their neighborhoods during the day, while Fire and Rescue, EMS and law enforcement services all received strong ratings.

The survey also found that residents view Stafford as a welcoming community and value efforts to attract and support people from diverse backgrounds.

Areas identified for improvement included transportation and mobility, economic development, affordability and community design. Residents cited traffic flow, transportation options, housing affordability and growth planning as key concerns.

When asked what Stafford County should prioritize over the next two years, residents ranked the economy, safety and mobility as their top priorities.

"This survey gives us a better understanding of what residents value most and where they would like to see continued progress," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Deuntay Diggs. "The feedback helps us make informed decisions as we work to enhance quality of life and address community priorities."

County leaders will use the survey results alongside other public engagement efforts and performance measures to help guide future decision-making and strategic initiatives.

The National Community Survey is conducted every two years and allows Stafford County to compare resident feedback over time and against communities across the country. The 2026 National Community Survey is Stafford's third community survey.

Residents can view the complete survey results and presentation on the Stafford County website at https://www.staffordcountyva.gov/communitysurvey.