Newport News City Council Reviews 2025 Community Survey Results
Findings highlight resident views on quality of life, safety, and economic priorities ahead of strategic planning retreat
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The Newport News City Council recently reviewed the results of the 2025 National Community Survey (NCS), part of the city’s effort to incorporate resident feedback into strategic planning and policymaking. Administered by survey firm Polco, the findings were presented during a City Council work session on June 24 and will help shape priorities at the upcoming July retreat.
The survey, conducted from April 8 to May 23, was distributed to 7,000 randomly selected households in Newport News, with 313 statistically valid responses received. An additional 698 residents participated through an open survey. Polco applied demographic weighting to ensure a representative sample, using U.S. Census and American Community Survey data.
According to the results, nearly 9 in 10 residents rated the city’s overall quality of life as "excellent, good, or fair." Roughly 60% said they plan to stay in Newport News over the next five years and would recommend it as a place to live. Parks and Recreation received the highest satisfaction ratings among the ten measured facets of livability, while Safety and Economy were noted as areas needing improvement due to their lower quality scores and higher importance to residents.
While 80% of respondents reported feeling safe in their neighborhoods during the day, only about half felt safe in downtown areas—contributing to Safety being rated below national benchmarks. Economic health also emerged as a concern, with low scores for cost of living and downtown vibrancy.
"These insights will play a critical role in shaping our upcoming strategic plan and help set priorities during the July retreat," said City Manager Alan Archer. "The survey gathered valuable feedback from residents on a wide range of topics including quality of life, satisfaction with city services, and perceptions of community livability."
The National Community Survey allows for comparisons with more than 500 other localities nationwide. Of the 122 survey items assessed, 93 aligned with national averages, 27 fell below, and two were rated much lower than comparable communities.
City staff will use the results to guide budget decisions and refine strategic goals. The city will also continue public engagement efforts through additional events and surveys later this year.
A Newport News Daily contributor produced this post with AI and these sources: