08/06/2026 - Community Survey: Residents See Progress, but They Also Expect More

Community survey: Residents see progress, but they also expect more.

Olympia residents see the city differently than they did three years ago.

Our latest Community Survey found that more residents believe Olympia is headed in the right direction, more people report feeling safe, and satisfaction has increased across many areas of city life. At the same time, homelessness and housing remain the community's top priorities for the third survey in a row, with downtown cleanliness and beautification also ranking high.

The survey also confirms that residents expect the City to keep making progress on the issues that matter most.

That work is already underway. Olympia continues to partner with Thurston County, the City of Lacey, the Washington State Department of Commerce, nonprofit service providers, law enforcement agencies, and outreach partners to address housing and homelessness. Over the past several years, the City has closed 14 encampments through coordinated outreach, housing navigation, and partnerships with service providers. Today, The Jungle is the last remaining large encampment the City is working to address through a phased, regional approach.

The survey also found:

• More residents say Olympia is headed in the right direction than in 2023.

• Satisfaction increased across nearly every quality-of-life measure.

• Nearly two-thirds of residents now say they feel safe in Olympia.

• Downtown safety perceptions improved during both the day and after dark.

• Residents continue to value Olympia's parks, recreation opportunities, arts and culture, and natural environment.

• Read the complete survey summary report

Mayor Dontae Payne has written a blog post that includes detailed survey findings, graphics, and more information about how the City will use community feedback to help shape future decisions.