For the fifth time in a row, Hutchinson residents say their overall quality of life here is good.
That is the finding of a National Citizen Survey conducted earlier this year. The survey measures livability and captures opinions, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among government, private sector, organizations and residents, according to City Administrator Matt Jaunich.
“It’s really the gold standard in community assessments,” Jaunich said. “It’s a benchmarking survey, it provides a comprehensive and actuary picture of livability and resident perceptions about local government services, policies and management.”
National Citizen Survey separates its survey results into 10 facets of a livable community — safety, mobility, natural environment, community design, utilities, economy, parks and recreation, education, arts and culture, inclusivity and engagement and health and wellness.
Three thousand surveys were sent out this past summer, with 761 respondents, the largest collection ever for this survey. Households were randomly selected, and the survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%. The 26% response rate was the lowest in recent history.
“There are no bad results,” Juanich said. “The purpose of this is intended for us to learn and improve results, offer insights into resident’s perspectives about the community as a whole.”
The 2023 survey not only looks at life in the present but also compares results to previous years and benchmarks on a national scale. Additionally, 74 opt-in online surveys were received, which are detailed in a separate report.
“It describes areas where the community believes things are going well and then it shifts lights on areas that could benefit from improvement throughout the community,” Jaunich said.
There was a demographic shift in survey respondents from the last survey completed in 2019, with 71% being 55 and older-compared to 36% in previous surveys, 59% female-up from 52%, and 80% homeowners-compared to 70%.
Quality of life
The survey found 84% of Hutchinson residents rated overall quality of life as excellent or good. This is similar to those found in other communities across the nation and represents a positive trend from previous years. In 2019, the figure stood at 84%, an increase from 2007, where it was at 79%. Online responses echoed this trend at 78%.
Residents identified the economy and safety as their top priorities for the next two years, consistent with their concerns in 2019. An addition to the list was the overall quality of utility infrastructure, which was rated highly at 85%.
Hutchinson received high marks as a place to live, with 88% rating it as excellent or good.
“That rating keeps going up, which is good, and more and more people are at least saying, �Hey, this is a great place to live,’” Jaunich said. “Then another 90% plan to remain in Hutchinson for the next five years, which is also a continual increase in that percentage.”
Economy
The survey found that 68% of respondents rated the overall economic health of Hutchinson as excellent or good, consistent with national trends and showing a slight improvement from 2015 (67%). Seventy-five percent would recommend Hutchinson as a place to work, and 64% would recommend it as a place to visit, aligning with trends in other communities.
Hutchinson residents gave positive ratings to various economic facets, including the quality of business and service establishments, downtown and commercial areas, employment opportunities, shopping opportunities, and economic development services. The cost of living remained the same at 39%.
Mobility
A new question this year asked about the quality of the city’s transportation system in which 63% rated the overall quality as good or excellent.
“It was kind of an overall look at the total transportation system, traffic flow, major streets,” Jaunich said.
Hutchinson residents also gave high marks to walking, biking and traffic enforcement services. Street repair services saw a significant increase, from 26% in 2019 to 43% in 2023. Snow removal services remained steady at 76%, while public transportation use was slightly below the national average.
Community design
A majority of residents (71%) found the overall design or layout of residential and commercial areas to be excellent or good, consistent with national averages.
While public places and neighborhoods received positive rating for, the availability of affordable, quality housing decreased from 43% in 2019 to 28% in 2023. However, residential and commercial growth, as well as the preservation of the historical or cultural character of the community, were rated positively.
Utilities
Survey respondents gave positive ratings to the quality of the city’s utility infrastructure, with 83% calling it excellent or good, exceeding national benchmarks.
Residents also gave favorable ratings to garbage collection, drinking water, sewer services and stormwater management, with the latter notably exceeding national averages. Power (electric and/or gas) services received an 89% positive rating, while affordable high-speed internet services had a 54% positive rating, marking the first time this question was included in the survey.
Safety
The survey found 83% of residents feel safe within the city, giving a rating of excellent or good. Additionally, residents feel safe in their neighborhoods during the day 95% and in the downtown or commercial area 93%.
Residents also positively rated police services, crime prevention services and emergency preparedness, with most facets aligning with national averages. Fire services, however, saw a decrease from 96% in 2019 to 89% in 2023, while fire prevention and education services decreased from 85% in 2019 to 79% in 2023.
Natural Environment
In Hutchinson, 84% of residents rated the overall quality of the natural environment as excellent or good, aligning with national benchmarks.
The cleanliness of the city slightly decreased from 86% to 85%. Water resources such as rivers, lakes and ponds received a first-time rating of 65%. Preservation of natural areas increased from 70% to 76%. Air quality ratings decreased from 79% in 2019 to 77% in 2023. The quality of Hutchinson’s open spaces saw a notable increase from 65% in 2019 to 76% in 2023, exceeding national averages.
Recycling services and yard waste pick-up services showed a decrease.
Parks and recreation
The quality of parks and recreation opportunities received excellent or good rating from 85% of respondents.
Availability of paths and walking trails increased from 84% in 2019 to 88% in 2023, surpassing national averages. While fitness opportunities showed a minor dip from 82% in 2019 to 81% in 2023, recreational opportunities remained high at 88%. The quality of city parks experienced a slight increase, with 89% in 2023 compared to 88% in 2019.
However, there were some areas that faced minor setbacks. Recreational programs and classes, as well as recreational centers and facilities, showed a decline from 78% in 2019 to 76% in 2023. Despite this, Hutchinson’s parks and recreational offerings are well in line with those of other communities throughout the nation, according to survey results.
Health and wellness
A majority, 68% of respondents, rated overall health and wellness opportunities within Hutchinson as excellent or good, mirroring national averages.
The availability of affordable quality food saw a slight decrease, from 73% in 2019 to 62% in 2023. Similarly, the availability of affordable, quality health care and preventive health services showed minor declines. Most notably, the availability of affordable quality mental health care decreased from 58% in 2019 to 48% in 2023.
Education, arts and culture
Education, culture and the arts’ role in enhancing civic engagement and social tolerance was viewed by excellent or good from 75% of respondents, echoing the trends in other communities throughout the nation.
Resident’s views on opportunities to attend cultural, arts and music activities saw a significant increase, from 66% in 2019 to 71% in 2023.
The community’s support for the arts received a first-time rating of 70%, while the availability of affordable quality childcare/preschool decreased from 51% in 2019 to 41% in 2023.
Public library services received an increase from 84% in 2019 to 90% in 2023.
Inclusivity and engagement
Survey results showed 58% of residents rated their connection and engagement with the community as excellent or good. This reflects the feelings of belonging, inclusion, and involvement that residents experience. This is the first time this question was included in the survey, and online responses aligned at 49%.
Hutchinson made strides in fostering a sense of community, with 84% of residents saying the city is a good to excellent place to raise children. The city also achieved 68% good to excellent rating as a place to retire.
The sense of community and neighborliness showed positive trends, and opportunities to participate in social events and activities increased from 63% in 2019 to 65% in 2023. While opportunities to volunteer and participate in community matters remained steady at 74% and 65%, respectively. Some areas need improvement, such as the decrease in openness and acceptance of the community toward people of diverse backgrounds from 50% in 2019 to 48% in 2023.
Governance
Seventy-four percent of residents rated the overall quality of services provided by the city as excellent or good, which is down slightly from 78% in 2019.
However, opinions varied regarding the value of services for taxes paid, with 52% offering a positive rating.
Moreover, 59% of residents believed the city’s overall direction was excellent or good, while 54% stated that the city was welcoming of citizen involvement.
The survey results showed 42% of residents have contacted the city for help or information, and 11% have contacted a Hutchinson elected official to express their opinions. A similar proportion have attended local public meetings and watched local public meetings online. In addition, 76% exercised their right to vote in the most recent local election.
While 44% of residents indicated they have volunteered their time for various groups and activities.
“And while that’s down and has decreased, we’re still higher than what most communities see for volunteerism, which is I think kudos to the community,” Jaunich said. “Especially those who have been involved in service groups. It’s harder and harder to find volunteers, but we still are generally a community that volunteers more than other communities.”
