2018 Community Survey Responses Yield High Scores for Quality of Life
Rockville’s residents believe their city has high-quality, secure neighborhoods where they can raise children and retire, that Rockville is respectful to different cultures and beliefs, and is a city committed to creating a welcoming community for all backgrounds.
| Excellent | Good | Total | |
| Quality of Life | 39% | 55% | 94% |
| Place to Raise Children | 45% | 44% | 89% |
| Welcoming to Different Cultures/Beliefs | 46% | 43% | 89% |
| Neighborhood Quality | 41% | 46% | 87% |
| Welcoming to All Backgrounds | 43% | 46% | 89% |
| Quality of Services | 26% | 61% | 87% |
| Safe and Secure | 24% | 58% | 82% |
Ninety-four percent of residents responding to the city’s 10th biennial survey said their quality of life in Rockville was excellent (39 percent) or good (55 percent).
Results from the 2018 City of Rockville Community Survey were presented to the Mayor and Council at their March 25 meeting. The scores help identify areas where the city can improve service to its residents and also plan for the future.
“The survey … permits Rockville residents to make judgements about the quality of life here, and to indicate what they like about and what can improve in the community,” the survey’s preface states.
The highest-rated services from the city were recycling and trash, yard-waste collection, the appearance of city parks, and service from the Rockville City Police Department. Eighty-seven percent of residents rated the overall quality of services in Rockville as good or excellent, and eight out of 10 reported that they felt safe in the city.
The survey compares Rockville’s results to more than 500 other jurisdictions nationwide and includes nearby municipalities such as such as Gaithersburg, College Park, Annapolis and Takoma Park. The city was rated higher or much higher in 46 out of a total 60 benchmark comparisons, such as sense of community, image and reputation, crime prevention, performance of the Mayor and Council, appearance, ease of transit and customer service.
The National Research Center, which conducted the survey, randomly selected 3,000 residents to take part. About 31 percent (895) of the surveys were returned. In general, response rates for mailed resident surveys range from 15 to 35 percent. The survey has a 3 percent margin of error.
For more details, and to see the 2016 and 2018 surveys, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/447/About-Rockville.