Inflation, transportation and homelessness are the top concerns of North Texans, according to a study conducted by the University of Texas at Dallas.
The William Short Annual Quality of Life Survey, conducted by researchers at UTD’s Urban Policy Institute and the North Texas Quality of Life Initiative, reveals how satisfied North Texas residents are with their local government. , it has also been measured how well people know their neighbors. and what are the most important issues facing their communities.
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Approximately 2,900 residents of Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, and Denton counties participated in the 20-minute survey, which was administered in English and Spanish. Dallas County was divided into North Dallas County and South Dallas County.
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As the region grows, it’s important to have access to data that informs where resources should be allocated and what policies will improve the quality of life for North Texans, said Tim Bray, director of the institute. He said there is.
Of the survey respondents, 51.4% identified themselves as women and 48.6% as men. Approximately half of respondents were under 45 years old.
By race and ethnicity, just under 50% were non-Hispanic white, and 27.4% were Hispanic or Latino. About 17% were black and 8% were Asian.
The initiative focused on local issues and how government and policies affect residents’ daily lives.
Satisfaction was highest in Collin and Denton counties, with 53% and 51%, respectively, reporting that their government was functioning somewhat or very well. By comparison, 44% of people in northern Dallas County report government performance as good or very good, compared to 42% of Tarrant County and 38% of southern Dallas County.
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White respondents reported higher levels of satisfaction than others, while Black respondents reported lower levels of satisfaction.
Almost one in four respondents identified inflation and prices as the most important issue. Just over 1 in 10 traffic jams have been confirmed. More than 5% cited homelessness, crime and gun violence as other issues.
Approximately 29% of respondents said they had filed a complaint with the department, an official representative, or both. The remaining respondents said they did nothing. Respondents in southern Dallas County were most likely to take action, with 40% engaging with local officials in one or both ways.
The study also looked at voting participation and citizen engagement. Half of North Texans strongly agree that voting is a civic duty, with at least 76% agreeing.
Respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 were the most likely to oppose it, with 17% opposing or strongly opposing voting as a civic duty.
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Another question examined attitudes regarding the effort required to participate in local politics.
About 38% of North Texas respondents agreed or strongly agreed that getting involved in local politics requires a lot of effort and money. This sentiment was slightly higher in northern Dallas County, where 43% agreed or strongly agreed.
The North Texas Quality of Life Initiative plans to conduct another study next spring. The goal is to conduct the study over several years to see trends and compare numbers.
Results can be viewed on your online dashboard. Anyone can access the data and filter by a variety of options, including gender, race, religion, political views, and state. Users can save and download filtered data.
To learn more about this initiative, visit the North Texas Quality of Life Initiative website.
