Ninety-five percent of Marion residents rated the community as an excellent or good place to live and 91% rated the overall quality of life positively, according to a recent survey by Polco and the National Research Center Inc. Ninety-three percent of respondents indicated they intend to remain in Marion for the next five years.
The National Community Survey included a representative sample of approximately 3,000 households who were invited to participate in the survey.
The survey measured the overall livability of communities, taking into consideration the relationship between government entities, the private sector, community-based organizations and the residents of a geographic area.
Marion’s ratings were compared to national benchmarks from over 500 communities representing a wide geographic and population range. The results were also compared to a select subset of the database with similar characteristics to Marion; secondary cities (in a metro but not the primary city), similar in both population and annual household income.
The results show ratings for Marion government performance are strong and above national averages. Satisfaction with public information services increased by 10 percentage points and overall confidence in Marion government, honesty and transparency all scored higher than the national and peer benchmarks.
“It is so gratifying to see these results,” said Marion Mayor Nicolas AbouAssaly in a news release. “When we look at our trend data, we see consistently high marks from residents for the level of service they receive and the opportunities their city provides them.”
When assessing city services, about 9 in 10 respondents were pleased with the customer service provided by the city. Ninety-two percent of respondents indicated that Marion is an excellent or good place to raise children and 87% of residents positively rated the overall feeling of safety in Marion. The new Marion Public Library and associated services achieved a 96% approval rating.
In addition, nine in 10 residents identified utility infrastructure as a priority. While several aspects of Marion’s economy showed improvement since the 2021 survey, the economy continues to be a focus for residents.
“The data reaffirms many of the initiatives that are currently underway and will help inform a refresh of our Strategic Plan so that future projects align with our community’s desires,” said City Manager Ryan Waller.
The five-page survey was administered between September and October 2023 to a random sample of 3,000 households. Five hundred ninety-three responses were received, achieving a margin of error of no greater than +/- 4 percentage points. The data was then weighted to reflect the demographic characteristics of the community. Toward the end of data collection, a web-based survey was available to all residents and 272 residents opted to participate.
To view the 2023 National Community Survey results, visit cityofmarion.org.
