In 2022, the City of Bedford conducted its first National Community Survey, in partnership with National Research Center and Polco. The purpose of the survey was to have a baseline of residents' opinions on the "livability" of Bedford. A livable community is a desirable community - a place where people want to live.
The survey measures residents' opinions about 10 characteristics of a community, including:
- Economy
- Mobility
- Community Design
- Utilities
- Safety
- Natural Environment
- Parks and Recreation
- Health and Wellness
- Education, Arts, and Culture
- Inclusivity and Engagement
The survey was conducted January 27 - March 17, 2022. Approximately 2,700 households (Bedford has approximately 20,000 households) received a survey to complete, but also had the option to complete the survey online. All results were weighted to reflect the most recent demographic data to estimate all residents' opinions, within a 95% confidence level. A separate open participation survey, with identical questions, was conducted and open to all residents March 3 - March 17, 2022. However, the open participation survey was not considered statistically valid since NRC/Polco could not confirm residency nor the number of times a person participated in the online survey.
For more information about how the survey was conducted and its results, please view the 2022 National Community Survey Results.