Cary residents awarded their local government the highest scores on record in a biennial satisfaction survey, according to a May 11 statement from the Town of Cary. The results reflect improvements across all seven common service dimensions, with none falling below an A rating.
The survey matters because it helps guide decisions about how the town can improve services and quality of life for its residents. It also highlights areas where residents see challenges, such as growth, transportation, and affordable housing.
A total of 400 randomly selected Cary residents were interviewed by telephone between January 12 and February 27. They answered questions about safety, appearance, customer service from town employees, and overall quality of life. The final average for service dimensions corresponds to a grade of A-, which is the highest since Cary began administering the survey in 1998.
Interim Town Manager Russ Overton said: “This survey report gives us a clear look at what matters most to our residents and how we’re doing. It’s good to see strong ratings across our services and quality of life. We also hear the concerns about transportation and housing, and that work continues. The timing lines up well as we move forward with the next budget and keep focus on what our community expects from us.”
The report shows that the Cary Police Department improved its scores compared to 2024 with no grade below A-. The Fire Department maintained excellent ratings (A+), except for Courteous (A). Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources saw notable improvement over previous years as well. Nearly all respondents—98.8%—reported positive perceptions of safety in public places; meanwhile, trust in Cary government scored higher than county or federal levels.
BKL Research conducted this year’s study at a cost of $44,500 using scientific sampling methods similar to those used by Gallup or Nielsen polls. Representatives from BKL are scheduled to present findings at the May 14 quarterly meeting of Town Council.
