The City of Dayton announced on Apr. 23 the results of its annual Dayton Survey, revealing increased satisfaction among residents with neighborhood life and city services. The survey, conducted for 2025, highlights trends in community opinions regarding city programs, performance, and quality of life.
The findings are significant as they provide insights into how residents perceive their living environment and the effectiveness of municipal services. This information helps guide city officials in prioritizing improvements and maintaining areas where satisfaction is high.
According to the survey, nearly 64% of respondents reported being “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with Dayton as a place to live—a notable increase from almost 50% in 2017. Feelings of safety have also improved, with about 79% saying they feel safe during the day in their neighborhoods. Residents earning more than $25,000 annually expressed the highest sense of security.
Satisfaction with specific services remains strong. Nearly 76% said they were satisfied with Fire and Emergency Medical Services—a figure that has consistently stayed above 70% since at least 2017. Waste Collection services also saw improvement: close to three-quarters reported high satisfaction, an increase of about 13 percentage points since 2021. Older residents and those who have lived in Dayton for more than three decades rated these services especially highly.
Dayton supports community engagement through boards, commissions and public meetings while emphasizing transparency with accessible agendas, minutes and government records, according to the official website. The city delivers municipal services via departments dedicated to public safety, public works, recreation and economic development according to its official website. Operating under a council-manager form of government—with an elected mayor and commission appointing a professional manager—Dayton continues efforts to foster effective administration according to official sources.
Additionally, Dayton preserves its legacy as the birthplace of aviation by honoring figures like the Wright brothers according to its official website, promotes economic vitality through partnerships as stated by officials, and is recognized for historic preservation efforts including sites such as the Wright Brothers’ bicycle shop according to city information.
The broader implications suggest that continued increases in resident satisfaction may support further economic growth initiatives while reinforcing civic pride rooted in history.
