Community Survey Results

In February 2022, 4,200 Woodbury households, selected at random, were invited by mail to participate in the Community Survey. There were 966 survey respondents, including 794 surveys completed online, yielding a response rate of 25%. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points around any given percentage for all respondents.

Survey results were weighted so that respondent gender, age, race, ethnicity, housing unit type (attached or detached) and housing tenure (rent or own) were represented in proportions reflective of the entire city. Reported responses are for those who had an opinion - "don't know" responses were removed from the analysis.

Survey results were weighted so that respondent gender, age, race, ethnicity, housing unit type (attached or detached) and housing tenure (rent or own) were represented in proportions reflective of the entire city. Reported responses are for those who had an opinion – “don’t know” responses were removed from the analyses.

Comparisons between the 2022 survey results and those from prior years were made when similar questions were included on the 2022 survey. Woodbury also elected to have its results compared to those of other jurisdictions around the nation, those in Minnesota and those with populations between 55,000 and 75,000, comparisons made possible through a national benchmark database created and maintained by Polco/NRC. This database contains resident perspectives gathered in community surveys from over 500 communities across the United States.

Survey results are summarized on this page, or you can view the full survey results (PDF).

  1. Residents continue to enjoy Woodbury’s quality of life and community amenities.
  2. Ratings for economic aspects of the city are especially robust and above average.
  3. Many residents indicate strong community connections and feel that the city is inclusive.
  4. Improving drinking water quality and ensuring an adequate water supply are increasingly urgent priorities for residents.
  5. Government performance and City service delivery continue to receive high marks from residents.
  6. Safety is a growing concern for residents.
  7. Residents feel positively about the value of their taxes paid to Woodbury and are increasingly supportive of a property tax increase to maintain current service levels.

Nearly all respondents said the overall quality of life in the city was excellent or good. A similar proportion gave excellent or good reviews to the city as a place to raise children and to live and their neighborhood as a place to live. Roughly two-thirds of residents gave favorable scores to Woodbury as a place to retire. These ratings were similar to those given in previous survey years.

Survey results for many questions were compared to results from other communities across the nation, those in Minnesota and those with populations between 55,000 and 75,000. Evaluations for aspects of quality of life tended to be similar to the three benchmark peer groups.

About 9 in 10 respondents gave excellent or good assessments to the City’s overall image or reputation, health and wellness opportunities, and fitness and exercise opportunities; these assessments were on par with those given in previous years.

These three community characteristics were rated higher when compared to the nation, and similar to other Minnesota communities and communities with a similar population size. Additionally, Woodbury ranked fifth out of 23 other jurisdictions in Minnesota for health and wellness opportunities, and third out of 23 for fitness and exercise opportunities.

Past Survey Results

View past survey results.