Hayward resident survey reports 80% are satisfied with current life quality in city

Hayward City Council presented results from the Resident Satisfaction Survey at the April 22 meeting. The survey found that 80% of respondents are satisfied with life in Hayward—a 12-point increase from the last survey in 2021.

Chuck Finnie, the city’s communications and marketing manager, said the data will help track long-term trends and inform public policy. “This is an important survey because it captures the pulse of the city,” Mayor Mark Salinas said during the meeting.

Miranda Everitt, a partner with FM3 Research, presented the findings, which measured public perceptions of city services, safety and government. Residents reported the highest satisfaction with 911 response, recycling and garbage services, street lighting and disaster preparedness. Lower-priority services like parks, landscaping and libraries also received positive feedback.

However, most respondents described themselves as only “somewhat satisfied” (58%) rather than “very satisfied” (22%). Everitt said dissatisfaction may stem from concerns about crime, cleanliness, traffic and housing. More than 70% of respondents said housing is “very important,” yet many expressed dissatisfaction with the current situation. According to Zillow, the average rent in Hayward is $2,424—roughly 33% higher than the national average.

Other housing data in the survey showed a sharp divide between homeowners and renters: 87% of renters called housing a “very serious” issue, compared to 57% of homeowners. Councilmember Dan Goldstein said he would have liked to see more data on housing in the report, calling it one of the city’s and the Bay Area’s most pressing challenges, but added that he was grateful for the insights the survey provided.

The full report has not been released as a document, but a video presentation is available on the City of Hayward’s YouTube channel under the April 22 council meeting.