2014 metro atlanta speaks: gauging the pulse of metro atlantans

A Summary of Regional Results

with Comparisons between 2014 and 2013 Survey

(incl. County-Level Results)

November, 2014

REMINDER

Survey: Genesis and Goals

• Survey: Houston LINK Trip

and the Kinder Model

– Goals: Assess Perceptions,

Define Priorities, Gauge

Opinions

– Method: Random sample

survey of residents in the

10-county ARC area;

multiple years with

consistent questions

This Year’s Survey: Process Overview

• Internal Team + Guidance from Steering

Committee and Technical Advisory Group

• RFP Process April through May

• Consultant Selection June>Schapiro Group

• Question Refinement July

• Survey Implementation August-early September

• Delivery of Data started September 12th

• Targeting State of the Region Friday 11/7 for

Initial Release

• The 2014 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey asked 25 questions of 4,200 residents

in the 10-county area, significant down to the county-level.

• The 2013 instrument asked 21 questions of 2,100 residents, and was

significant only at the regional (10-county level)

• The goal in both years was gather opinions on how the 10-county Atlanta

region rates in terms of key quality-of-life issues like transportation,

education, the economy, the arts and aging in the Atlanta region.

• In 2014, the survey added questions on water, job training, starting a

business, healthcare, and parks

• This summary focuses on 2014 regional results, comparisons to 2013, as well

as on selected 2014 survey county results. 2014 regional margin of error is

+/- 1.5% percentage points. County-level results have a margin of error of

+/- 5%.

Metro Atlanta Speaks

COMPARATIVE QUESTIONS

(by topic)

THEN, the NEW questions (by topic)

21%

2%

24%

17%

4%

13%

3%

6%

6%

4%

24%

3%

20%

14%

4%

14%

7%

6%

4%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Trans

Race Relations

Economy

Crime

Public Health

Public Education

Human Services

Taxes

Other

DK

Q2: Biggest Problem Facing Residents in Metro-- MAS Response Comparison 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

14%

18%

18%

22%

24%

24%

25%

28%

30%

32%

17%

25%

26%

21%

22%

19%

22%

23%

21%

15%

17%

13%

16%

14%

15%

17%

11%

7%

12%

16%

18%

14%

11%

11%

14%

13%

14%

9%

13%

12%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

DeKalb

Fayette

Rockdale

Henry

Douglas

Fulton

Cobb

Cherokee

Gwinnett

Clayton

Q2 MAS 2014: Biggest Problem --by County

Trans Race Relations Economy Crime Public Health Public Education Human Services Taxes Other DK

COMPARATIVE QUESTIONS:

TRANSPORTATION

41%

30%

22%

3%

5%

42%

28%

21%

5%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Expand public transit

Improve roads/ highways

Develop communities live close to work

Do nothing

DK

Q13: Best Way to Fix Traffic Problems— MAS Response Comparison 2014/2013

2014

2013

33%

35%

35%

39%

40%

42%

42%

43%

45%

52%

33%

29%

33%

31%

32%

27%

24%

26%

28%

24%

22%

24%

21%

22%

22%

19%

24%

20%

20%

15%

8%

7%

6%

4%

3%

7%

6%

7%

4%

3%

4%

5%

3%

5%

5%

5%

3%

4%

5%

4%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cherokee

Fayette

Henry

Douglas

Cobb

DeKalb

Fulton

Rockdale

Gwinnett

Clayton

Q13: Best Way to Fix Traffic by County: MAS 2014

Expand public transit Improve roads/ highways Develop communities live close to work Do nothing DK

71%

17%

9%

3%

70%

22%

7%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Very important

Somewhat important

Not important at all

DK

Q15: Importance of Public Transit— MAS Response Comparison 2014/2013

2014

2013

57%

57%

64%

66%

67%

67%

68%

74%

75%

79%

29%

27%

23%

23%

23%

23%

23%

21%

18%

17%

12%

14%

11%

10%

9%

8%

9%

5%

5%

3%

2%

1%

2%

1%

1%

1%

1%

0%

2%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cherokee

Fayette

Henry

Douglas

Gwinnett

Rockdale

Cobb

Fulton

DeKalb

Clayton

Q15: Importance of Public Transit (Buses/ Trains): By County-MAS 2014

Very important Somewhat important Not important at all DK


ECONOMY

7%

29%

36%

20%

8%

7%

36%

36%

17%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

Q11: Availability of Metro Job Opportunities: MAS Response Comparison 2014/2013

2014

2013

3%

4%

5%

5%

5%

7%

7%

8%

8%

8%

31%

37%

28%

28%

29%

44%

38%

37%

32%

36%

41%

40%

34%

41%

38%

34%

35%

35%

39%

37%

22%

13%

29%

21%

22%

13%

16%

15%

19%

16%

4%

7%

5%

5%

5%

3%

4%

4%

3%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Rockdale

Fayette

Clayton

Douglas

Henry

Cobb

Gwinnett

Cherokee

DeKalb

Fulton

Q11: Rating Job Opportunities in Metro Atlanta: by County MAS 2014

Excellent Good Fair Poor DK

8%

30%

37%

14%

3%

8%

11%

28%

38%

15%

5%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Much better

Slightly better

About the same

Slightly worse

Much worse

DK

Q6: Rate Economy Compared to Other Metros— MAS Response Comparison 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

7%

8%

8%

8%

8%

9%

10%

11%

11%

13%

21%

29%

24%

26%

21%

27%

34%

27%

29%

25%

43%

39%

37%

42%

43%

39%

35%

34%

40%

39%

15%

14%

19%

16%

18%

19%

13%

16%

13%

14%

6%

6%

6%

6%

5%

3%

4%

4%

4%

6%

7%

4%

6%

3%

5%

4%

4%

7%

3%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Rockdale

Cherokee

Clayton

Douglas

Henry

Fayette

Cobb

DeKalb

Gwinnett

Fulton

Q6: Economy Compared to Other Metros by County: MAS 2014

Much better Slightly better About the same Slightly worse Much worse DK


EDUCATION

20%

35%

26%

14%

5%

20%

33%

25%

16%

5%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

Q19: Public Education in District Where You Live: MAS Response Comparison 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

8%

10%

14%

14%

17%

18%

25%

30%

38%

48%

29%

27%

36%

30%

37%

37%

36%

40%

36%

34%

32%

35%

28%

28%

23%

27%

22%

17%

13%

10%

27%

22%

17%

21%

17%

15%

12%

9%

9%

4%

3%

6%

5%

7%

6%

3%

5%

4%

4%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Clayton

DeKalb

Douglas

Fulton

Henry

Rockdale

Cobb

Gwinnett

Cherokee

Fayette

Q19: Rating by County of Local Public Education: MAS 2014


4%

30%

35%

21%

10%

6%

31%

36%

22%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

Q20: Rating Public Education in Region as a Whole: MAS Response Comparisons 2014/2013

2014

2013

5%

5%

6%

6%

6%

6%

7%

7%

8%

8%

34%

26%

31%

27%

37%

28%

30%

33%

31%

24%

33%

38%

42%

42%

33%

37%

35%

35%

35%

39%

23%

26%

18%

20%

19%

23%

25%

21%

22%

26%

4%

4%

3%

5%

4%

6%

3%

4%

5%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cobb

Douglas

Clayton

DeKalb

Gwinnett

Henry

Fulton

Rockdale

Cherokee

Fayette

Q20: Rating Public Education in Metro Atlanta as a Whole: By County MAS 2014



QUALITY OF LIFE

33%

47%

15%

5%

0%

34%

44%

17%

5%

0%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

Q8 (2014): Rating Neighborhood as a Place to Live: MAS Response Comparison 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

19%

28%

32%

32%

32%

34%

36%

39%

54%

57%

41%

46%

41%

42%

50%

45%

47%

38%

38%

35%

32%

20%

21%

17%

15%

16%

15%

20%

7%

6%

8%

5%

5%

8%

3%

5%

2%

2%

1%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Clayton

Rockdale

DeKalb

Fulton

Gwinnett

Henry

Cobb

Douglas

Fayette

Cherokee

Q8: Rating Your Neighborhood as a Place to Live: By County MAS 2014


15%

53%

28%

5%

1%

13%

50%

30%

6%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

Q4: Metro as a Place to Live- MAS Response Comparison 2014/2013

2014

2013

7%

8%

9%

10%

12%

13%

13%

14%

15%

16%

42%

42%

44%

42%

51%

51%

50%

49%

49%

53%

35%

41%

33%

36%

30%

30%

30%

28%

24%

26%

11%

8%

11%

11%

4%

5%

5%

8%

10%

5%

4%

0%

4%

2%

2%

2%

2%

1%

2%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Douglas

Clayton

Rockdale

Henry

Gwinnett

DeKalb

Fulton

Fayette

Cherokee

Cobb

Q4: Rating Metro as a Place to Live (County): MAS 2014


15%

30%

35%

9%

3%

7%

17%

30%

34%

10%

4%

5%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Much Better Place

Slightly BetterPlace

About the Same

Slightly WorsePlace

Much Worse Place

DK

Q5: Metro as Place to Live Compared to Other Metros— MAS Response Comparison 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

11%

12%

13%

13%

14%

16%

18%

18%

19%

21%

25%

28%

27%

28%

25%

29%

30%

32%

30%

30%

40%

35%

40%

35%

41%

36%

28%

32%

33%

31%

9%

11%

10%

12%

7%

10%

10%

10%

11%

10%

7%

6%

4%

5%

6%

3%

7%

3%

3%

3%

7%

8%

5%

6%

7%

6%

7%

5%

4%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Rockdale

Henry

Clayton

Fayette

Douglas

DeKalb

Cherokee

Gwinnett

Fulton

Cobb

Q5: Metro Atlanta Compared to Other Metros (Place to Live): by County MAS 2014


19%

57%

23%

1%

17%

57%

24%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Move to different neighborhood

Stay where you are now

Move away from metro Atlanta

DK

Q10: If You Could Move, Where Would You Move: MAS Response Comparison: 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

5%

8%

13%

13%

14%

15%

18%

19%

19%

19%

75%

69%

58%

55%

59%

60%

55%

45%

57%

55%

19%

22%

28%

30%

27%

24%

25%

34%

22%

23%

0%

1%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

2%

2%

2%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Fayette

Cherokee

Henry

Rockdale

Douglas

Gwinnett

Cobb

Clayton

DeKalb

Fulton

Q10: If You Could, Would you Move and If So, Where? By County MAS 2014

Move to different neighborhood Stay where you are now Move away from metro Atlanta DK


LAND USE

76%

18%

6%

66%

27%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Redevelop older areas

Continue to build new suburbs

Other/ DK

Q14: Best Way to Accommodate Growth: MAS Response Comparison 2014 and 2013

2014

2013

58%

62%

63%

64%

65%

65%

66%

69%

70%

70%

34%

30%

30%

30%

25%

27%

28%

22%

23%

24%

7%

8%

7%

7%

10%

8%

6%

9%

7%

6%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Rockdale

Clayton

Gwinnett

Fulton

Cherokee

Henry

Douglas

Fayette

Cobb

DeKalb

Q14: Best Way to Accommodate Growth by County: MAS 2014

Redevelop older areas Continue to build new suburbs DK

COMPARATIVE QUESTION:

AGING

12%

15%

20%

25%

15%

1%

12%

26%

21%

16%

10%

16%

2%

8%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Transportation

Housing

Financial resources

Having to move

Locating other services

Other

DK

Q17: Greatest Challenge to Growing Old: MAS Response Comparison: 2014/ 2013

2014

2013

22%

23%

24%

24%

25%

26%

26%

26%

26%

30%

15%

20%

18%

17%

19%

20%

25%

20%

22%

21%

13%

12%

20%

14%

16%

15%

16%

20%

14%

13%

15%

12%

7%

12%

13%

12%

9%

10%

10%

9%

21%

17%

20%

19%

17%

16%

14%

16%

16%

17%

4%

6%

3%

3%

2%

2%

2%

2%

3%

3%

11%

10%

8%

10%

8%

9%

9%

6%

8%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Fayette

Cherokee

Clayton

Henry

Douglas

DeKalb

Fulton

Gwinnett

Rockdale

Cobb

Q17: Challenge to Growing Old: By County MAS 2014

Trans Housing Financial resources Having to move Locating other services Other DK

COMPARATIVE QUESTION:

FUTURE EXPECTATIONS

28%

31%

39%

3%

29%

24%

43%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

Better in 3-4 years

Worse in 3-4 years

About the same

DK

Q3 (2014): Future Assessment of Living Conditions: MAS Response Comparison 2014/2013

2014

2013

19%

20%

24%

25%

25%

26%

26%

31%

33%

36%

44%

48%

45%

48%

44%

46%

41%

40%

38%

41%

32%

29%

28%

23%

27%

23%

30%

25%

25%

19%

5%

4%

3%

3%

3%

6%

3%

4%

4%

4%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cherokee

Rockdale

Douglas

Cobb

Fayette

Gwinnett

Henry

Fulton

Clayton

DeKalb

Q3: Living Conditions will be… (by County): MAS 2014

Better in 3-4 years About the same Worse in 3-4 years DK

NEW QUESTIONS (IN 2014)

NEW QUESTIONS (IN 2014):

ECONOMY

Excellent, 6%

Good, 32%

Fair, 36%

Poor, 15%

DK, 10%

Q12 MAS 2014: Assessment of Metro Job Training Opportunities

4%

5%

6%

6%

6%

7%

7%

7%

7%

8%

29%

36%

27%

30%

30%

40%

35%

27%

32%

35%

35%

36%

42%

37%

38%

27%

34%

38%

37%

34%

20%

11%

19%

19%

15%

14%

11%

18%

19%

14%

11%

12%

6%

8%

10%

12%

13%

10%

6%

9%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

DeKalb

Cobb

Clayton

Douglas

Fulton

Cherokee

Fayette

Henry

Rockdale

Gwinnett

Availability of Job Training Programs by County: MAS 2014


Much better, 17%

Slightly better, 27%

About the same, 35%

Slightly worse, 10%

Much worse, 5% DK, 7%

Q7 MAS 2014: Compared to other Metros, Rating ATL as a Place to Start a Business

11%

28%

38%

15%

5%

4%

17%

27%

35%

10%

5%

7%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Much better

Slightly better

About the same

Slightly worse

Much worse

DK

Assessments Relative to Other Metros: MAS Responses 2014

StartingBusiness

Health ofEconomy

11%

12%

13%

16%

16%

16%

16%

17%

17%

19%

24%

24%

25%

30%

27%

22%

27%

25%

27%

27%

45%

33%

35%

35%

36%

35%

34%

34%

35%

35%

9%

16%

9%

8%

9%

14%

11%

12%

9%

10%

4%

8%

8%

4%

5%

6%

6%

6%

5%

3%

8%

7%

9%

7%

6%

8%

7%

6%

7%

7%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Fayette

Douglas

Cherokee

Cobb

Gwinnett

Henry

Rockdale

Clayton

Fulton

DeKalb

Ability to Start a Small Business cf: Other Metros? By County MAS 2014


Strongly agree, 28%

Somewhat agree, 46%

Somewhat disagree, 13%

Strongly disagree, 8% DK,

5%

Q21 MAS 2014: Atlanta's Postsecondary Schools Are a Competitive Advantage?

24%

25%

26%

27%

28%

28%

29%

30%

31%

33%

47%

46%

44%

53%

40%

48%

43%

41%

46%

45%

15%

13%

14%

10%

16%

11%

13%

16%

14%

12%

9%

11%

9%

6%

8%

7%

9%

5%

5%

5%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

DeKalb

Clayton

Douglas

Gwinnett

Henry

Rockdale

Fulton

Fayette

Cobb

Cherokee

Postsecondary Institutions a Competitive Advantage? By County MAS 2014

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree

NEW QUESTION (IN 2014):

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Very involved,

14%

Somewhat involved,

51%

Not at all involved,

35%

DK, 0%

Q9 MAS 2014: Self-Assessment of Community Involvement

12%

13%

13%

13%

14%

14%

15%

15%

20%

21%

53%

46%

50%

50%

52%

44%

51%

50%

50%

57%

34%

40%

36%

37%

34%

41%

32%

34%

30%

22%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cobb

Clayton

Fulton

Gwinnett

DeKalb

Rockdale

Douglas

Henry

Cherokee

Fayette

How Involved are You in Your Community? MAS 2014

Very involved Somewhat involved Not at all involved DK


AGING/ HEALTHCARE

Strongly agree, 26%

Somewhat agree, 38%

Somewhat disagree,

19%

Strongly disagree,

15%

DK, 2%

Q16 MAS 2014: Atlanta is a Place Where You Could Easily Live Throughout Senior Years?

23%

23%

23%

25%

25%

26%

27%

27%

27%

30%

38%

40%

31%

39%

36%

36%

36%

42%

39%

36%

17%

21%

22%

20%

20%

16%

18%

16%

16%

18%

20%

13%

20%

13%

17%

19%

17%

13%

16%

16%

2%

2%

3%

2%

2%

3%

2%

2%

2%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Douglas

Gwinnett

Henry

Cobb

Rockdale

Clayton

Cherokee

DeKalb

Fayette

Fulton

Atlanta is a place to easily remain throughout senior years (?) by County MAS 2014

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree DK

Definitely yes, 65%

Probably yes, 19%

Probably not, 7%

Definitely not, 8%

DK, 1%

Q18 MAS 2014: Do You Have All Healthcare Providers You Need?

58%

60%

62%

62%

63%

65%

66%

68%

68%

73%

19%

19%

20%

20%

16%

18%

18%

22%

20%

18%

8%

9%

9%

5%

7%

7%

6%

5%

6%

4%

12%

11%

7%

11%

13%

9%

9%

5%

5%

4%

3%

1%

2%

1%

2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Clayton

Henry

DeKalb

Douglas

Fulton

Rockdale

Cherokee

Cobb

Gwinnett

Fayette

Adequate Access to Healthcare by County?: MAS 2014

Definitely yes Probably yes Probably not Definitely not DK

NEW QUESTION (IN 2014):

WATER

Very important,

69%

Somewhat important,

27%

Not important at all, 4% DK, 1%

Q24 MAS 2014: How Important to Conserve Water in Your Own Home?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Cherokee

Fayette

Douglas

DeKalb

Gwinnett

Henry

Cobb

Clayton

Rockdale

Fulton

62%

63%

67%

68%

68%

68%

69%

70%

70%

71%

33%

31%

30%

27%

26%

27%

26%

23%

24%

25%

4%

5%

3%

4%

5%

3%

4%

5%

5%

4%

1%

1%

1%

0%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

0%

How Important is Water Conservation in Home?: By County MAS 2014

Very important Somewhat important Not important at all DK


QUALITY OF LIFE

Very satisfied, 31%

Satisfied, 51%

Unsatisfied, 12%

Very unsatisfied, 5%

DK, 1%

Q23 MAS 2014: Satisfaction with Availability of Parks

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Clayton

DeKalb

Henry

Fulton

Douglas

Cobb

Rockdale

Cherokee

Fayette

Gwinnett

19%

24%

24%

27%

30%

31%

31%

37%

37%

44%

55%

55%

53%

51%

54%

54%

53%

46%

49%

44%

18%

14%

14%

15%

10%

11%

8%

12%

9%

9%

7%

5%

7%

7%

3%

3%

5%

4%

4%

3%

1%

2%

2%

1%

3%

1%

2%

1%

0%

1%

Q23: Assessment of Availability of Parks by County

Very satisfied Satisfied Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied DK

Very satisfied, 22%

Satisfied, 55%

Unsatisfied, 14%

Very unsatisfied, 6%

DK, 3%

Q22 MAS 2014: Satisfaction with Availability of Arts

14%

15%

17%

18%

20%

22%

23%

23%

24%

25%

58%

60%

54%

60%

61%

50%

61%

59%

55%

53%

16%

16%

18%

12%

13%

17%

11%

12%

14%

13%

9%

7%

10%

7%

3%

8%

2%

5%

6%

6%

3%

3%

2%

2%

3%

4%

2%

2%

2%

3%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Henry

Douglas

Clayton

Rockdale

Fayette

DeKalb

Cherokee

Cobb

Gwinnett

Fulton

Assessment of Availability of Arts and Culture by County

Very satisfied Satisfied Unsatisfied Very unsatisfied DK

22%

55%

14%

6%

3%

31%

51%

12%

5%

1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Very satisfied

Satisfied

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

DK

Q22: Satisfaction of Availability: Parks and Arts: MAS 2014

Parks

Arts