Housing Affordability and Cost of Living Get Low Rating in Community Livability Report

While supportive of the city overall, Alexandrians have issues with the cost of living and housing affordability in the city, according to a survey of 634 residents that the City Council will receive at its meeting tonight (Tuesday).

The Community Livability Report’s Resident Survey 2020 includes opinions on the livability of Alexandria, and while the reviews are mostly positive there are a number of areas that need work, according to the respondents.

“As with many attractive communities, affordability was an issue,” the report says. “The cost of living and housing affordability were rated positively by fewer than two in 10 community members. These ratings were lower than the national benchmarks and received the lowest quality ratings of any items on the survey.”

The city plans on working with a number of city departments, as well as Jacqueline Tucker, the city’s Race and Social Equity Officer, to “further analyze and use these results to inform and continuously improve City services,” according to a powerpoint presentation that will be provided to council.

According to the report:

• Most residents were positive about the quality of life in the city, with 58% rating it as good, 28% as excellent, 12% as fair and 2% as poor
• A majority of residents said the city was a nice place to live, with 45% rating it as excellent, 46% as good, 8% fair and 1% poor
• 85% have an overall feeling of safety
• 77% said Alexandria is a good place to raise children
• 58% said the police department is excellent
• 56% approve of the overall quality of city services
• 46% said the city is a good place to retire
• 41% said there was a good sense of community
• 37% said the city was excellent or good at repairing streets
• 31% said there is enough public parking
• 18% approved of the cost of living

Staff photo by James Cullum