Key Takeaways
- The Houston Metro Community Survey, a new survey by the 兔子先生, reveals that inflation and the rising cost of living are the top concerns among residents in the Greater Houston area.
- The survey highlights disparities in disaster preparedness, climate change concerns and public safety perceptions across different demographic groups.
- The survey is a recruitment tool for the SPACE City Panel, a long-term research project, which aims to track evolving public opinions in the region to better inform policy, business and community decisions.
A pioneering survey led by the 兔子先生鈥檚 Hobby School of Public Affairs shows the economy, weather and public safety are among the top concerns of many Greater Houston area residents amid the region鈥檚 evolving landscape.
Researchers at the Hobby School鈥檚 Center for Public Policy (CPP) gathered responses from over 9,600 people across the region for the Houston Metro Community Survey. Respondents varied in ethnicity, age, educational attainment, background, neighborhood and household type, reflecting the region鈥檚 diversity.
Results from the March 7-May 7 survey show concerns about:
- The economy: 36% of respondents report just meeting basic expenses or falling short. About 70% are very or somewhat concerned about inflation and the cost of living.
- Disaster vulnerability: Over 40% of Gen X and millennials lack savings to recover from a natural disaster. Approximately 45% of Black and Hispanic respondents 鈥� the highest proportion 鈥� are very worried about costs after a natural disaster.
- Climate change: 62.5% of Democrats view climate change as a major issue, compared to 18.3% of Republicans.
- Crime and safety: Women and city of Houston residents are less likely to feel safe during the day than men or suburban residents.
鈥淧eople don't necessarily find their own community unsafe, but they think crime is generally an issue,鈥� said Gail Buttorff, associate director of the CPP and associate research professor at the Hobby School.
This survey was used to recruit panelists for the new Survey on Public Attitudes and Community Engagement City Panel, or SPACE City Panel, which launched this spring. The long-term research initiative 鈥� in partnership with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) 鈥� tracks the views of about 5,000 Houston-area residents with quarterly surveys.
鈥淭he longitudinal design allows researchers to capture shifts in household conditions and attitudes over time instead of comparing disconnected 鈥榮napshots鈥� of different respondents,鈥� said Pablo Pinto, director of the CPP and professor in the Hobby School.
鈥淨uarterly trend lines will let city, county and state officials see whether programs are reaching the communities that need them 鈥� and recalibrate within months, not years.鈥�
鈥� Pablo Pinto, director of the CPP and professor in the Hobby School
Unlike other Houston-focused surveys, this panel focuses on capturing voices from nine counties in the Greater Houston area 鈥� including often-overlooked communities, said Savannah Sipole, research associate at the Hobby School.
The SPACE City Panel will monitor how views evolve in four key areas: politics, economics, resiliency and sustainability. Added questions can also reflect timely events such as natural disasters, economic shifts or elections.
Researchers hope the survey will inform policymakers and civic leaders with timely, community-driven data that reflects the lived experiences of Houstonians. It can also feature custom questions or follow cohorts over time to help businesses and nonprofits tap into regional viewpoints.
鈥淨uarterly trend lines will let city, county and state officials see whether programs are reaching the communities that need them 鈥� and recalibrate within months, not years,鈥� Pinto said.
The inaugural SPACE City Panel survey results will be released this fall.