Key Findings from 2025 Community Survey

Key Findings from Scarborough’s 2025 Community Survey

The Town recently completed its third community survey since 2021. Results remain consistent with previous years’ trends and help to inform staff and elected officials of general public sentiment on perceptions of services and where the town is headed. It's been an invaluable resource and point of reference as the Town Council considers which initiatives to pursue and where to prioritize spending investments and policy decisions. The Town of Scarborough appreciates the time and earnest feedback received from the 624 residents who completed the statistically valid survey, as well as the more than 300 others who contributed to the additional feedback from the online survey open to all.

The survey results offer many takeaways to be proud of. Overall satisfaction with living in Scarborough was very high, with 76% of residents either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the quality of life and 88% with feelings of safety in Scarborough. Appearance of the community and quality of services provided were both shy of 70%, and all of these areas far exceed the regional and national ratings of below 50%. Access to beaches, conserved land, and recreational spaces also received some of the most positive feedback, reinforcing the importance of natural resources to residents’ quality of life.

Satisfaction with municipal services was also among the highest rated areas of the survey. Police, fire, and emergency services continue to be the core municipal services that have the highest levels of satisfaction (emergency medical/ambulance services is 92%, local police protection is 91%, how quickly fire services respond to emergencies is 90%, and how quickly emergency medical services respond to emergencies is 90%). Customer service received from Town employees was at 91%, far above the national average of 38%. The Town also scored high for Public Works; services such as snow removal, road maintenance, and trash/recycling were generally viewed as reliable and effective.

While there was broad acknowledgement that Town services are well run, there were also some recurring themes in areas of concern and to improve. The top three most significant issues that residents think Scarborough will face over the next five years were: pace of community growth/expansion (76%), affordability of Town services (property taxes) (72%), and affordable housing (34%). Residents referenced concerns about the pace, scale, and type of growth, with the majority of concern being for the pace of multi-family residential development. The most cited reason for concerns around growth are its perceived effect on the municipal budget and property taxes.

Schools and education were also a strongly reflected community interest in the context of growth. The survey indicates 83% satisfaction with the qualifications and performance of teachers, and 80% satisfaction with overall education that the child is receiving/received. Increased student enrollment was a top three concern for the perceived impacts of growth.

Transportation and traffic-related questions posed the most opportunity for improvement. Areas of interest included improvements to road conditions, pedestrian safety, and having alternative transportation options. The top priority for a Town service that residents thought should receive the most emphasis over the next two years was the flow of traffic and ease of getting around within town. This was concluded through an Importance-Satisfaction (I-S) analysis, examining the importance residents placed on each Town service and the level of satisfaction with each. The second top priority recommended was the maintenance of Town streets, sidewalks, and infrastructure, and the third top priority was public transportation.

Overall, the survey results highlight a strong foundation and consistency over the last several years. Residents continue to commend the quality of Town services, professionalism of staff, and confidence in public safety. There is a clear value for Scarborough’s natural resources and quality of life—distinctive attributes of Scarborough’s character that will be important to maintain and protect as the Town plans for the future.

The Town of Scarborough is grateful to all residents who took the time to offer feedback for the survey. This is our most reliable source of collective community input and is used as a point of reference throughout the year. The Town Council will set their 2026 goals in January, and survey responses and identified areas of improvement will help inform priorities. Results will also be useful in guiding the municipal budget process this spring. Town staff and elected officials rely on regular surveying and other public engagement opportunities to inform decision making. We invite residents to continue to stay involved through meetings, workshops, and other Town events in 2026.

SEE FINDINGS REPORT