What is the Quality of Life survey?
The Quality of Life Survey aims to understand the needs, desires and experiences of residents living in the five districts of Cambridgeshire. The survey was first launched in 2023 to support the council's Strategic Framework.
By tracking responses over time, the survey enables the council and its partners to understand how changes in policy, services and wider public sector activity impact people’s lives, supporting better-informed decisions that improve health, promote fairness and create sustainable communities.
The 2026 survey was run in partnership with Cambridge Ahead and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA).
Why is it important?
It provides councillors with vital insight when they are making decisions. The information collected from previous surveys has already been used to feed into the council’s Business Plan and Budget processes.
It also allows the organisation to benchmark itself with other councils and track the impact of this council’s delivery against its Strategic Framework ambitions over time.
2026 survey results
This year, 6,912 residents shared their views, with the results providing valuable insights into residents’ wellbeing, and how they’re feeling about the communities and public services around them.
- 5,501 residents took part in the sample survey, approximately 1,100 in each of our five district/city areas to give a representative view across the county.
- An additional 1,411 completed our online survey, available for any resident to take part, these results will be analysed and published separately.
To view the main survey summary, key findings and report, please visit Quality of life survey results and findings 2026.
The survey ran from 13 May 2026 to 5 August 2026 and we thank our residents who took part in the main and wider public surveys during this time.
Previous results and findings
In previous years, the survey has highlighted most residents feel happy, safe and have a sense of belonging, with residents believing that Cambridgeshire is a good place to raise children. However, it also highlighted that roads and pavement maintenance, the cost of living and mental health and loneliness are areas of concern.
To view survey summaries, key themes, and report documents from previous years, please follow the links below:
