Page summary
This page shows details of our 2026 Quality of Life survey results and findings. This includes a survey summary and full survey report document to read or download.
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.
It aims to track the responses of residents over time to see how changes to council decisions and policies, as well as the work of other public sector bodies in the county, affect people’s views.
The 2026 survey was run in partnership with Cambridge Ahead and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA).
Where can I find out more?
For more information on the survey and its importance, please visit our main page, Quality of Life survey.
We value your views and thank all residents who have taken part so far.
Follow these links to see previous year results:
Survey summary 2026
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.
Key findings from the 2026 survey:
Residents continue to report high levels of happiness, with fewer people experiencing loneliness or mental health challenges than in 2025. However, younger residents remain a concern, with those aged 18-34 reporting lower wellbeing, higher loneliness and poorer mental health outcomes than other age groups.
- 84% of residents say they feel happy – this figure has remained consistent over four years.
- 24% say they often feel lonely, and 26% reported struggling with their mental health – this is fewer than last year but still having the greatest impact on younger residents.
Cost of living pressures continue to impact residents, with many taking steps to manage rising costs and growing numbers reporting issues with their homes.
- 87% of residents reporting that they personally feel concerned about the cost of living – the same as last year – with over half (56%) report having taken action in the last year as a result of cost-of-living increases.
Residents feel increasingly well informed about council services and the support available to them, with perceptions of the council’s communication improving in this year’s survey.
- 60% of residents feel that Cambridgeshire County Council keeps them well informed about the services and benefits it provides, representing a significant increase from 50% in 2025.
- 55% of residents trust the council to make decisions about local services - higher than the national benchmark of 49%.
- 49% believe the council provides value for money – up from 47% last year and 41% in 2024.
Satisfaction with council services remains strong, particularly for registration, library and waste management. While road and pavement maintenance continues to be the lowest-rated service area, residents’ satisfaction with this service has shown continued improvement over recent years.
- Residents continue to be very satisfied with registration services and library services (both 87%), followed by waste management (81%), park and ride and guided busway services (80%), and street lighting (78%).
- Satisfaction with roads and pavements has risen for a second consecutive year to 32%, up from 28% in 2025 and 21% in 2024.
Visit our residents webpage for details of the services we provide.
