The City of Whitewater’s 2026 Community Survey highlights residents’ appreciation for essential City services and identifies opportunities to guide future planning and investment. Public safety, library services and solid waste collection emerged as strengths, with Whitewater exceeding both regional and national averages in 29 of the 45 areas compared.
ETC Institute conducted the survey in July and August 2026, gathering responses from 512 residents. Results have a margin of error of approximately ±4.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
ETC administered the survey to a random sample of Whitewater households. To select that sample, ETC purchased a list of all residential households within the City’s geographic information system (GIS) boundary. [Residents who did not receive a survey in the mail were invited to participate as well.]
ETC also conducted follow-up outreach through social media. Respondents who completed the survey online were required to provide an address for verification, which ETC matched against the original random sample.
Strong Ratings for Essential Services
Nearly nine in ten respondents (88 %) said they feel safe in their neighborhoods during the day. Residents also reported high satisfaction with:
Fire services: 84%
Emergency medical and ambulance services: 82%
Solid waste services: 81%
Library services: 80%
Police emergency response times: 79%
Service satisfaction percentages include “satisfied” and “very satisfied” responses and exclude “don’t know” responses.
Residents identified street and sidewalk conditions, snow removal, drinking water quality and utility costs as priorities for continued attention. They also expressed interest in more timely City information and greater opportunities to participate in local decision-making.
Looking ahead, 60% of respondents supported City action to increase housing availability. Residents also prioritized more shopping, dining and entertainment options, continued downtown development and additional career opportunities.
These findings will help inform planning and investment discussions and align with the Common Council’s strategic goals related to housing, communication, economic development, community engagement and financial stability.
The City thanks everyone who participated. Residents’ feedback helps identify what is working well and where future efforts can make the greatest difference for Whitewater.
The City of Whitewater provides efficient and high -quality services which support living, learning, playing and working in an exceptional community. Visit www.whitewater-wi.gov for community information and updates.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the image on the homepage by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.
The 130+ page document with the survey results may be reviewed on the city’s website here. An appendix that breaks down the level of satisfaction by sections of the city using GIS maps may be found here.
