Survey Applauds City Services, But Concern With Taxes And Development Continues
The 2025 Resident Survey found that people in Westerville give high marks to public safety and City services, but more residents are starting to worry about changes in the community.
The survey was available from mid-August through late September and drew responses from 2,158 households. Many described the city as safe, family-friendly, and comfortable, but more people are now concerned about development, rising costs, and everyday quality of life.
Safety is the main reason people choose to live in Westerville, ahead of location, schools, or amenities. Residents also want City leaders to focus most on public safety and emergency management, with fiscal management and responsibility next in line.
Satisfaction with City services remains high. Eighty-eight percent of residents said they are satisfied or very satisfied, especially with police, fire, and EMS.
Even with these high ratings, the survey shows that satisfaction has dropped in some areas since 2023. Traffic is now a major concern. Fewer people think traffic flow in Westerville matches other Central Ohio suburbs, and only about a third said traffic has improved in the last two years.
Concerns about costs and growth were also common. More than 40 percent of people said property taxes are their biggest source of dissatisfaction, making it a bigger issue than traffic, which has been a top complaint since at least 2012. Development and traffic issues were also mentioned often.
Most residents think Westerville supports businesses, but fewer support giving tax breaks to attract them. Economic development is less of a concern than safety, fiscal management, or utilities. People see efficient utilities as key to handling growth.
The survey highlights changes in where and how people work, which affects the City’s income tax base. About a third mainly work in Westerville, another third in Columbus, and nearly one in five work remotely. The report found majority support for a city-provided fiber-to-the-home option, though more than a third said they didn’t know. Few use services like COTA Plus. Overall, the results show that residents value economic stability and infrastructure, but changing work and commuting habits are shaping how growth brings in city revenue.
The report found majority support for a city-provided fiber-to-the-home option, though more than a third said they didn’t know.
About 31 percent of residents mainly work in Westerville, and 18 percent work remotely. These shifts in work patterns are important for the City’s tax base.
Most residents get their City information from official publications and the website. Social media use is growing, but many people are still not aware of some City initiatives.
Even with these concerns, residents still see Westerville as a safe place with good City services. Since 2016, priorities have changed. Public safety is now the top concern, and property taxes and development pressure have replaced traffic as the main issues.
Overall, satisfaction with City services remains high. This shows that the community values stability and safety, while also recognizing the challenges that come with growth and rising costs.
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