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The National Community Survey (The NCS)
The NCS is designed to provide the most accurate and meaningful insights into community sentiment.
The National Community Survey® (The NCS®) from Polco is the gold standard for collecting representative opinion data from residents, and is backed by more than 20 years of research. Designed for local governments, this survey combines rigorous scientific methodology with actionable reporting to give you deep insights into the needs and preferences of your community. When you choose The NCS, you're investing in a proven tool that goes beyond basic surveys, offering robust data that informs strategic decisions.
What is The NCS?
The NCS is a comprehensive survey that gauges residents’ opinions on various dimensions of community life, including public safety, local government services, infrastructure, economy, and quality of life. It provides local governments with an in-depth understanding of how their residents perceive the community and its governance.
The survey and our research team's methodologies are designed to be statistically valid, ensuring that the results accurately represent the population as a whole. Conducted regularly, The NCS allows cities and towns to track changes in public sentiment over time and benchmark their performance against other municipalities.
Key features of The NCS
Comprehensive, actionable data to shape better communities
Statistically valid survey design
Representative Sample: The NCS uses a rigorous methodology to ensure that survey responses represent the broader community. This guarantees that local governments can rely on the data to make informed decisions that reflect the views of all residents, not just a vocal few.
High-Quality Data: The survey’s questions are carefully crafted to provide actionable insights into residents’ perceptions of community services, quality of life, and governance, offering municipalities a clear roadmap for future improvements.
Benchmarking against national averages
National Comparisons: The NCS allows local governments to compare their results against a large national database, providing context for performance. By benchmarking against other similar municipalities, leaders can identify where their community excels and where improvements are needed.
Year-Over-Year Tracking: Conducting The NCS regularly enables local governments to track changes in public sentiment over time, providing a clear picture of progress and highlighting emerging community priorities.
Customizable survey questions
Tailored to Local Needs: In addition to core questions that cover key community areas, The NCS allows local governments to add custom questions to address specific local issues. This flexibility ensures that the survey remains relevant and focused on the most pressing community concerns.
Deep Dive into Specific Areas: Governments can choose to explore specific topics like transportation, housing, or economic development, gathering detailed data that supports targeted planning efforts.
Clear, visual reporting
Intuitive Data Presentation: The NCS delivers results in clear, visual reports that are easy to understand and share with stakeholders. Key metrics, trends, and insights are presented through interactive dashboards and charts, simplifying data interpretation.
Actionable Recommendations: Reports come with expert recommendations from the National Research Center by Polco, helping local leaders translate survey results into practical strategies for community improvement.
Broad resident engagement
Multiple Distribution Channels: Reach residents through a combination of mailed invites and sharing the survey through targeted outreach channels, maximizing participation and ensuring that all segments of the community are heard.
Mobile-Friendly Platform: The NCS is optimized for mobile devices, allowing residents to easily complete the survey on their phones or tablets, increasing response rates and engagement
Ready To Go (RTG) Benchmark Surveys
While our gold-standard surveys like the NCS and NES have set the bar high, we know that sometimes you need something a little lighter. That’s where the RTG versions come in. These streamlined benchmark surveys are not only more affordable, but they’re also fully digital and can be activated instantly with the flip of a switch. You get the trusted insights you need with modern convenience—benchmark surveys built for the 21st century. Going fully digital means faster results, easier, and more affordable pricing, all while maintaining the trusted benchmarks you expect.
Benefits of using The NCS
Understand your community’s needs to drive meaningful change
Make data-driven decisions
Use statistically valid survey data to make decisions that truly reflect resident needs and priorities, ensuring your policies align with what matters most to the community.
Track progress over time
Regularly conducting The NCS allows you to monitor trends and measure the effectiveness of your policies and initiatives, helping you stay responsive to changing community needs.
Benchmark your performance
Compare your survey results to national averages and peer communities to identify areas where you excel and where improvements are needed.
Receive expert insights
Access expert analysis and recommendations from the National Research Center by Polco, ensuring that you’re not only gathering data but also turning it into actionable strategies for improvement.
Why you need The NCS
Understanding how your residents feel about their community is key to making informed, impactful decisions. The National Community Survey (The NCS) provides local governments with critical insights into the opinions, priorities, and satisfaction levels of their residents. By leveraging a scientifically valid methodology, The NCS ensures that the data collected is representative and reliable, giving you a clear picture of how your community feels about essential services, quality of life, and local governance.
With its ability to benchmark against national norms, track progress over time, and customize questions to meet local needs, The NCS empowers local leaders to respond more effectively to community concerns. Regularly conducting The NCS allows you to stay aligned with evolving resident priorities, create policies that resonate, and make data-driven improvements that drive positive change in your municipality.
Insights and Trends from the National Community Survey
Explore our collection of expert analyses and community stories highlighting the impactful results and ongoing advancements from the National Community Survey. Discover how communities across the nation are utilizing data to drive meaningful change.