Arapahoe County 2026 Community Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a text-to-web and online survey of 1,331 Arapahoe County residents. We conducted the interviews from April 14th to May 3rd, 2026.

When asked in their own words to name the top two or three issues Arapahoe County should address in the next two or three years, residents most often raised roads, traffic, and infrastructure, pointing to potholes, congestion, speeding, unsafe intersections, and roads keeping up with growth. Property taxes and cost of living were also common, with many describing taxes as too high and tying them to inflation and housing costs. Homelessness and unhoused populations drew consistent mention, along with crime and public safety concerns such as vehicle thefts, reckless driving, and drug activity. Housing affordability, growth and development, water and open space, schools, government spending, mental health and human services, and population density rounded out the recurring themes.

From a list of issues, residents were asked to choose the two the county should address most. Reducing crime and improving public safety and managing street and road maintenance and repairs tied at 36% each, followed by creating affordable rental and homeownership opportunities at 31%. Providing human services was chosen by 23%, homeless prevention by 19%, and alleviating traffic congestion by 17%. Community resource services drew 11%, judicial services 2%, and 21% named some other issue. In 2025, crime and public safety topped the list at 42%, with road maintenance at 33%.

Sixty-seven percent of residents rated Arapahoe County as a better place to live compared to other Colorado counties, while 20% rated it worse and 13% were unsure or had no opinion. On direction, 30% said the county was headed in the right direction, 28% said it was on the wrong track, and 42% were unsure. Residents who felt positive cited safety and low crime, a high quality of life, visible infrastructure improvements, and responsive leadership. Those who felt negative pointed to crime and weak law enforcement, high property taxes and government spending, overdevelopment and traffic, and dissatisfaction with leadership.

Fifty-six percent of residents said they trust their county government a great deal or a fair amount, including 6% who trust it a great deal and 50% a fair amount. Twenty-eight percent said they do not trust it at all, and 16% were unsure or had no opinion. Residents who trust the county described it as responsive and transparent, cited competent leadership and positive personal experiences, and pointed to public safety and general stability. Those who do not trust it raised high taxes and spending, political agendas, crime and homelessness, a lack of transparency, and overdevelopment.

On value for taxes paid, 43% of residents agreed that Arapahoe County residents receive a good value in county services and programs, while 46% disagreed and 11% were unsure or had no opinion. Strong agreement was 7%, and strong disagreement was 20%. On fiscal responsibility, 37% agreed the county spends taxpayer money wisely, 43% disagreed, and 20% were unsure or had no opinion. Both measures moved slightly more negative than in 2025.

Residents rated several aspects of quality of life. Sixty-six percent rated their neighborhood as an excellent or good place to live, 62% rated parks, recreation, and open spaces highly, and 61% rated the county itself as a place to live. Fifty-nine percent rated the overall quality of life as excellent or good. Lower ratings went to the county as a place to work (35%), the overall sense of community (33%), and the county as a place to retire (32%). On county government performance, 36% rated the quality of services as excellent or good, 34% rated ease of access highly, and 20% rated timely response to questions and concerns as excellent or good.

Familiarity with county programs was highest for the Motor Vehicle Division (88% very or somewhat familiar), followed by Open Spaces (65%) and the Elections Division (60%). Familiarity was lowest for the Weatherization Program (17%) and the Coroner (18%). On overall impressions, the Motor Vehicle Division drew 49% total positive, Open Spaces 44%, and the Elections Division and Sheriff’s Office 33% each. Homeless Prevention and Housing Services and Property Tax Payment and Assessment each drew 31% total negative.

Among elected officials, the Sheriff had the highest approval at 39%, with 19% disapproving, followed by the Clerk at 34% approval and the Commissioners at 26% approval. On growth, 72% said housing costs were rising too fast, 56% said population growth was too fast, and 37% said residential housing growth was too fast, while 54% said job growth was too slow. On road conditions, 29% rated major streets and roads outside cities as excellent or good, and 50% approved of the Public Works Department’s job. Forty percent approved of the Sheriff’s Office, and 41% said crime in the county had increased over the past few years, down from 49% in 2025.