Town of Windsor 2024 Community Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of an online survey of 2,047 adult residents in Windsor, Colorado. The interviews were conducted from March 14th to April 10th, 2024.

When asked to identify the most pressing issues facing Windsor, residents pointed most frequently to traffic congestion and infrastructure challenges, particularly on Main Street. Concerns about rapid and uncontrolled growth were also widespread, with many residents worried that housing development was outpacing the town’s ability to maintain its small-town character and deliver adequate services. Residents also called for better local amenities — especially more grocery stores and dining options — and expressed a desire for stronger public safety measures, including more police presence and improved street lighting.

Overall, residents rated Windsor quite positively as a place to live, raise children, and feel safe. Satisfaction was especially high regarding neighborhood quality and the general feeling of safety in the community. However, Windsor rated considerably lower as a place to work or retire, and residents were far less enthusiastic about the ease of getting around by car, bicycle, or public transportation.

When evaluating specific town services, residents gave high marks to parks, drinking water, police services, and street cleanliness. Traffic-related services — including traffic signal timing, street repair, and traffic flow on major streets — received notably lower ratings. Public transportation was rated poorly by those who had an opinion, though a large share had no opinion, likely reflecting limited use of transit options.

Residents expressed strong concerns about the pace of residential and population growth, with a large majority feeling it was happening too fast. In contrast, many felt retail growth was too slow, reflecting the desire for more local shopping and dining. There was broad agreement that workers employed in Windsor should have the opportunity to live there, though opinions were more divided on specific housing policies. A down payment assistance program and a housing resource office garnered majority support, while a deed-restriction policy for affordable units faced more opposition than support.

Residents rated the town government’s overall service delivery reasonably well, but confidence in local government and perceptions of transparency and responsiveness were more mixed. Roughly half or fewer agreed that the Town Board did a good job listening to residents or that the town was fully open and transparent. Notifying residents of events and activities was an area where the town received more positive feedback.

When asked what they loved most about Windsor, residents consistently highlighted its small-town feel, convenient location near larger cities, access to natural beauty and outdoor recreation, and its reputation for safety and cleanliness. These themes closely mirrored what residents said they would most want to protect if they could improve one thing about the community.

Looking at civic engagement and daily habits, residents were fairly active voters in local elections and made consistent efforts toward sustainability, such as conserving water and improving home energy efficiency. However, direct engagement with local government — such as contacting elected officials or attending public meetings — remained relatively low, with most residents never having attended or watched a local public meeting in the past year.