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OVERVIEW

The State of Community Engagement Report

2025 U.S. National Look at How Residents Connect with Local Government

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OVERVIEW

Now in its fourth year, the State of Community Engagement Report continues to track how residents across the U.S. perceive and experience their relationship with local government. This year’s survey asked over 1,000 voting-aged residents — including a dedicated Spanish-language survey — about what’s working, what’s missing, and how they want to engage with government today.

We’ve seen shifts over the past few years — from the post-pandemic reset to in-person meetings in 2022, to the rise of text messaging and multilingual outreach in 2023, to the conversation about AI and encouraging participation in 2024.

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In 2025, we’re seeing a sharper focus on trust, flexibility, and proof that feedback actually matters.

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METHODOLOGY

Sample Size
This report features survey responses from 1,000 people, gathered between June and July of 2025.

Demographics
Respondents span different states and regions across the United States and reflects the socioeconomic diversity of the American population as a whole.

United States
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"In 2025, residents expect outreach that feels personal, accessible, and responsive to their daily lives. Our latest State of Community Engagement Report highlights these shifts, and how agencies can adjust to build stronger, more representative connections with their communities."

Jay Dawkins

Founder and CEO, PublicInput

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

It’s Never Been More Important to Engage Directly with Residents

Residents want to participate directly — proxies don’t cut it anymore.

EXPLORE INSIGHT #1
Quiet Doesn’t Mean Opposition: Show Your Reach

Demonstrating reach builds confidence among residents.

EXPLORE INSIGHT #2
Residents Want Digital Outreach & Preferred Channel Engagement

Learn which formats resonate and where opportunities exist to reach more people.

EXPLORE INSIGHT #3
Loop in Community Based Organizations to Grow Reach

CBOs work best as outreach partners, not substitutes for direct public participation.

EXPLORE INSIGHT #4
Budget Engagement: Clear Misconceptions - Even During Cuts

Residents want transparency and to know their input shapes real decisions.

EXPLORE INSIGHT #5
Take Action and Meet the Moment

By modernizing formats, closing awareness gaps, and building trust local governments can move beyond the “angry few” and engage the full community.

START HERE

Engage using standard survey question formats that you’re used to with consumer survey tools. From the single and multi-select, to Likert, slider, and text input formats, you’ve got the basics covered.