Prince William County Launches 2026 Community Survey

Prince William County will launch its 2026 Community Survey on Sept. 14, beginning with a statistically valid survey of randomly selected households, followed by an open participation survey available to all residents beginning Oct. 12. 

The county has conducted community surveys since 1993 to better understand residents’ experiences and perceptions regarding Prince William County and county services. The survey provides county leaders with data that can help identify community priorities and inform decisions about services, programs and initiatives. 

The 2024 Community Survey demonstrated the impact residents can have by sharing their feedback. Responses to questions about the future of Prince William County helped shape the county’s current Strategic Plan, including the goals and priorities that guide the county’s work today. The 2026 survey provides another opportunity to hear directly from residents and use that feedback to inform how the county moves forward. 

“The Community Survey is an important way for us to hear directly from the people we serve, and every perspective helps us better understand our community,” said County Executive Christopher Shorter. “We saw the impact of that participation in 2024, when resident feedback helped shape the goals and priorities in our Strategic Plan. The more we hear from residents across Prince William County, the better we can understand what is working, where we need to improve and what matters most as we plan for the future.” 

Beginning Sept. 14, invitations to participate in the survey will be mailed to a random sample of households throughout Prince William County. Paper surveys will follow beginning Sept. 21. 

Residents who receive an invitation are encouraged to complete the survey online or via paper using the instructions provided with their invitation. Because these households are randomly selected, their responses are used to produce statistically valid results that provide a representative measure of resident perceptions across the county. 

Residents who do not receive an invitation during this phase will still have an opportunity to participate. 

Beginning Oct. 12, the county will open an online version of the survey to all Prince William County residents, providing the county with additional insight into the experiences and priorities of people throughout the community. 

The 2026 Community Survey will close Nov. 2. 

Learn more about the Community Survey and view results from previous surveys.