Results from ARC's 2017 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey

1. Perceptions of Life in Metro Atlanta
Mike Carnathan
mcarnathan@atlantaregional.com
November 2017

2. 2017 Headlines
• Transportation stays the #1 concern
• Transit support remains strong
– 51 percent of respondents would be willing to pay more in taxes to expand public transit
– Nearly 49 percent of respondents chose “expand public transit” as the best long-term fix to traffic
challenges, which is the highest percentage in the five years of asking this question
• Economy is getting better and better
– Was the #1 concern in 2013, now #5, behind “Human Services”
• Economy not improving for everyone equally
– Some 30 percent of respondents would struggle paying for an unexpected financial emergency of $400
– Some 20 percent of respondents reported that they skip meals due to lack of money
• Concern over crime drops dramatically from 2016
– In 2016, 23 percent of respondents chose “Crime” as #1 concern. In 2017, only 17 percent chose Crime

3. TRANSPORTATION

4. Biggest Problem Facing Residents in Metro Atlanta:
Responses - 2017
5%
5%
5%
5%
6%
9%
9%
12%
17%
27%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Race Relations
DK
Taxes
Public Health
Other
Economy
Human Services
Public Education
Crime
Trans
“Transportation” remains the
top concern of the 5,400+
respondents to the 2017 Metro
Atlanta Speaks survey.

5. Most Likely to Say that Transportation is the #1 Issue?
• Residents of Cobb, Cherokee
or Fulton
• Those with at least a
bachelor’s degree
• Males
• Younger residents
• White Respondents
• Those with higher incomes

6. Biggest Problem Facing Residents in Metro Atlanta:
Responses – 2013-2017
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Change in the Perceptions of the Region’s Biggest
Problem, 2013-2017
Public Education Economy Crime Trans Human Services

7. Biggest Problem Facing Residents in Metro Atlanta:
Responses – 2013-2017
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Change in the Perceptions of the Region’s Biggest
Problem, 2013-2017
Public Education Economy Crime Trans Human Services
While “transportation” has remained the top concern for the last four years, the decline of
“economy” as a concern has been the biggest change over the history of the survey. In 2013,
almost 25 percent of respondents chose “economy” as the top concern. This year, only nine
percent chose economy – the same percentage as those choosing “human services”

8. 10%
16%
16%
17%
18%
21%
22%
22%
25%
27%
27%
31%
35%
38%
27%
29%
27%
26%
23%
19%
12%
15%
27%
21%
17%
21%
19%
11%
9%
17%
6%
14%
8%
15%
8%
10%
19%
12%
11%
10%
8%
10%
7%
11%
12%
10%
8%
4%
9%
9%
8%
8%
7%
16%
10%
6%
12%
9%
9%
9%
6%
10%
11%
13%
11%
12%
11%
9%
8%
10%
11%
6%
10%
9%
9%
6%
6%
4%
4%
6%
7%
9%
7%
5%
5%
5%
5%
7%
7%
6%
10%
5%
15%
8%
6%
8%
4%
5%
3%
8%
5%
3%
6%
5%
5%
3%
4%
6%
5%
8%
13%
3%
3%
4%
5%
7%
6%
6%
2%
5%
6%
5%
6%
3%
6%
4%
5%
4%
3%
6%
5%
4%
5%
4%
5%
13%
7%
3%
4%
8%
5%
5%
4%
5%
3%
5%
4%
5%
6%
5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Butts
Clayton
Douglas
Rockdale
Coweta
Paulding
DeKalb
Henry
City of Atlanta
Gwinnett
Fayette
Fulton
Cherokee
Cobb
ARC Region
Biggest Problem for Metro Atlanta, By Jurisdiction – 2017
(Sorted By “Transportation” Responses)
Transp Crime Public Education Human Services Economy Other Public Health Taxes Race Relations DK

9. 10%
16%
16%
17%
18%
21%
22%
22%
25%
27%
27%
31%
35%
38%
27%
29%
27%
26%
23%
19%
12%
15%
27%
21%
17%
21%
19%
11%
9%
17%
6%
14%
8%
15%
8%
10%
19%
12%
11%
10%
8%
10%
7%
11%
12%
10%
8%
4%
9%
9%
8%
8%
7%
16%
10%
6%
12%
9%
9%
9%
6%
10%
11%
13%
11%
12%
11%
9%
8%
10%
11%
6%
10%
9%
9%
6%
6%
4%
4%
6%
7%
9%
7%
5%
5%
5%
5%
7%
7%
6%
10%
5%
15%
8%
6%
8%
4%
5%
3%
8%
5%
3%
6%
5%
5%
3%
4%
6%
5%
8%
13%
3%
3%
4%
5%
7%
6%
6%
2%
5%
6%
5%
6%
3%
6%
4%
5%
4%
3%
6%
5%
4%
5%
4%
5%
13%
7%
3%
4%
8%
5%
5%
4%
5%
3%
5%
4%
5%
6%
5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Butts
Clayton
Douglas
Rockdale
Coweta
Paulding
DeKalb
Henry
City of Atlanta
Gwinnett
Fayette
Fulton
Cherokee
Cobb
ARC Region
Biggest Problem for Metro Atlanta, By Jurisdiction – 2017
(Sorted By “Transportation” Responses)
Transp Crime Public Education Human Services Economy Other Public Health Taxes Race Relations DK
“Transportation” was the top concern in eight of the 14 jurisdictions, while “Crime” was
the top concern in the other six jurisdictions (Henry, Coweta, Rockdale, Douglas, Clayton
and Butts)

10. "I Frequently Lack Transportation to Get to Places I Need to Go...“
(2017)
DK, 2.3%
Strongly Agree, 8.0%
Agree, 18.7%
Disagree, 41.7%
Strongly
Disagree, 29.3%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
27%

11. "I Frequently Lack Transportation to Get to Places I Need to Go...”
By Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by Strongly Agree + Agree Responses)
4.6%
9.6%
3.8%
8.8%
4.5%
10.8%
7.1%
6.8%
11.4%
8.9%
6.7%
12.4%
12.4%
8.8%
8.0%
14.1%
10.9%
17.3%
14.9%
21.7%
15.6%
19.2%
20.4%
20.5%
23.4%
26.7%
20.9%
22.9%
26.6%
18.7%
51.3%
39.1%
41.4%
38.5%
38.1%
37.1%
40.3%
46.1%
42.5%
32.9%
33.3%
34.9%
38.1%
36.9%
41.7%
27.7%
35.9%
36.1%
37.0%
34.4%
34.7%
30.8%
24.1%
22.7%
33.5%
26.7%
30.1%
22.9%
24.3%
29.3%
2.2%
4.5%
1.5%
0.8%
1.2%
1.8%
2.5%
2.6%
2.9%
1.3%
6.7%
1.6%
3.8%
3.4%
2.3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Cobb
Coweta
Fayette
Cherokee
Henry
Paulding
Fulton
Gwinnett
Clayton
Douglas
Butts
DeKalb
Rockdale
City of Atlanta
ARC Region
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree DK

12. "I Frequently Lack Transportation to Get to Places I Need to Go...”
By Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by Strongly Agree + Agree Responses)
4.6%
9.6%
3.8%
8.8%
4.5%
10.8%
7.1%
6.8%
11.4%
8.9%
6.7%
12.4%
12.4%
8.8%
8.0%
14.1%
10.9%
17.3%
14.9%
21.7%
15.6%
19.2%
20.4%
20.5%
23.4%
26.7%
20.9%
22.9%
26.6%
18.7%
51.3%
39.1%
41.4%
38.5%
38.1%
37.1%
40.3%
46.1%
42.5%
32.9%
33.3%
34.9%
38.1%
36.9%
41.7%
27.7%
35.9%
36.1%
37.0%
34.4%
34.7%
30.8%
24.1%
22.7%
33.5%
26.7%
30.1%
22.9%
24.3%
29.3%
2.2%
4.5%
1.5%
0.8%
1.2%
1.8%
2.5%
2.6%
2.9%
1.3%
6.7%
1.6%
3.8%
3.4%
2.3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Cobb
Coweta
Fayette
Cherokee
Henry
Paulding
Fulton
Gwinnett
Clayton
Douglas
Butts
DeKalb
Rockdale
City of Atlanta
ARC Region
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree DK
Overall, roughly 27 percent of respondents indicated that they frequently lack transportation
to get where they need to go, but in jurisdictions like the City of Atlanta (35%) and Rockdale
(35%), those percentages are significantly higher.

13. Most Likely to Indicate Having Problems with
Accessing Needed Transportation…
• Residents of Butts,
Rockdale, the City of
Atlanta, and DeKalb
• Boomers and Seniors
• Those with lower levels of
education
• Black and Latino
Respondents

14. 1.6%
4.8%
19.6%
74.1%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0%
DK
Not important at all
Somewhat important
Very important
2017
2016
Importance of Public Transit for the Future of Metro
Atlanta, 2017
Overall support for public transit
remains high as nearly 94 percent
of respondents said that public
transit was either “Very
Important” or “Somewhat
Important” for the future of
metro Atlanta.

15. 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Fayette
Cherokee
Paulding
Henry
Butts
Douglas
Coweta
Rockdale
Cobb
Gwinnett
Fulton
Clayton
DeKalb
City of
Atlanta
ARC
Region
58.0%
59.9%
60.1%
61.1%
61.3%
63.3%
68.4%
68.9%
71.5%
74.6%
80.5%
81.6%
81.7%
85.0%
74.1%
27.5%
26.7%
22.6%
27.9%
25.8%
24.1%
19.4%
25.2%
22.3%
21.1%
16.1%
12.9%
14.4%
13.1%
19.6%
13.0%
11.5%
15.5%
8.2%
9.7%
9.5%
8.4%
4.9%
4.9%
3.0%
2.4%
4.2%
2.1%
1.3%
4.8%
Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important At All DK
Importance of Public Transit to the Region, by Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by “Very Important” Responses)

16. 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Fayette
Cherokee
Paulding
Henry
Butts
Douglas
Coweta
Rockdale
Cobb
Gwinnett
Fulton
Clayton
DeKalb
City of…
ARC…
58.0%
59.9%
60.1%
61.1%
61.3%
63.3%
68.4%
68.9%
71.5%
74.6%
80.5%
81.6%
81.7%
85.0%
74.1%
27.5%
26.7%
22.6%
27.9%
25.8%
24.1%
19.4%
25.2%
22.3%
21.1%
16.1%
12.9%
14.4%
13.1%
19.6%
13.0%
11.5%
15.5%
8.2%
9.7%
9.5%
8.4%
4.9%
4.9%
3.0%
2.4%
4.2%
2.1%
1.3%
4.8%
Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important At All DK
Importance of Public Transit to the Region, by Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by “Very Important” Responses)
A majority of respondents in every jurisdiction indicated that public transit was “very
important” to the future of metro Atlanta.

17. 4.1%
4.1%
15.6%
27.4%
48.8%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0%
DK
Do nothing
Develop communities live close to work
Improve roads/ highways
Expand public transit
2017
2016
Best Way to Fix Traffic? 2016 and 2017
When asked what was the best
long-term fix for the region’s
traffic problems, a plurality of
respondents chose “expand public
transit.” In fact, that answer was
more popular this year than in
2016.

18. 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Henry
Butts
Cherokee
Douglas
Fayette
Rockdale
Paulding
Gwinnett
Clayton
Coweta
Cobb
DeKalb
Fulton
City of Atlanta
ARC Region
37.7%
38.7%
40.5%
42.1%
43.2%
43.3%
44.6%
45.2%
46.4%
46.8%
52.4%
52.7%
53.9%
58.8%
48.8%
41.0%
32.3%
38.5%
31.4%
29.5%
26.9%
31.0%
29.2%
29.5%
28.2%
23.5%
24.1%
24.0%
19.1%
27.4%
14.8%
12.9%
13.7%
18.2%
16.7%
21.2%
14.9%
17.9%
18.2%
13.5%
13.0%
17.4%
13.6%
16.9%
15.6%
4.5%
6.5%
1.5%
4.4%
6.8%
4.8%
6.0%
3.1%
3.2%
5.8%
4.8%
3.3%
5.0%
3.8%
4.1%
Best Long-Term Solution to Traffic, by Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by “Expand Public Transit” Reponses)
Expand Public Transit Improve Roads and Highways Develop Communities in Which People Live Close to Where They Work Do Nothing DK

19. 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Henry
Butts
Cherokee
Douglas
Fayette
Rockdale
Paulding
Gwinnett
Clayton
Coweta
Cobb
DeKalb
Fulton
City of Atlanta
ARC Region
37.7%
38.7%
40.5%
42.1%
43.2%
43.3%
44.6%
45.2%
46.4%
46.8%
52.4%
52.7%
53.9%
58.8%
48.8%
41.0%
32.3%
38.5%
31.4%
29.5%
26.9%
31.0%
29.2%
29.5%
28.2%
23.5%
24.1%
24.0%
19.1%
27.4%
14.8%
12.9%
13.7%
18.2%
16.7%
21.2%
14.9%
17.9%
18.2%
13.5%
13.0%
17.4%
13.6%
16.9%
15.6%
4.5%
6.5%
1.5%
4.4%
6.8%
4.8%
6.0%
3.1%
3.2%
5.8%
4.8%
3.3%
5.0%
3.8%
4.1%
Best Long-Term Solution to Traffic, by Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by “Expand Public Transit” Reponses)
Expand Public Transit Improve Roads and Highways Develop Communities in Which People Live Close to Where They Work Do Nothing DK
“Expand Public Transit” was the most popular choice as the best long-term fix to traffic
problems in every jurisdiction except Henry County.

20. Most Likely to Indicate “Expanding Public Transit” as the Best
Long-Term Fix to Traffic Problems…
• Residents of City of Atlanta,
DeKalb, and Clayton
• Females
• Non-Whites
• Residents newer to the metro
area

21. Strongly
Agree, 13.9%
Agree, 37.0%Disagree, 27.1%
Strongly
Disagree, 20.6%
DK, 1.4%
Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree DK
“I am willing to pay more in taxes to fund expanded regional public
transit that includes buses and rail."
For the first time, we
asked the level of
agreement to the
statement: “I am willing to
pay more in taxes to fund
expanded regional public
transit that includes buses
and rail."
More than half (51%) of
respondents either
“Strongly agreed” or
“Agreed” with that
statement. But a greater
percentage of respondents
“Strongly Disagree” than
they did “Strongly Agree”

22. “I am willing to pay more in taxes to fund expanded regional public transit
that includes buses and rail,” By Jurisdiction, 2017
(“Strongly Agree” or “Agree”)
50.9%
56.3% 55.8% 55.4%
52.8%
51.5%
48.8%
46.9%
44.2% 43.9%
42.0% 41.9%
40.4% 39.7%
34.5%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%

23. “I am willing to pay more in taxes to fund expanded regional public transit
that includes buses and rail,” By Jurisdiction, 2017
(“Strongly Agree” or “Agree”)
50.9%
56.3% 55.8% 55.4%
52.8% 51.5%
48.8%
46.9%
44.2% 43.9%
42.0% 41.9%
40.4% 39.7%
34.5%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
The most populated jurisdictions – Gwinnett, Fulton, City of Atlanta, DeKalb, Clayton and
Cobb, all had the largest percentages of respondents indicating support for paying more in
taxes to expand public transit. Of the jurisdictions listed, only Cobb had less than 50 percent
“Strongly Agree” or “Agree” with the statement.

24. Most Likely to Indicate a willingness to pay more in taxes to
“expand public transit” …
• Residents of Gwinnett, Fulton,
and City of Atlanta
• Millennials
• Hispanic/Latinos
• College Educated
• Higher Household Incomes
• Respondents living in the region
for 6-10 years

25. ECONOMY

26. Percent of Respondents Choosing “Economy” As Region’s Problem:
2013-2017
24%
20%
15%
12%
9%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
As the economy continues to
improve, so does the perception of
the “Economy” as the top concern.
In 2013, the “Economy” was the
chosen as the #1 concern. In 2017, it
is #5 (tied with “Human Services”).

27. Most Likely to Say that Economy is the #1 Issue?
• Residents of Rockdale,
Paulding, and Douglas
• Those in prime workforce
years
• African Americans
• Those with lower incomes
and education levels

28. How Respondents Would Pay for a $400 Emergency, 2017

29. How Respondents Would Pay for a $400 Emergency, 2017
Even with the overall improvement in the economy, the improvement is not felt by all. When
asked how you would pay for an unexpected $400 financial emergency, around 30 percent of
respondents would have to either borrow the money, sell or pawn something, or wouldn’t be
able to pay it at all. This is consistent, although slightly lower, than last year’s responses.

30. How Respondents Would Pay for a $400 Emergency,
by Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by lack of ability to pay responses)
51.9%
41.6%
48.3% 48.4% 48.5% 50.7% 51.2% 53.1% 51.9% 51.5%
56.9%
51.5% 53.8%
62.4%
66.2%
16.0%
12.3%
10.3%
15.4%
18.4% 15.9% 15.5% 13.2% 14.3% 16.2%
15.0%
19.5%
21.2%
13.3%
15.0%
29.3%
42.9%
37.9%
34.4% 31.1% 31.1% 31.0% 30.5% 29.4%
29.4%
26.9% 26.8%
21.8% 21.7%
18.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
ARC
Region
Clayton Butts City of
Atlanta
Rockdale Fulton Paulding Henry DeKalb Cobb Douglas Gwinnett Coweta Cherokee Fayette
Pay with Cash, Check or Debit Pay with Credit Card Would have to borrow, sell something or not be able to pay

31. How Respondents Would Pay for a $400 Emergency,
by Jurisdiction, 2017
(Sorted by lack of ability to pay responses)
51.9%
41.6%
48.3% 48.4% 48.5% 50.7% 51.2% 53.1% 51.9% 51.5%
56.9%
51.5% 53.8%
62.4% 66.2%
16.0%
12.3%
10.3%
15.4% 18.4% 15.9% 15.5% 13.2% 14.3% 16.2%
15.0%
19.5%
21.2%
13.3%
15.0%
29.3%
42.9%
37.9%
34.4% 31.1% 31.1% 31.0% 30.5% 29.4% 29.4%
26.9% 26.8% 21.8% 21.7%
18.0%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
ARC
Region
Clayton Butts City of
Atlanta
Rockdale Fulton Paulding Henry DeKalb Cobb Douglas Gwinnett Coweta Cherokee Fayette
Pay with Cash, Check or Debit Pay with Credit Card Would have to borrow, sell something or not be able to pay
Respondents in Clayton and Butts Counties, along with those in the City of Atlanta, were
most likely to indicate trouble paying for a $400 financial emergency.

32. Yes,
18.7%
No,
81.1%
DK, 0.3%
Skipped Meals or Reduced Portions Due to a Lack of Money,
2017
While 30 percent of
respondents would
struggle to pay for a $400
financial emergency,
almost 19 percent of
respondents indicated
some level of food
insecurity, being forced to
skip meals or reduce
portions due to a lack of
money.

33. Skipped Meals or Reduced Portions Due to a Lack of Money, by
Jurisdiction, 2017
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
ARC Region
Cherokee
Fayette
Rockdale
Coweta
Paulding
Douglas
Henry
Gwinnett
Fulton
Butts
Cobb
City of Atlanta
Clayton
DeKalb
18.7%
10.6%
10.7%
14.4%
14.7%
15.5%
17.0%
18.1%
18.9%
19.1%
20.0%
20.1%
20.3%
20.3%
21.6%
81.1%
88.2%
89.3%
85.6%
85.3%
84.5%
83.0%
81.5%
81.1%
80.5%
80.0%
79.8%
78.9%
79.4%
78.2%
Yes No DK

34. Crime

35. Percent of Respondents Choosing “Crime” As Region’s Problem:
2013-2017
17%
14%
17%
23%
17%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
After a spike in the percentage of respondents
choosing “Crime” as a top concern in 2016, the
percentage has fallen back in line with previous
years’ levels in the most recent survey.

36. Most Likely to Say that Crime is the #1 Issue?
• Residents of Clayton,
Douglas, Henry and
Rockdale
• Seniors/ Retired
• Those with the least
amount of education
• Black Respondents
• Females

37. 30.6%
13.6%
19.8%
22.3%
21.9%
27.8%
29.0%
28.6%
30.0%
29.6%
38.4%
37.4%
32.0%
36.0%
44.2%
10.7%
6.8%
4.6%
5.4%
7.7%
6.6%
7.0%
11.4%
10.0%
10.7%
6.9%
11.2%
19.7%
18.8%
17.3%
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0%
ARC Region
Fayette
Cherokee
Paulding
Coweta
Cobb
Gwinnett
Rockdale
Butts
Henry
Douglas
Fulton
DeKalb
Clayton
City of Atlanta
Fair Poor
Percent of Respondents Rating Resident Safety in their Community as
“Fair” or “Poor”, by Jurisdiction, 2017
The survey asked respondents to
rate the safety in their
community, and in three
jurisdictions (City of Atlanta,
Clayton and DeKalb), more than
half of respondents rated their
community’s safety as “fair” or
“poor.”

38. THE FUTURE?

39. Future Assessment of Living Conditions:
Responses 2016 and 2017
31%
28%
24%
29%
14%
35%
20%
35%
26%
30%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Worse in 3-4 years Better in 3-4 years
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Every year we ask respondents how optimistic they are about the future of
metro Atlanta. In 2013, as the region was emerging from the Great Recession,
more people indicated that things would be worse than better in 3-4 years.
While that is no longer the case, the gap between “better” and “worse”
narrowed significantly this year. This is something to monitor in future surveys.

40. Things in the Future Will Be… by County, 2017
(Sorted by Percent of Respondents Choosing “Better”)
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Butts
Henry
Douglas
Fayette
Cherokee
Paulding
Gwinnett
Cobb
Rockdale
Coweta
DeKalb
Clayton
Fulton
City of Atlanta
ARC Region
16.7%
20.1%
20.8%
25.0%
25.2%
25.7%
26.7%
26.9%
26.9%
28.7%
33.0%
34.3%
35.9%
38.3%
29.6%
26.7%
32.8%
30.8%
17.4%
24.0%
16.2%
36.6%
20.0%
25.0%
26.1%
23.6%
31.1%
23.1%
24.5%
26.0%
53.3%
45.1%
46.5%
56.1%
50.0%
55.1%
34.5%
50.6%
45.2%
42.0%
41.1%
33.7%
39.1%
34.8%
42.3%
Better in 3-4 years Worse in 3-4 years About the Same DK

41. Things in the Future Will Be… by County, 2017
(Sorted by Percent of Respondents Choosing “Better”)
0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%
Butts
Henry
Douglas
Fayette
Cherokee
Paulding
Gwinnett
Cobb
Rockdale
Coweta
DeKalb
Clayton
Fulton
City of Atlanta
ARC Region
16.7%
20.1%
20.8%
25.0%
25.2%
25.7%
26.7%
26.9%
26.9%
28.7%
33.0%
34.3%
35.9%
38.3%
29.6%
26.7%
32.8%
30.8%
17.4%
24.0%
16.2%
36.6%
20.0%
25.0%
26.1%
23.6%
31.1%
23.1%
24.5%
26.0%
53.3%
45.1%
46.5%
56.1%
50.0%
55.1%
34.5%
50.6%
45.2%
42.0%
41.1%
33.7%
39.1%
34.8%
42.3%
Better in 3-4 years Worse in 3-4 years About the Same DK
One thing that has remained consistent over the five years of this survey is that, for the most part, respondents in
lower income jurisdictions like City of Atlanta, Clayton and DeKalb have among the highest levels of optimism for
the next 3-4 years.

42. Most Likely to Say that things will be better in 3-4 years
• Residents of City of Atlanta,
Fulton and Clayton
• Millennials
• Blacks and Latinos
• Highest Income Households
and Lowest Income
Households
• Those relatively new to the
region

43. Sponsors 2017