Skip to content

Lahti residents appreciate clean drinking water and outdoor trails – More people would recommend the city as a place to live

According to a recent survey, Lahti residents are most satisfied with the quality of drinking water, fitness trails, and outdoor routes, including nature and hiking trails. 54% of respondents would recommend Lahti as a place to live, marking a nine percentage point increase from the 2020 survey.

Satisfaction is lowest regarding the performance of local elected officials, opportunities for residents to influence city development, and the maintenance of streets and roads. The City and Municipal Services Survey measured residents’ satisfaction with various services.

Compared to the 2020 survey, satisfaction has increased the most in areas such as museums and art exhibitions, the placement of housing, jobs and services, and environmental cleanliness. However, satisfaction has declined the most regarding sports and playgrounds, beaches, and the outdoor swimming pool.

On a scale from 4 to 10, the overall rating of city services was an average of 7.33.

Climate change and loss of local nature are major concerns

Over 85% of respondents expressed concern about climate change in general and the loss or degradation of local nature. Additionally, more than 80% were worried about the increasing occurrence of snowless and dark winters and the negative impacts of traffic.

Regarding the adequacy of the city’s climate actions, 43% of respondents considered them appropriate, 23% felt insufficient, and 7% found them excessive. Meanwhile, 27% were unable to take a stance on the matter.

City and municipal services survey provides insights into residents’ opinions

The City and Municipal Services Survey was conducted between October and November 2024. It was sent to 2,200 randomly selected Lahti residents aged 18–79, with 568 individuals responding, resulting in a response rate of 25.8%. Half of the respondents were over 65 years old. FCG Finnish Consulting Group Oy carried out the survey.

This survey helps the city gather feedback on its services and adjust its operations to better meet residents’ needs and expectations. In addition to surveys, the city collects resident satisfaction data through service events and online questionnaires.