An engaged community harnesses its most valuable resource, its residents. The connections and trust among residents, government, businesses and other organizations help to create a sense of community, a shared sense of membership, belonging and history. A majority of respondents (62%) rated sense of community positively, which was similar to the national benchmark. More than 8 in 10 respondents indicated that they would recommend living in Charlottesville to someone who asks, and about half reported that they had contacted the City of Charlottesville for help or information the in the past 12 months. Only about two-thirds of respondents reported that they plan to remain in Charlottesville for the next five years, which is lower than rates reported in other communities nationwide.

The survey included over 30 activities and behaviors for which respondents indicated how often they participated in or performed each, if at all. In the facet of Safety, most residents had not been the victim of a crime and had not reported a crime to the police; about one-third had stocked supplies for an emergency. Rates of participation in Mobility-related activities were strong and higher than other communities across the nation. About half of residents had used public transportation instead of driving and carpooled instead of driving alone, and about 8 in 10 reported that they walked or biked instead of driving. Within Natural Environment, about 8 in 10 respondents reported that they had conserved water and recycled at home in the past 12 months, which is similar to the national benchmarks. However, only about 6 in 10 survey participants reported that they had made efforts to make their homes more energy efficient, which is lower than rates reported in other communities. At least half or more of survey respondents reported participating in all aspects of Built Environment and Recreation and Wellness; reported rates of participation in these facets were similar to the national benchmarks. Participation rates in the facets of Economy and Education and Enrichment were strong and similar to or higher than rates seen in other communities. It is noteworthy that aspects in both of these facets saw an increase in participation rates from 2014 to 2016: proportions of residents who reported that the economy will have a positive impact on their income in the next six months and of residents who reported that they had attended a City-sponsored event both increased during this period. Rates of participation in the facet of Community Engagement varied. About 4 in 10 residents reported that they had participated in a club, and almost 6 in 10 had volunteered; these rates are higher than the national benchmarks. However, about two-thirds of respondents reported that they had read or watched the local news; this rate declined over time and is lower than the benchmark.