Living In Edinburgh

The vast majority of Edinburgh residents are satisfied the city as a whole as a place to live -- in fact, half say they are 'very satisfied'. The level of satisfaction with life in Edinburgh is equally high across all ages, levels of income and areas of the city, although is slightly lower among those renting from a Housing Association (75%).

Levels of satisfaction among residents towards their own local neighbourhood are only slightly lower. However, those least likely to say they are satisfied are those on lowest incomes and those in Council or Housing Association accommodation. Overall, one in ten is dissatisfied with their local neighbourhood.

For most, their local neighbourhood has stayed the same as a place to live over the last year or so, however, for a quarter it has go worse. Those most likely to be negative about changes to their local area are those on lower incomes, those with children in their household, those in Council or Housing Association rented accommodation and those living in the east of the city. Above all others, those living in the North and Leith are most likely to feel things have improved over the last year.

Reducing crime and making the city safer would be priorities for around half of all Edinburgh residents in improving the quality of life for people in the city -- particularly for those aged 55-64. However, at least a third of residents would also like to see action towards making Edinburgh cleaner and more attractive, investing in a good public transport system and encouraging the development of more affordable housing.

Topline Results

• Results are based on a survey of 1,031 Edinburgh residents aged 16+ as part of the bi-annual MORI Scotland 'Edinburgh Survey'
• Interviews conducted face-to-face in home
• Fieldwork conducted between 27 September and 23 October 2004
• Results are weighted to known population profile by age, gender and tenure using 2001 census data
• All figures are percentages based on all (1,031) unless otherwise stated
• An asterisk (*) denotes a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
• Where figures do not add up to 100, this is due to multiple coding or computer rounding

Life in Edinburgh

Q1 Thinking about Edinburgh as a whole, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with it as a place to live?

Q2 And now, thinking about your local neighbourhood specifically, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with it as a place to live?

Q3 On balance, how do you think your local neighbourhood has changed over the past year or so as a place to live? Has it got better, worse, or stayed about the same?

Q4 Which of these would you set as priorities to improve the quality of life for the people in Edinburgh?

Q5 How common are each of the following problems in your local neighbourhood?