Survey of critical issues facing our region
The Baltimore Metropolitan Council presents its 2025 survey of critical policy issues facing the Baltimore metropolitan area. This unprecedented snapshot can help guide the region’s planning and decision making in the months and years ahead.
This survey was conducted in late March and early April and comes about seven months after the BMC’s inaugural Pulse survey in Fall 2024, allowing policymakers to review changes in attitudes over time.
Highlights
The BMC’s Pulse survey is unique in the region because it provides statistically significant sample sizes for each member jurisdiction, including Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard and Queen Anne’s counties.
Economy & Personal Finance
The proportion of regional residents who say Maryland’s economy is excellent/good dropped from 48 percent to 45 percent, and the proportion who say the state economy is fair or poor has risen to 55 percent, up from 51 percent.
Housing & Development
Affordable housing remains a consistent concern across region. Nearly three-fifths of renters priced out of homeownership as renters are less optimistic on
buying a house someday.
Traffic, Transportation and Transit
Willingness to use public transportation is highest in Baltimore City (68 percent), and lowest in Harford County (23 percent). Overall, younger residents are more willing to use public transportation…
Quality of Life
Decreased public school satisfaction across the board, except Queen Anne’s county. Residents want increased attention to taxes and housing costs across suburbs.
Environment
Access to clean drinking water is by far the top environmental concern of respondents (52 percent), followed by clean air and cleaning the Chesapeake Bay (32 percent apiece).
Most Concerning?
Economic concerns are growing in the Baltimore region. More residents are worried about energy prices and the future of their household incomes.
Who conducted the Poll?
The 2025 Pulse survey was conducted by GQR, a leading Washington-based polling firm. GQR conducted a 15-minute mixed mode survey among 1,200 adults in Baltimore City and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford, Howard, Carroll, and Queen Anne’s counties between March 27 and April 2.
Live phone, text-to-web, and online interviews each made up 33 percent of respondents. Respondents were compiled from a representative stratified set and panel sample of the target area’s general population.
Methodology
- Margin of error of +/- 2.83 percentage points overall at the 95 percent confidence interval
- 1200 adults questioned across 6 counties
- The data are statistically weighted to ensure the sample’s regional, age, and gender composition reflects that of Baltimore and the selected surrounding counties.
The Pulse is prepared for Baltimore
Metropolitan Council a trusted group of experts who help guide the future of the Baltimore region by evaluating needs and trends, listening to communities and developing and implementing programs and projects.