The Seattle Metro Chamber released findings from the eleventh edition of The Index, its semiannual survey tracking Seattle voters’ views on quality of life, the economy, and the issues facing the city.

Two-thirds of Seattle voters say they are concerned Seattle is losing ground on public safety and quality of life following the positive momentum Seattle gained during the World Cup this summer.

Only 19% of voters say Seattle’s overall quality of life is getting better. Seattle’s overall quality of life rating of 4.39 is down for the second time in 2026, after Index 10 saw the city’s rating fall to its lowest level in two years.

These findings reflect widespread concern about Seattle’s safety, affordability, and business climate. Concern about public safety has increased again and has surpassed homelessness as voters’ top concern. Crime and public safety are 39% of voters’ top issue, homelessness follows at 33%, and affordability ranks third at 27%.

Nearly all voters surveyed, 96%, say it is difficult for middle-class families to afford to live in Seattle, while 95% say it is difficult for a small business to afford to operate here.

Additionally, 68% of voters say Seattle’s economy is getting weaker, compared with just 10% who say it is getting stronger. Two-thirds are concerned about their own financial situation given current economic conditions.

Seven-in-ten (71%) agree businesses are closing or leaving Seattle for nearby cities because the cost of doing business has gotten too high, while 66% say City leaders are not doing enough to make Seattle a good place to do business.

At the same time, amid economic uncertainty 80% say it is important to protect local jobs and small businesses by lowering the cost to start and run a business, and 73% say the City should do more to retain existing employers and attract new businesses and jobs.

“The World Cup showed what Seattle can do when we’re all pulling in the same direction. The city felt safe, clean and alive, and we showed people from around the world what makes Seattle special,” said Joe Nguyễn, President and CEO of the Seattle Metro Chamber. “But people are wondering why we haven’t kept that momentum going. They want to feel safe walking around their neighborhood. They want to be able to afford to live here. And they want Seattle to be a place where businesses can grow and create jobs. We’ve shown we can get the basics right, and the Mayor’s budget proposal moves us in the right direction. Now we have to keep that momentum going and deliver.”

Voters also lack confidence in the City’s plans to address Seattle’s biggest challenges: 75% are not confident the City has an effective plan to improve public safety, 85% lack confidence in its plan to reduce homeless encampments, and 71% are not confident in the City’s plan to strengthen the local economy.

As the City faces an estimated $150 million budget shortfall, 58% of voters favor cutting spending and getting better results from existing tax dollars over raising additional revenue through progressive taxes. Seventy-nine percent support requiring the City to demonstrate that current spending is delivering results before asking residents or employers to pay more in taxes.

Key findings from the latest Index: 

  • Voters see Seattle losing its World Cup momentum: two-thirds of voters are concerned Seattle is losing ground on public safety and quality of life after the positive momentum generated during the World Cup this summer.
  • Seattle is difficult to afford for families and small businesses: 96% of voters say it is difficult for middle-class families to afford to live in Seattle, while 95% say it is difficult for a small business to afford to operate here.
  • Public safety has overtaken homelessness as top concern: Crime, drugs, and public safety now rank as voters’ top concern at 39%, up from 35% in Index 10. Homelessness follows at 33%, and cost of living and affordable housing remains a leading issue at 27%.
  • Quality of life declines for the second time this year: only 19% of voters say the overall quality of life in Seattle is getting better. The city’s quality of life rating fell to 4.39, marking its second decline in 2026 after Index 10 recorded its lowest rating in two years, reversing a period of steady improvement.
  • Voters say Seattle’s economy is getting weaker: 68% say the local economy is getting weaker, compared with just 10% who say it is getting stronger.
  • The cost of doing business is a concern: 71% agree businesses are closing or leaving Seattle for nearby cities because the cost of doing business has gotten too high, and 66% say City leaders are not doing enough to make Seattle a good place to do business.
  • Downtown visits hold steady, but concerns about its future and safety persist: 66% of voters say they are visiting downtown the same or more often than last year. However, 77% of voters are concerned about downtown’s future, and the share of voters who feel safe visiting downtown during the day decreased by 5% compared to Index 10.
  • Voters want the City focused on the basics: 92% say taking care of basics like potholes, parks, and transportation infrastructure is important, while 86% prioritize shutting down open-air drug markets and 86% say helping local businesses address public safety concerns is important.
  • Voters continue to want results and accountability from City leaders: 79% support requiring the City to demonstrate that existing spending is producing results before asking residents or employers to pay more in taxes. Sixty-one percent say Seattle taxes are too high for the level of services the City provides.
  • Voters want to keep employers and jobs in Seattle: 69% agree large businesses are essential to the city’s success, and 72% say it is important for city leaders to do more to keep existing employers and attract new employers and jobs.
  • Seattleites remain proud of their city: 75% say they are proud to call themselves Seattleites, and 59% remain optimistic about the future of the region.

The Index is a semiannual survey of Seattle voters that measures perceptions of quality of life, economic conditions, and public policy priorities over time.

Polling was conducted by Fulcrum Strategy Group, which interviewed 700 Seattle voters from September 23 to October 1, 2026. In-depth data and cross tabs can be found here.

About the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce 
The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (Seattle Metro Chamber) is the regional business advocacy organization that engages the innovation and entrepreneurship of its 2,600 members to promote inclusive economic prosperity. Founded in 1882, the Chamber represents a regional workforce of approximately 750,000.