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Our 2026 Community Poll

Meaningful economic development starts with the community at its center. In 2025, Forward Janesville (FJ) completed its inaugural Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) Survey to understand what our area’s existing businesses needed to grow and expand locally. What we heard is that Janesville is a good place to do business. In general, the city works to get to yes and the community invests in quality of life. However, housing, workforce and speed to market were the top barriers to continued growth and expansion.

Building on our engagement with the business sector, FJ wanted to connect with the broader community to understand their perspectives on Janesville. In March 2026, FJ worked with Public Opinion Strategies, a national polling firm, to survey Janesville residents. 

The poll was conducted March 1-4, 2026 among 300 likely voters in spring elections. Spring election voters are considered high-propensity voters and very engaged in local affairs. Therefore, the sample size is considered valid and the results reflective of sentiment among the general community. The survey has a margin of error of ±5.66 percent.

The main takeaways from the poll are that residents believe Janesville is headed in the right direction and local priorities remain focused on economic and pocketbook issues that shape quality of life. Highlights include:

  • 51% of respondents said Janesville is on the right track while 32% said wrong track. 17% did not answer or didn’t know.
  • Of those who said Janesville is on the right track, the economy and jobs were top reasons for why Janesville is moving in the right direction. Secondary responses were community projects, downtown revitalization, good leadership and low crime.
  • Of those who said Janesville is on the wrong track, concerns and fears around the development process of a data center was cited. Secondary issues were high taxes, transparency and cost of living.
  • The Janesville City Council, Janesville City Manager, Janesville School Board and Janesville School Superintendent have net positive job approval.
  • The most pressing issues for respondents were:
    • Housing Affordability & Homelessness Services (31%)
    • Property Taxes & City Spending (28%)
    • Economic Development & Job Growth (17%) 

READ THE POLL PRESS RELEASE: Janesville Community Says City Headed in the Right Direction, Strong Support for Responsible Growth

 

Listen to Why This Matters

When you combine the results of the 2026 Community Poll with the results of our 2025 BRE Survey, it is clear that Janesville has momentum. As a community, we need maintain our forward trajectory while tackling local challenges, like housing and affordability. That's responsible growth. 

 

 

Review the Results

Public Opinion Strategies, a nationally recognized survey research firm, conducted the poll from March 1-4, 2026 among 300 likely voters. The poll was conducted March 1-4, 2026 among 300 likely voters in spring elections. Spring election voters are considered high-propensity voters and very engaged in local affairs. Therefore, the sample size is considered valid and the results reflective of sentiment among the general community. The survey has a margin of error of ±5.66 percent.

The results show that voters believe Janesville is headed in the right direction and that local priorities remain focused on economic and pocketbook issues that shape quality of life. Click on the icon below to review the poll results. 

 

 

 

Dig Deeper 

Listen to Gene Ulm from Public Opinion Strategies as he provides greater insight into what these results tell us and how we should contextualize them. Ulm has been polling and surveying Wisconsin communities for years. His experience brings additional depth to his review.