Leading the Way Awards

In its 2025 community survey, the Town of Highland Park, Texas, achieved an impressive composite score of 280, exceeding the national average by 166 points. The town’s ratings were more than 20% above national benchmarks in 45 key service areas. These areas included public library services and programs, household hazardous waste disposal, and communication with residents. Located within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Highland Park is widely recognized for its well-maintained neighborhoods, strong civic leadership, and consistently high standards of municipal services, which contribute to its strong quality of life.

Community Survey results for the Town of Holly Springs, North Carolina, show a composite score of 217, exceeding the national average by 103 points. Holly Springs’ ratings ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 33 key service areas, including downtown maintenance, the quality of parks and greenways, and opportunities for residents to provide input on local issues. Located just south of Raleigh in Wake County, Holly Springs is known for its welcoming neighborhoods, community spaces, and strong commitment to safety and responsive local government.

The City of La Porte, Texas, achieved a composite score of 212 in its 2025 community survey, passing the national average by 98 points. La Porte’s results ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 22 key service areas, including emergency preparedness, heavy trash collection, wastewater treatment services, and stormwater management. Located along Galveston Bay, southeast of Houston, La Porte is recognized for its strong municipal services, community character, and commitment to keeping residents informed and well-served.

League City, Texas, received a composite score of 220 in its community survey, exceeding the national average by 106 points. The City’s results ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 32 key service areas, with particularly strong ratings for emergency preparedness, animal services, and curbside recycling. Situated along the Gulf Coast between Houston and Galveston, League City is known for its growing waterfront community, well-kept neighborhoods, and local services that support a high quality of life for residents.

Results from the City of Lenexa, Kansas’s community survey show a composite score of 241, surpassing the national average by 127 points. Lenexa’s ratings ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 44 key service areas, including the quality of parks and trails, fire and emergency medical services, and stormwater infrastructure. Located in Johnson County just outside Kansas City, Lenexa is known for its well-maintained public spaces, strong emergency services, and thoughtful approach to community development.

Olathe, Kansas, achieved a composite score of 244 in its community survey, surpassing the national average by 130 points. Olathe’s results ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 31 key service areas, including yard waste removal, household hazardous waste disposal, stormwater management, and the reliability of local water services. Located southwest of Kansas City, Olathe is known for its well-maintained infrastructure, strong municipal services, and ongoing commitment to providing a safe and welcoming community for residents.

With a composite score of 232, the City of Pelham, Alabama, surpassed the national average by 118 points in its community survey results. Pelham’s ratings were more than 20% above national benchmarks in 33 key service areas, including customer service from City employees, parks and recreation programs, police visibility and response, and communication with residents. Located just south of Birmingham, Pelham is known for its well-maintained parks and public spaces, which contribute to a high resident satisfaction rating.

The Town of Plainfield, Indiana, recorded a composite score of 223 in its community survey, exceeding the national average by 109 points. Plainfield’s ratings outperformed national benchmarks by more than 20% in 32 key service areas, including parks and recreation programs, public safety services, community appearance, and communication with residents. Located just west of Indianapolis in Hendricks County, Plainfield is known for its strong sense of community and high quality of life for residents and families.

Earning a composite score of 237 in its community survey, the City of Roeland Park, Kansas, exceeded the national average by 123 points. Roeland Park’s ratings ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 37 key service areas, including residential yard waste collection, snow removal on major and neighborhood streets, and curbside recycling services. Located in Johnson County, just outside Kansas City, Roeland Park is known for its well-kept neighborhoods, responsive city services, and strong sense of community, making it an attractive place to live and raise a family.

The City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, earned a composite score of 195 in its community survey, surpassing the national average for large communities by 81 points. Virginia Beach’s results ranked more than 20% above national benchmarks in 15 key service areas, including public library services, waste disposal and recycling centers, bulky item collection, and the overall quality of local public schools. Situated along the Atlantic coast, Virginia Beach is known for its coastal lifestyle, strong municipal services, and reputation as both a welcoming community for residents and a destination for visitors.

The City of Wheaton, Illinois, achieved a composite score of 247 in its community survey, surpassing the national average by 133 points. Wheaton’s ratings exceeded national benchmarks by more than 20% across 39 key service areas, including communication with the public, police-community engagement, safety programs, and recycling services. Located in DuPage County just west of Chicago, Wheaton is recognized for its strong public safety services and commitment to maintaining a safe, well-managed community for residents and businesses.