Nanos poll: Toronto voters say traffic congestion is the biggest problem in the city
A Nanos Research poll conducted September 30 to October 4, 2026, found that 26% of Toronto voters name traffic as the single biggest quality-of-life problem in the city. Housing costs came second at 18%, followed by public safety at 16%.
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Traffic congestion is the top quality-of-life concern for Toronto voters, named by 26% of respondents in a Nanos Research poll published October 8 by CP24. The poll of 755 randomly selected Toronto residents ran from September 30 to October 4, 2026, and has a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Housing costs came second, named by 18% of respondents. Public safety or crime was third at 16%, property taxes fourth at 12%, and grocery costs fifth at 9%.
Nanos chief data scientist Nik Nanos said the traffic result has implications beyond commuting. He said: "How are we supposed to attract investment into Toronto if traffic is the number one thing people know?"
Younger voters named housing first
Among Gen Z voters and younger millennials, 31% said housing costs were their top concern, compared to 18% in the overall sample. For that age group, housing ranked ahead of traffic as the top issue.
Close to three-quarters of all voters said the city had become less affordable compared to four years ago. Only 3% said affordability had improved.
A geographic split on property taxes
The poll found different views on taxes depending on where voters live. In Scarborough, 57% said they preferred low property tax increases even if city services were reduced. In downtown Toronto and East York, 54.2% said they supported tax increases to maintain current services. Property taxes were named as the top quality-of-life problem by 12% of respondents city-wide.
What the candidates said
CP24 asked both mayoral candidates about the results. Olivia Chow, responding to the traffic finding, said voters should live closer to their jobs so they spend less time commuting. Brad Bradford focused on the city's record, saying: "You've had three years on the job, and you have not got the job."
Voters can cast a ballot in advance from October 6 to October 11 at City of Toronto voting locations. Election day is October 26, 2026. The full mayoral candidate list is at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor.
Questions this story answers
What did the Nanos Research poll find?
Nanos Research asked 755 Toronto residents what the single biggest quality-of-life problem in the city is. Traffic came first, named by 26% of respondents. Housing costs came second at 18%. Public safety or crime was third at 16%. Property taxes were fourth at 12%, and grocery costs were fifth at 9%. The poll ran from September 30 to October 4, 2026, and has a margin of error of ±3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Who conducted this poll and when?
Nanos Research conducted the poll. Respondents were randomly selected Toronto residents. Field work ran from September 30 to October 4, 2026. The sample size was 755 people. The margin of error is ±3.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. CP24 published the results on October 8, 2026. This poll asked about voter priorities, not about support for specific candidates.
What did younger voters say?
Among Gen Z and younger millennial voters, 31% named housing costs as their top quality-of-life concern, compared to 18% in the overall sample. The Nanos poll found that younger voters prioritized housing higher than the city-wide average, while traffic congestion remained the overall top concern across all age groups.
What did voters say about affordability overall?
Nanos Research found that close to three-quarters of Toronto voters said the city had become less affordable compared to four years ago. Only 3% said affordability had improved. The poll covered quality-of-life concerns broadly, and multiple issues on the list, including housing costs, property taxes, and grocery costs, relate to affordability.
What did the poll find about property taxes?
Nanos Research found a geographic split in how voters think about property taxes. In Scarborough, 57% of residents said they preferred keeping property tax increases low, even if that meant reduced city services. In downtown Toronto and East York, 54.2% said they supported tax increases to maintain current service levels. The overall share naming property taxes as the top problem was 12%.
What did the candidates say about the poll results?
CP24 asked both candidates about the results. Olivia Chow, responding to the traffic finding, said voters should live closer to their jobs so they spend less time commuting. Brad Bradford said the current mayor has not delivered results, saying: 'You've had three years on the job, and you have not got the job.' Nanos chief data scientist Nik Nanos said: 'How are we supposed to attract investment into Toronto if traffic is the number one thing people know?' See both candidates' pages at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor.
How do I find out where to vote?
Advance voting in Toronto runs from October 6 to October 11, 2026. Election day is October 26, 2026. You can find your voting location and check your registration at toronto.ca/elections. You need to be on the City's voters list. Your ward determines which councillor and school board trustee races appear on your ballot.
Where can I compare what the mayoral candidates say about these issues?
You can read what Olivia Chow and Brad Bradford have said about their plans on their candidate pages at /on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor. The site also lists recent news about the mayoral race at /on/toronto-2026/news.
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