Despite the continuing economic challenges, attachment to the Lexington area remains basically flat in 2010.

In the Lexington area, social offerings (entertainment infrastructure, places to meet people, community events), openness (how welcoming a place is) and aesthetics (an area's physical beauty and green spaces) are the most important factors in connecting residents to where they live.

Aesthetics, particularly the natural beauty, is seen as a community strength.

Meanwhile, openness and social offerings are areas of needed improvement to further attach residents to the area. In particular, while residents rated the Lexington area as significantly more open for families with young children in 2010 - making them the group seen as most-welcomed - they see it as least welcoming to immigrants and young talent.

Residents 18-34 years of age remain least attached to the area of all age groups.  Also, while residents rate the availability of social community events as the best part of social offerings, they rate residents caring about each other much lower.

Ratings of the local economy and social capital increased in 2010; however, the these are still not important factors in determining residents’ emotional connection to the area. Civic involvement was significantly lower in 2010.