Not all Wagga residents agree with latest data revealing the Riverina ranks high in feeling safe and having a strong sense of community.
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The Ipsos annual Life in Regional Australia ranked the Riverina number 11 in regions above average, with a lack of road congestion, social cohesion and feeling safe rating high.
However, resident Charles Webb-Wagg said he does not feel as safe as what the data has suggested.
"I'm surprised, but then I'm not surprised the Riverina is up there," Mr Webb-Wagg said.
"It's not a bad place to live and most places do have crime rates ... but I think [crime] is one area that certainly needs looking at.
"With the crime rate in Wagga and cars being stolen, I certainly don't feel safe as what the data shows."
In October 2018, the company surveyed 9515 Australians and asked them to select the top five attributes they think makes somewhere a good place to live.
The region rated high quality health services, access to the natural environment, reliable and efficient public transport, shopping, leisure and dining as all below average.
Mr Webb-Wagg said he is not surprised quality health services and public transport were rated below average.
"Wagga being so centrally located to capital cities, it's a hard place to get to for public transport," he said.
"The flight costs from Sydney are so expensive ... and the XPT is ridiculous ... getting to or out of Wagga on public transport is a nightmare."
The resident said once developments are completed, such as Bolton Park and less vacant shops, the city is likely to become more attractive.
Similarly, university student Ellie Sales said public transport is an area that needs more investment.
"Public transport is more eco-friendly and in my personal experience being out at the uni - getting back into town is hard, especially for overseas students," she said.
"I think buses would be the most practical option, especially in the expanding areas like Estella and Boorooma and down south."
The 22-year-old student said she feels safe in Central at night, but agreed that there needs to be greater access to the natural environment.
"I do think it's fairly accurate as most of my friends, both male and female, feel quite safe walking through town at night," Ms Sales said.
"There is definitely a tight-knit sense of community.
"There are a few reserves around but a lot of them aren't within walking distance from town."
Stage three of the Wagga Base Hospital is in progress and acting general manager Michele Coghlan said the regional data is not representative of the city's services.
"Wagga is only part of the overall Riverina health services, so it is my opinion that the people of this district receive and have access to a Rolls-Royce health care service," Ms Coghlan said.
"All our healthcare services across the Riverina are connected; we have a patient flow unit that looks at the patient flow of all our patients within, around and across our region.
"For example, our telehealth service enables clinicians and either Griffith or Wagga Base Hospital to be connected with our smaller sites."
Wagga City Council director of regional activation Michael Keys said a lot of developments have occurred in 12 months since the survey was completed.
Mr Keys said those areas that rated below have been recognised by council as important issues within the community.
"We're trying to make sure we maximise and provide great opportunity to engage with the environment and improve the natural environment for the future and the Riverside precinct will obviously do that," he said.
"Typically in most regional areas, cities have turned their backs on the river due to flooding and we're continuing to invest and take advantage of our natural assets.
"The active transport plan will link in and open up access for communities to access the natural environment through the river and linkages across the whole city and potentially further afield."