Somerville officials say they hope to see how parks and bike paths affect the happiness of people living nearby, or how people’s feelings change when mass transit services are improved.

The survey that was mailed with the census asks people to rate the nuts-and-bolts aspects of their communities — the police, the schools, the availability of affordable housing — as well as the “beauty or physical setting” of Somerville, an industrial town full of triple-decker houses. The city wants to know: “Taking everything into account, how satisfied are you with Somerville as a place to live?”

Then there are the really touchy-feely questions, seemingly plucked from a personality test. “When making decisions, are you more likely to seek advice or decide for yourself?” the survey asks. “In general, how similar are you to other people you know?”

Vanessa Lagerman, 28, who has lived in Somerville for six years, is one resident who appreciates the city’s efforts. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed a lot of things the city has been doing, like installing bike lanes,” said Ms. Lagerman, a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. As for the survey, “I think it’s a good thing, because policies can be changed to make people happier.”

Other residents also said they felt flattered by the city’s attention.

“I’m glad they’re trying to use 21st-century tools to get a feel for what people want,” said Conor Brennan, the owner of P J Ryan’s, a pub in Teele Square. “Of course, any survey like this is going to depend on the mood of the person at that moment. If they filled it out in the middle of this last winter, that’s probably going to lower the score.”