PORTLAND - It's the hungriest state and it has a high unemployment rate. But Oregon is still a terrific place to live, according a new survey of how residents view the state.

The survey, sponsored by business, labor and education groups, showed across-the-board improvements in the outlook on schools, government and the quality of living in Oregon compared with a similar poll 10 years ago.

Asked how they rate their feelings about Oregon, 76 percent picked "positive" and 13 percent said "negative." Ten years ago, the numbers were 69 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

Moreover, residents said the state is doing a better job on schools, crime control and protecting the environment.

"They think government is doing a better job on almost every level," said Patricia McCaig, a Portland pollster who helped conduct the survey.

The survey, completed in early 2003, was released Thursday. It was compiled through telephone interviews with two groups of 1,200 randomly selected state residents, along with smaller groups that focused more intently on a handful of issues, McCaig said. In all, the survey questioned more than 2,600 people.

Often, McCaig said, the priorities of residents don't square with the issues that get the most attention in the news media, board rooms or political dialogue across the state.

"There's a disconnect between what people thought was going on out there and reality," she said.

The Oregon Business Council, the Oregon Education Association, Service Employees International Union and the Oregon School Boards Association paid for the survey. The groups wanted to delve deeper into Oregon's psyche and wanted to see how much attitudes have shifted since the last survey.

The results are "probably a comment on the resiliency of Oregonians," said Rich Peppers, an official with the Service Employees International Union.

Overall, residents ranked schools at the top of their priority list, with health care and services to senior citizens also ranked high.

On the personal level, residents said time with their family is their most important value, followed by job opportunities, charitable activities, independence and religion.