Recent data from Pew Research Center and the AmeriCorps Current Population Survey reveal a steady erosion of neighborly familiarity across the United States. In 2010, 43% of adults said they knew all or most of their neighbors; that figure fell to 31% in 2018 and dropped further to just 26% in 2025. At the same time, the share of respondents who know none of their neighbors has remained relatively stable since 2018.
Trust in neighbors follows a similar pattern. In 2025, 44% of adults reported trusting most or all of the people in their neighborhood, down from 52% a decade earlier. Still, a majority continue to trust neighbors more than strangers, suggesting that community bonds, while weakened, have not vanished.
State‑by‑State Snapshot
When the data are broken down by state, a clear regional divide emerges. Utah leads with 81.8% of residents reporting regular neighborly interactions, followed closely by Colorado (80.5%) and Montana (79.1%). Minnesota and Missouri round out the top five, each exceeding a 76% interaction rate.
States such as Delaware, Oregon, and West Virginia tie at 76.3%, while many coastal and Sun Belt metros fall lower on the scale. Nevada and New Mexico sit near the bottom of the range.
Why Some Areas Keep Strong Ties
Four key factors drive higher neighborly engagement: lower population turnover, a larger share of long‑term homeowners, lower housing density, and strong community or religious institutions that emphasize neighborly responsibility. Utah’s high score, for example, reflects both its low‑density settlements and the influence of faith‑based communities that value helping one’s neighbor.
Conversely, rapid population turnover—especially in regions experiencing an influx of remote‑work migrants—resets household tenure and hampers the development of lasting neighborly relationships. Many newcomers relocate from expensive coastal metros to the Mountain West and South in search of affordable space, often resetting the “tenure clock” and limiting time to build local connections.
Building Community in a Mobile Age
Experts point to walkable neighborhoods, parks, and shared green spaces as practical ways to foster incidental interaction. The National Association of Realtors’ 2023 “On Common Ground” report notes that residents desire walkable access to daily destinations; when people must drive everywhere, spontaneous neighborly encounters become rare.
Academic research published in Social Indicators Research supports this, linking higher rates of incidental interaction to street connectivity and walkability. Local governments can help by investing in sidewalks, bike lanes, and community parks that place neighbors in each other’s paths.
Looking Ahead
Remote work appears to be a permanent feature of the post‑pandemic landscape, meaning household moves will continue to reset tenure clocks. While the national average of neighborly familiarity may keep sliding downward, municipalities have the tools to counteract the trend. By creating more walkable, shared spaces, cities and towns can nurture the small, everyday interactions that form the backbone of strong, faith‑centered families and resilient communities.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
