The Most Neighborly Place in America Is This Beer-Loving City

by Clare Trapasso

A group of friends at a bar holding their glasses of beer for a cheer — Getty Images

Communities filled with friendly neighbors, kids playing ball at the end of the block, and folks looking out for one another still exist—for those who know where to look, that is.

The most neighborly city in America is Madison, WI, according to the fourth annual ranking from Neighbor.com, a storage-sharing marketplace. The city, renowned for its craft brewery scene, moved up one spot from last year.

“In these challenging times when Americans report increasing loneliness and division, recognizing America’s ‘Most Neighborly Cities’ is not just a celebratory act, but a call for unity and hope,” Neighbor founder and CEO Joseph Woodbury said in a statement. “Good neighbors heal our society’s biggest wounds, starting with the smallest friendly gesture.”

Neighbor.com looked at volunteering rates, charitable giving, voter turnout, violent and property crime rates, and population change in the 100 largest metros to come up with its ranking.

Madison earned high marks for its charitable donations, volunteer work of residents, and strong voter turnout.

The median home list price in the city was $454,500, nearly $20,000 more than the national median of $435,450 in August, according to the most recent Realtor.com® data. The median price in the metropolitan area was $481,500, which includes the surrounding towns, suburbs, and smaller urban areas.

“This recognition is a reflection of the warm, supportive, and proactive community spirit that doesn’t just reside in Madison but is the heartbeat of all of Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers said in a statement. “This isn’t just an accolade; it’s a call to action for all Wisconsinites to continue fostering an environment where neighborliness and community cohesion are celebrated every day.”

The previous most neighborly city, Rochester, NY, moved down to the No. 5 position.

The most neighborly cities in America in 2023

The vast majority of Americans—a whopping 92%—are on a first-name basis with at least some of their neighbors, according to a Neighbor.com survey of 1,000 Americans.

They also often help one another out. About a third of those surveyed collect and store each other’s mail when they’re out of town, pitch in with yardwork, and share family recipes.

When disaster strikes, nearly two-thirds were willing to help their neighbors recovering from illnesses and about three-quarters assisted their neighbors who were affected by natural disasters.

“The real magic of community is the ability to uplift and magnify our impact,” Woodbury said.

That doesn’t mean all neighbors get along.

About 40% of those surveyed said the political divide has affected their neighbors. Nearly a fifth were annoyed by a neighbor’s political signs.

The post The Most Neighborly Place in America Is This Beer-Loving City appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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