A growing number of adults in the U.S. do not know the people living next door, according to a Pew Research Center survey [1].
This decline in local familiarity suggests a weakening of the social fabric within American communities. As neighborly connections fade, the potential for grassroots support and local trust may diminish.
The data indicates that only 26 percent of adults in the U.S. said they know all or most of their neighbors [1]. This represents a notable decrease from 2018, when 31 percent of adults reported the same level of familiarity with their neighbors [1].
Despite the drop in personal acquaintance, some level of trust remains present in residential areas. The survey found that 90 percent of adults said they trust some or most of their neighbors [1]. This suggests a gap between knowing a neighbor's identity and trusting their general intentions.
The shift reflects a broader trend in how Americans interact within their immediate physical environments. While trust persists at a high rate, the actual social bonds that facilitate community engagement are becoming less common [1].
Researchers said that these trends highlight the changing nature of neighborhood dynamics over the last several years. The transition from 31 percent to 26 percent over a seven-year period indicates a steady erosion of the traditional neighborhood unit [1].
“only 26 percent of adults in the US say they know all or most of their neighbors”
The divergence between high trust levels and low familiarity suggests that Americans maintain a 'passive trust' in their neighbors without the active social investment required to actually know them. This indicates a shift toward more isolated living patterns where residents feel safe but remain socially disconnected from their immediate surroundings.
