Do Your Neighbors Trust You?

New York Times

2 days ago

Whether you're in a city, a suburb or a rural area, living among people you trust can mean the difference between calling a locksmith in an emergency or knocking on the door of a neighbor whom you've given a spare key.
But how much do we trust our neighbors? According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, which asked nearly 9,500 American adults whether they know and trust the people in their neighborhood, the answer often has to do with race and ethnicity, age, income, education level and, to a lesser degree, political views.
The survey found that 44 percent of respondents trusted most or all of their neighbors, a decline from previous years. In 2015, for example, it was 52 percent. Demographic similarities were found to increase levels of trust. In 2025, half of respondents reported racial or ethnic similarities with their neighbors, while 38 percent reported similar levels of education with them and 23 percent reported similar political views.
But when it came to actually acting like a good neighbor, the majority of respondents indicated a high likelihood of performing neighborly tasks, even when not expecting the same level of enthusiasm in return.
The survey showed that 76 percent were 'extremely likely' or 'very likely' to bring in mail or water plants for out-of-town neighbors; only 52 percent believed others would reciprocate. In the case of a sick friend or neighbor, 67 percent said they were 'extremely likely' or 'very likely' to show up with a meal in hand, while 42 percent believed a friend or neighbor would do the same for them.
'People imagine the best of themselves, but generally have less charitable assumptions about other people,' said Laura Silver, associate director for global research at the Pew Research Center.
But if the survey is any indication, your neighbors may like you more than you realize.
There may be help next door
A Pew Research Center survey found that people were willing to do more for their neighbors than they expected their neighbors to do for them.
Say others are
extremely or very likely
to do it for them
Say they're
extremely or very likely
to do it for a neighbor
Task
Take in mail or water plants
76%
52%
72%
Conserve water or electricity
if asked by public officials
42%
67%
42%
Take a meal to a sick neighbor or friend
Say others are
extremely or
very likely to do
it for them
Say they're
extremely or
very likely to do
it for a neighbor
Task
Take in mail
or water plants
76%
52%
72%
42%
Conserve water
or electricity
if asked by
public officials
67%
Take a meal to
a sick neighbor
or friend
42%
Source: Pew Research Center
By The New York Times