From unannounced visits to lingering eyes, many people have experienced the struggle of nosy neighbors. For some, the people next door play a large role in Americans’ happiness at home, so we set out to find just how common nosy neighbors are across the country.
We surveyed Americans by state to find which parts of the U.S. are more inundated with neighbors who don’t understand boundaries and which are full of neighbors who offer just the right amount of space. Read on to see where your state ranks!
Key Takeaways
- Michigan, South Carolina, and Kentucky have the nosiest neighbors.
- New Mexico, Minnesota, and Washington have the least nosy neighbors.
- Memphis, TN, and Louisville, KY, have the nosiest neighbors.
- Seattle, WA, and Los Angeles, CA, have the least nosy neighbors.
- When it comes to nosy neighbors, 86% of Americans have had at least one.
- Nearly 2 in 5 Americans have confronted their nosy neighbors.
- Out of every 10 Americans, 3 have lived next to neighbors who peek over their fence or into their homes.
The States with the Nosiest Neighbors
Leading the way for nosy neighbors is Michigan, with a score of 90 out of 100. When it comes to local residents, 1 in 2 have caught their neighbor peeking over their fence. Coming in second is South Carolina, where nearly 1 in 4 residents have had neighbors inviting themselves over to their home.
Overall, 2 in 5 Americans say they have had neighbors show up unannounced, while 1 in 12 have experienced a neighbor going through their mail or packages. Snooping can go both ways however, as nearly 2 in 5 Americans say they have looked up their neighbors’ property value online. In addition, 3 in 10 people have looked up their neighbors on social media, and 1 in 7 have even looked up their neighbors’ jobs or employers online.
On the other side of the scale, New Mexico leads the way with the least nosy neighbors. Minnesota and Washington follow behind with scores of 64.0 and 68.2, respectively. So if you are hoping to avoid nosy neighbors, consider staying further west.
The U.S. Cities with the Most and Least Nosy Neighbors
To zoom in a little further on these nosy activities, we decided to analyze several cities as well. Coming in first with the nosiest neighbors in the U.S. is Memphis, TN, with a score of 93.1 out of 100. When it comes to Tennessee’s second largest city, 1 in 4 residents say their neighbors have asked them inappropriate questions.
In second is Louisville, KY, with a score of 92.2 out of 100. Residents of the city were among the most likely to experience their neighbors staring at them from afar. Nosy neighbors are common in the city, as 1 in 6 people say their neighbor has snooped through their mail or packages.
There are many methods that can be used to deter intrusive neighbors, but the most common among Americans is to put up or close blinds in their home to block their neighbor’s view. Nearly 2 in 5 people say they have confronted their neighbors, while 1 in 10 have moved away and 1 in 6 have gone as far as to move away.
Nearly 3 in 10 Americans have put up a fence or greenery to block their neighbor’s view and 1 in 4 have even installed security cameras to manage their neighbors. While many of us have experienced a neighbor overstepping, Americans are more likely to find women to be nosy neighbors than men on average.
Conclusion
Nosy neighbors can be intrusive in a lot of ways, but with All Star Home, you never have to worry about the people next door having a negative opinion on the appearance of your home. Our team of experts offers a variety of services from gutter cleaning to roof repairs to keep your home looking its best.
Methodology
In this study, we surveyed Americans in every state regarding intrusive residents to determine which states have the most and least nosy neighbors. We asked about everything from what activities neighbors have done to the steps Americans have taken to handle their overly interested neighbors.
We assigned a score to answers that represent nosy activities and averaged scores to determine the score for each state and city. Scores were then adjusted on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the most nosy.
States excluded due to a lack of responses include Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
