# The people next door
Americans are failing to build meaningful connections with their neighbors, according to new research that underscores a broader breakdown in community bonds.
A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found that only 26 percent of American adults report having good relationships with their neighbors. The figure reflects a declining trend in neighborhood cohesion across the country, a shift with implications for civic life, mental health, and local governance.
The erosion of neighbor relationships tracks with broader social fragmentation in American life. Suburban sprawl, remote work arrangements, and the rise of digital communication have reduced casual face-to-face interaction. Longer commutes mean people spend less time in their immediate surroundings. Gated communities and apartment complexes limit organic encounters on streets and in common spaces.
The political consequences are real. Strong neighborhoods historically served as entry points for civic participation. Local relationships built trust that extended to larger community institutions. Neighbors knew one another's children, borrowed tools, and collectively addressed street-level problems. These informal networks created the social capital that researchers identify as essential for democratic function.
The decline also affects how people engage with politics at the local level. Zoning board meetings, school board debates, and neighborhood associations require people who care enough about their immediate surroundings to show up. When neighbors are strangers, those institutions weaken.
There are practical costs too. Research links neighborhood isolation to increased loneliness, depression, and reduced physical activity. Crime increases when residents don't know one another well enough to notice suspicious activity. Community resilience suffers during emergencies when people lack established relationships with nearby households.
Some communities are pushing back against the trend. Neighborhood associations, block parties, and local community gardens are being revived in cities and suburbs. Some housing developments now emphasize shared spaces and walkability. But reversing the pattern requires intentional effort that American culture increasingly discour