Do you know your neighbors?

If not, don't worry — you're in the majority.

According to a new survey, a shockingly small percentage of U.S. residents actually know their neighbors. And yet, people are craving community more than ever. Read on to learn more.

Only 30 Percent of U.S. Residents Know Their Neighbors

In January 2026, Rocket Mortgage polled more than 5,000 adults in the U.S. across two surveys, to find out how they interact with their neighbors and how they feel about those interactions.

Most interestingly, the surveys found that only 30 percent of those surveyed "know their neighbors beyond a casual level." That means that for 3 in 10 people, their neighborly interactions are limited to quick hellos.

Rocket Mortgage's surveys also found that 41 percent of respondents said that knocking on a neighbor's door would feel "too bold," while 22 percent would feel too "awkward" to introduce themselves to a neighbor.

Overall, only 17 percent of respondents actively seek out interactions with neighbors, and just over 41 percent of respondents reported that their neighbors seem to be avoiding neighborly interactions.

More U.S. Residents Would Like to Know Their Neighbors

Although so many of us are avoiding our neighbors, that behavior isn't truly what's in our hearts. Rocket Mortgage believes people are craving more of a community in their neighborhoods.

For instance, 53 of those surveyed said that everyday interactions with neighbors are more meaningful to them than planned gatherings with neighbors. Additionally, 58 percent of those surveyed would ask a neighbor for help if needed, while 68 percent actually have received help from a neighbor sometime in the last year.

Why Are We Interacting With Neighbors Less?

Back in the 1970s, an estimated 60-80 percent of Americans socialized in their neighborhoods. But nowadays, the prevalence of social media, FaceTime and other platforms for digital socializing have been a major factor in keeping us in our houses rather than on our blocks.

“We have tools at our fingertips that connect us with anyone on the planet, but we don’t know the person next door,” Sarah Tarraf, Senior Vice President of Knowledge & Data Insights at Rocket, said in a statement. “At the heart of this paradox is something very basic. People want connection, but they fear being intrusive and being rejected. Americans are ready to be better neighbors. They just want someone to lead the way.”

If you want to have better relationships with your neighbors, you may need to be bold and make the first move.

“Neighborhood connection often starts with something small,” Tarraf said. “It can be as simple as returning a package or waving from the driveway. Those moments build trust and remind us how easy it is to feel connected to the people around us.”