These Two North Carolina Cities Are Home To The Best Neighbors

Author Melanie Day

January 18th, 2022 5:10 PM

Having great neighbors can make or break a home. And many of us got to know our neighbors better the last couple of years. I’m no exception to that. It’s one of the blessings to come out of the pandemic for me. But did you know where you live can impact whether or not you have good neighbors? You know the good ones, you don’t mind hanging out them, maybe get their packages while they are away, and if you ever need to borrow something- they got you, babe. And turns out North Carolina is home to some of the best neighbors in the country.

Storagecafe.com surveyed close to 11,000 people from across the US to find out the cities that best embody the neighborly spirit. Four factors were considered: satisfaction with neighbors, sense of community, involvement in community activities, and willingness to recommend their neighborhood to others.

And in both Charlotte and  Raleigh, you’re likely to have neighbors who look out for you. Raleigh ranks fifth for community neighborliness while Charlotte came in ranked 10th. Looks like Southern hospitality is still a thing.

Some interesting NC stats from the survey:

• About 75% of Raleigh residents and 70% of Charlotte residents report being happy with their neighbors.
• Almost 70% of Raleigh locals would recommend their neighborhood to other people too, and 65% of Charlotte locals would do the same. For our survey respondents, location wins hands down as the thing they most love about their neighborhood.
• Local neighborhoods seem to be united by a local desire to be involved and help out others in need, as 45% of Raleigh residents and 38% of Charlotte’s claim they enjoy a strong sense of community.
• The cities’ spirit of civic engagement is also high, with 59% of Raleigh people and 69% of Charlotteans choosing to volunteer, donate to charity or clean up public spaces.

Key National takeaways:

• Indianapolis, IN, is the most neighborly city in 2021 based on a composite score that looks at neighbor satisfaction, sense of community, community involvement and how well recommended a city is
• Looking at individual metrics, people are the happiest with their neighbors in Columbus, OH; Houston, TX, and Nashville, TN, have the strongest sense of community; Philadelphia, PA, comes first for the locals’ involvement in community activities; Nashville, TN communities get the most votes of confidence as locals are most likely to recommend them as good places to live
• About 33% of Americans are unhappy with their neighbors
• 67% of respondents reported intent to move away from their neighborhood, with cost of living as the main reason behind a potential relocation

According to the survey, 67% of people are happy with their neighbors.  The Silent Generation & Gen Zers report slightly higher satisfaction with their neighbors than the other age groups. Though that means that 33% of respondents, however, are not fans of their neighbor and the majority of those are Millenials.

Do you like your neighbors?

GALLERY: List of Animals Native to North Carolina

As found by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

• American Beaver

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  Castor canadensis, the beaver, played an important role in North Carolina's economy well into the 1800s. Its fur was the most valuable item of trade in the colonies. As a result, the beaver was nearly trapped to extinction in many sections of the United States, including North Carolina.

• Armadillo, Nine-Banded.

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  Only one species of armadillo lives in the southeast, the Nine-banded Armadillo. Native to Central and South America, the Nine-banded Armadillo was first recorded in Texas in 1849, but has since spread north and east, crossing the Mississippi River in the early 1940s, reaching western Tennessee in 1980, and reaching North Carolina in the late 2000's via natural dispersal from adjacent states.

• Black Bear

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  In North Carolina or anywhere else in the eastern United States, the black bear is the only bear species. The successful recovery of the American black bear in North Carolina is one of wildlife management's greatest achievements.
• Bobcat

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  North Carolina has a wide variety of habitats for bobcats, but they are found most commonly in the wooded Coastal Plain and mountains. East North Carolina's bottomlands, young pine stands, swamps, and pocosins are good habitats for bobcats. The mountains are characterized by mature forests with openings or early successional forests nearby. Bobcat dens are common in hollow trees, rock piles, brush piles, root masses of uprooted trees, etc.

• Bats

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  In North Carolina, bats mate either in the spring or fall and usually produce one pup per year. Their young are born alive. During the summer, many species form maternity colonies to raise their young, while others are solitary, roosting and raising young alone.

• Eastern Chipmunk

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  Hawks, owls, foxes, and snakes are among the predators protected by burrows. These small predators rely on eastern ground squirrels for food. During the winter, burrows provide safe quarters since the cold weather induces deep sleep. This "quasi-hibernation" is marked by slow breathing and low body temperature, often lasting for days on end. Winters in North Carolina are more active than those in colder climes.
• Coyote

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  Red wolves look similar to coyotes in North Carolina, but coyotes are smaller, have pointed ears, and long, slender snouts. Usually carried pointed down, the tail is long, bushy, and black-tipped. Dark gray is the most common color, but blonde, red, and black are possible as well. It has a wide range of sizes, but with a maximum height of two feet and a maximum length of four feet.

• White-tailed Deer

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  In North Carolina, no wild animal is more recognizable than the white-tailed deer. Whether a mature buck with magnificent antlers, a graceful doe, or a spotted fawn running with its mother, the white-tailed deer is one of the most popular animals.

• Elk

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  In the past, the Eastern Elk roamed across the eastern United States, including parts of North Carolina. After the arrival of European settlers, however, unregulated hunting and loss of habitat led to rapid population declines through the 1700s. By the year 1800, the Eastern Elk was extirpated from North Carolina and by the mid-1800s, Eastern Elk had almost disappeared throughout their range entirely. The last known wild Eastern Elk was killed in Pennsylvania in 1877.
• Mink

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  Minks are often considered vicious because they are also known as water weasels. Due to its habit of frequently killing prey that is larger than itself, it has earned this reputation. In wetlands, mink live in a variety of semi-aquatic habitats. Historically, the mink’s handsome fur has been highly prized, though the demand for wild fur has dropped in recent years.

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Author Melanie Day

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Local,neighborly cities,neighbors