Neighbor.com recently ranked the 25 most neighborly cities in America, and Raleigh came in at #6, a five-position climb from its previous ranking at #11 (in 2021). In fact, North Carolina’s capital was the only city in the South to make the list, a testament to how friendly and welcoming our beloved city is.

The spirit of neighborliness has always been important for creating a welcoming, safe, and harmonious environment to call home. As the researchers at Neighbor.com point out, it’s even more crucial these days, when high fuel prices are keeping people closer to home and more and more people are telecommuting rather than spending their days away at the office. Building strong neighborhood communities, as we have here in Raleigh, can help people in every stage of life, from kids looking for new friends to play with to elders who may need a bit of extra support and companionship.

While there’s no doubt in our minds that Raleigh is a neighborly place, you may be wondering how exactly neighborliness is even measured. Is it locals’ willingness to lend a helping hand to neighbors in need? Is it the welcoming smiles and kind hellos you’re likely to encounter while taking a neighborhood stroll? To measure neighborliness, Neighbor.com researchers drew from a range of data sets, analyzing things like proximity to parks, the levels at which people volunteer and donate to charities, crime rates and the incidence of hate crimes, and overall happiness. They also conducted their own research, surveying 1,000 Americans across the country aged 16­–54. Respondents were asked how long it took them to meet their neighbors, whether they had done favors for their neighbors in the past year, and whether they know their neighbors on a first-name basis. The survey also focused heavily on shifts since the pandemic, asking participants about how the pandemic has impacted their relationship with their neighbors (spoiler alert: nearly half were more open than ever to helping out neighbors, supporting small local businesses, and being friendly to strangers).

It’s no secret–we love our hometown. With just under half a million residents, it’s small enough to feel cozy but big enough to have many of the cultural trappings that come with larger cities, from fantastic restaurants to thriving performing arts scenes. In fact, Raleigh has one of the finest collections of museums in the country, from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to the North Carolina Museum of History. This abundance of museums has earned Raleigh the well-deserved nickname: “Smithsonian of the South.” But despite all the sophistication, Raleigh is far from pretentious—our residents are, by and large, kind and welcoming.

 Raleigh is also a great place to be if you like spending time outdoors. The city is home to over 200 parks, many with dog parks and playgrounds. Some even have their own lakes. We also have excellent schools, with one of the highest concentrations of top public schools in North Carolina, and a booming economy for job seekers. In fact, the Wall Street Journal recently ranked Raleigh’s job market as #3 in the country. Despite all of its many perks, Raleigh is still affordable, offering good value for money whether you’re in search of your very first home or are looking for the perfect place to retire in Raleigh.

We love how neighborly our city is and we can’t wait to share it with you. Just send us a message using the form below and we’ll help you find your dream home in neighborly Raleigh.

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