New Missouri survey finds residents want more than a wave from their neighbors

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A new statewide study of neighboring finds that Missouri residents have considerable goodwill toward the people living around them, but most neighbor relationships remain at the surface level.

The 2026 State of Neighboring study was conducted by University of Missouri Extension between Sept. 20 and Oct. 4.

The 2026 study found that 70.8% of Missouri residents wave or say hello to their neighbors, while 52% have face-to-face conversations and 51.3% have spontaneous conversations outdoors. More involved interactions are less common: 31.9% help neighbors with favors, tasks or projects, 22.7% share food, tools or other items, and 17.3% visit in one another’s homes.

“The research from 2026 shows Missouri does not have a shortage of friendly neighbors,” said David Burton, MU Extension community development specialist and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “The opportunity is to help people move one step beyond friendliness toward an actual relationship. If you wave, learn a name. If you know a name, have a conversation.”

Missourians want more than a wave

One of the study’s most significant findings is that 61.5% of Missourians agree they would like to interact with their neighbors beyond a friendly wave or hello. Only 17.4% disagree. In a separate question, 34.9% said they would like more personal connection with their immediate neighbors, while only 9.2% want less.

However, Missourians do continue to value personal boundaries. When asked what makes someone a good neighbor, 66.5% selected respecting privacy, followed closely by being quiet at 65.3% and watching out for neighbors’ property at 64.1%. More than half also selected watching out for personal safety and helping with unexpected needs.

“Wanting privacy and wanting connection are not opposites,” Burton said. “People appear to want connection without intrusion. Being an engaged neighbor isn’t about being in everyone’s business. It means knowing enough about the people around you to notice, care and help when possible.”

Goodwill is widespread, but deeper trust takes time

The study also found substantial evidence of neighbor-to-neighbor support. More than three-fourths of respondents – 76.9% – believe at least one neighbor would help if an unexpected need arose, and 64.3% reported doing a favor or act of kindness for an immediate neighbor during the previous month.

Deeper trust is less common. Only 57.2% said they have at least one trusted neighbor with whom they could leave a key in an emergency.

“That gap between 76.9% expecting help and 57.2% having someone they trust with a house key is important,” Burton said. “There is a difference between having friendly neighbors and having dependable neighbors. Our goal should be to help more relationships grow into the kind where people know who they can call.”

Learning names is an important first step

The study found that 56.1% of respondents know the names of neighbors in at least some adjacent homes. But deeper knowledge declines quickly: 42.9% know the occupations of neighbors in at least some adjacent homes, and only 33.1% know an interesting fact about them.

Burton said the findings reinforce one of the simplest recommendations promoted through MU Extension’s Engaged Neighbor Program: learn the names of the people living immediately around you.

“You don’t need to organize a block party to become a better neighbor,” Burton said. “Learning one name you don’t currently know is a meaningful place to start.”

Comparing 2022, 2024 and 2026: signs of progress

A comparison of Missouri’s three State of Neighboring surveys reveals some encouraging changes in how residents relate to the people living around them.

In 2022, about 43% of respondents reported doing favors for neighbors. That figure increased to 48% in 2024. The newest survey found that 64% of Missourians had performed a favor or act of kindness for an immediate neighbor during the previous month. These results suggest that practical neighborliness may be growing.

Another interesting change involves the importance of privacy. In 2022, 69.75% of respondents identified respecting privacy as an important characteristic of a good neighbor. That increased to 71.3% in 2024. In 2026, the figure declined to 66.5%, a decrease of nearly five percentage points from 2024.

“While respecting privacy remains the most frequent characteristic, this shift raises an interesting possibility,” said Burton. “Missourians may be recognizing that good neighboring requires more than staying out of one another’s way. Respecting boundaries and building relationships do not have to be competing priorities.”

Perhaps the most important lesson from these three surveys is that neighborliness does not automatically develop into meaningful relationships. The 2022 and 2024 studies documented growing trust and practical assistance but declining participation in deeper social activities. The 2026 findings reveal a similar challenge: Although 76.9% believe a neighbor would help them with an unexpected need, only 57.2% have someone nearby they trust enough to leave with a house key.

“That distinction illustrates the difference between believing neighbors are generally good people and developing the kind of relationships that create dependable support networks,” Burton. “The opportunity for Missouri communities is to build on the goodwill that already exists and encourage residents to take the next small step toward knowing, trusting and caring for one another.”

Study reveals awareness opportunity for Good Neighbor Week

The study also established a statewide baseline for awareness of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Nearly 85% of respondents said they had not heard of the initiative before the survey, and 91.7% reported never participating. Although 8.3% report having participated in a group or individually, annual documented participation levels are significantly less than 8% of the Missouri population.

Burton said those findings show that Missouri Good Neighbor Week has significant room to expand its reach beyond the communities and organizations already involved.

“The survey reminds us that the movement should not begin with asking people to understand another program,” Burton said. “It should begin with the behaviors people already understand. Check on a neighbor. Loan someone a tool. Learn a name. Help with a task. Then tell us about it so those often-invisible acts become visible.”

The study’s open-ended responses support that approach. When residents were asked what would strengthen neighborhood relationships, the leading themes included opportunities to meet and know neighbors, more frequent communication and casual conversation, and everyday friendliness and mutual respect.

The findings point toward a simple progression for Missouri Good Neighbor Week, Burton said: Wave then name. Conversation then knowledge. Help and then trust.

“You don’t have to get to the end in one week,” Burton said. “Just ask yourself: What is the next step I can take with one of my neighbors? Stronger communities are built when ordinary people repeatedly take those small steps.”

About the study

The 2026 State of Neighboring study examined neighbor familiarity, interaction, trust, mutual support, attitudes about what makes a good neighbor, and awareness of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. The survey was conducted using Pollfish, received responses from 2,300 Missourians, and is accurate to within plus or minus 3 percentage points.

A publication, The State of Neighboring in Missouri (2022-2024), details the findings of similar studies done in 2022 and 2024.

Missouri Good Neighbor Week, observed annually Sept. 28-Oct. 4, encourages residents, organizations, businesses and communities to perform and report acts of neighboring, recognize engaged neighbors, and create opportunities for stronger neighborhood relationships.