It's no secret that many people are not happy with their neighbors. A new survey from LendingTree found that 75% of Americans say they don't like at least one of their neighbors!
The top reasons are given for disliking someone: "weird vibes," noise issues such as televisions turning up too high or playing all night long without interruption from another household member who needs sleep, and rude behavior. Also, one-third of Americans have called the police on their neighbors.
More than one in ten Americans have moved because they didn't like their neighbors. Additionally, twenty-three percent of responders say that at some point throughout our lives, we've called the police on someone for doing something wrong next door or down the street from where we live - so what exactly are people complaining about?
Interestingly, the survey also found that younger Americans are significantly more likely to say they don't like their neighbor than older Americans. It may be because younger people are generally less settled in their communities and thus have a less personal investment in their relationships with neighbors.
The younger generation, Gen Z, was more than twice as likely to say they hate the smell of cigarette-smoking neighbors. Millennials complained about problem pets and the baby boomers generation about messy yards. And finally, for those between the ages of 42–56, it is rude behavior that tops most lists when considering what not to want around you, especially if it's something negative like anger which can affect their health negatively too.
Whatever the reason, it's clear that many Americans are not happy with the state of their relationships with their neighbors. If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things you can do to try to improve the situation:
- First, make an effort to get to know your neighbor better. Introduce yourself and strike up a conversation the next time you see them. If they seem receptive, invite them over for a cup of coffee or a drink.
- Second, try understanding and accommodating your neighbor's quirks and habits. We all have things that bother us about the people we live near, but it's important to remember that we probably also have something that bothers them.
- Finally, if all else fails, you can always move! While it may not be the ideal solution, sometimes it's the only way to find the peace (or lack of weird vibes) you're looking for.
In today's hot housing market, where prices are high and inventory is limited, some people might not have any other choice but to live near someone they don't like. But getting "bad vibes" from a neighbor can certainly be annoying- so dealing with them may end up costing you more in the long run if it means having an affordable place.
While some people may not be happy about the person next door, other homeowners say they like their neighbors—at least a few.
Seventy-four percent claim to have friends with someone across town or down the street.
The idea of being surrounded by people who are constantly striving for the same goals can be both exhilarating and exhausting. Some may feel financially pressured, while others enjoy friendly competition with their neighbors to see who has more "stuff."
The survey findings show that many Americans are snooping through their neighbors' lives and looking up information about them to see what homes they own and how much value each one might offer.
At the end of the day, it's important to remember that we all have different lifestyles and that not everyone will get along all the time.
