Ghost of Midnight

Dryer’s Ice Cream Survey: Neighbors less neighborly than they used to be

Dryer’s Ice Cream commissioned a phone survey of 1,000 U.S. homes in 2005 as part of a promotion tied to neighborhoods…

More than half of Americans (55%) believe they are less familiar with their neighbors today than their parents were with their neighbors a generation ago. And, according to a recent survey, our hectic schedules are to blame. In this fast-paced world of instant worldwide communications, it’s ironic that sometimes the hardest connections to make are with folks just across the street.

Dreyer’s Slow Churned Ice Cream asked Americans across the country how well they knew their
neighbors. Here’s the scoop:

• Three out of ten Americans (27%) don’t know their neighbors first and last names;
• Six in ten Americans (59%) who aren’t friendly with their neighbors say it’s because they’re just too busy to create meaningful relationships;
• Fewer than half of Americans (48%) have borrowed something, like a cup of sugar, from one of their neighbors

Research and community experts say that on average, students perform better, people live longer, and
crime rates are lower when people who live in the same community have a basic familiarity with each
other.

Pattie tells a good community-building story around this information.