Welcome to the United States of Neighborliness: America’s 10 Kindest States

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Are you looking to live where your neighbors will mow your lawn when you’re away on vacation, donate diapers to a young family that’s just moved in, or buy school supplies for children whose parents can’t afford them?

Then you might want to start looking for homes in Georgia, according to a recent kindness survey led by kindness.org and commissioned by Nextdoor and Verizon.

The second annual survey interviewed 10,000 people across all 50 states to measure which acts of kindness people would do for their neighbors and ranked each state according to a “Kindness Quotient.”

Eight of the 10 kindest states in America are located in the South, known for its friendliness and sense of community. And all but one have a median home list price less than the national average of $427,250 in September. (Utah was the only exception.) Conversely, states such as New York, Hawaii, California, and Florida, where median home prices are among the highest in the U.S., didn’t even crack the top 25 for kindness.

Tree lined historic homes on a residential street in Savannah, GA

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According to Oliver Scott Curry, chief science officer for kindness.org, Georgia scored most positively with respondents to questions such as the following:

How satisfied are you with your neighborhood? Would you say that “I identify with my neighborhood”? How do feel about your neighborhood?

Other key takeaways from the survey suggest American homeowners believe kindness builds stronger communities, contributes to individual happiness and social well-being, and creates a sense of inclusion and acceptance—which are particularly important around the holidays when acts of kindness can have an outsized impact on the neighbors who need them most.

Nationally, most Americans would perform small, kind acts to help their neighbors. About 94% would return a lost item to a neighbor, and 61% would forgive a debt from someone who lived close to them.

In addition, about 63% reported being happy with their neighbors and 61% said they were grateful for their neighbors.

Kindness from neighbors was the single best predictor of individual happiness, satisfaction with one’s neighborhood, identification with one’s neighbors, and a sense of inclusion with one’s neighborhood, according to a statement from a Nextdoor spokesperson.

Even the smallest actions, such as saying hello to a neighbor, makes room for more harmony and increased neighborhood unity.

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“Even the smallest actions, such as saying hello to a neighbor, makes room for more harmony and increased neighborhood unity—building a world where everyone has a neighbor to rely on.”

So, if you’re looking for great neighbors, a strong sense of community, and an affordable home, here are 10 states that should be on the top of your list.

The 10 kindest states in America

Georgia: ($389,900 median home list price* in October) Tennessee ($425,000) North Carolina ($410,000) Arkansas ($280,000) Utah ($575,000) Louisiana ($283,450) West Virginia ($220,000) Mississippi ($279,000) Texas ($381,490) Nebraska ($325,000)

* The median home list prices in October are based on Realtor.com® data.

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