Renters are more likely than homeowners to feel isolated from their neighbors, according to a survey commissioned by Redfin of 894 renters and 805 homeowners between the ages of 18 and 65.
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Renters are more likely than homeowners to feel isolated from their neighbors, according to a survey commissioned by Redfin of 894 renters and 805 homeowners between the ages of 18 and 65.
Less than half of U.S. renters (46.7 percent) say they feel a sense of community in their neighborhoods, 36 percent less than homeowners (63.6 percent). reason? Renters (41.6%) are more likely to avoid neighbors than homeowners (33.1%) and less likely to feel they have something in common with neighbors (38.9%) than homeowners (58.5%).
Darryl Fairweather
Darryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist, said the findings were not surprising because renters tend to be more transient than homeowners. Less than half (47.6%) of survey respondents who had lived in their neighborhood for less than a year said they felt connected to their neighbors. For respondents who have lived in the neighborhood for six to 10 years, this number rises to 58.1 percent.
“When someone buys a home, they are investing in real estate and the area, which means they will likely see their neighbors for years to come. As a result, many homeowners are investing in real estate and the area. We seek a positive relationship with the United States,” she said in a written statement. “Renters, on the other hand, tend to spend less time in their homes, meaning they are less interested in getting to know their neighbors.”
There are also generational trends, with younger homeowners more likely than older homeowners to say they feel connected to their community, Redfin said.
More than two-thirds (67.6%) of Millennial and Gen Z homeowners say they feel a sense of belonging in their neighborhood, compared to 61.1% of Gen Xers and 59.3% of Baby Boomers. . On the rental side, baby boomers feel the most sense of belonging (52.5%), followed by Gen X (47.5%), and Millennials and Gen Z (44.4%).
“Younger homeowners probably feel more connected to their community because they chose to live there more recently, whereas older homeowners are likely to feel more connected to their community since they first bought decades ago. They may be dissatisfied with how things have changed,” Fairweather said.
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