This City in New York's Finger Lakes Was Just Named the Most Neighborly in the U.S.

A study conducted in honor of National Good Neighbor Day (yes, that's a thing) surveyed 1,000 Americans on neighborly acts, volunteering, charitable giving, and overall happiness.

No man or woman is an island, so having — and being — a good neighbor is more important than ever before. In fact, having frequent contact with your neighbors can even improve your overall well-being. So, to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28) and encourage people to connect and interact with their neighbors, self-storage company Neighbor.com just released its annual list of the most neighborly cities in the U.S. And the big winner is Rochester, New York.

The Flower City moved up one spot from 2021, thanks to perfect scores in categories such as neighborly acts, volunteering, charitable giving, and happiness, which the company used to evaluate cities across the country.

“It’s not a surprise that Rochester is the most neighborly city this year, it’s made this list each year," Joseph Woodbury, CEO and co-founder of Neighbor.com, told Travel + Leisure. "Oftentimes, we connect hospitality with small cities, but you’ll find that people in large cities are just as likely to go out of their way to help one another.”

Rochester, located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, is known for its historic sites, museums, dining, craft beer scene, and a plethora of outdoor activities that it offers both visitors and residents.

The No. 2 spot on Neighbor.com's list went to Madison, Wisconsin, which was last year's winner, and also ranked second on Booking.com's friendliest destinations in the world in 2022. Utah's third largest city, Provo, was named the third most neighborly city in the country, according to the recent findings.

The company also surveyed 1,000 Americans on the effects current events and factors like inflation and the upcoming elections have on local communities. Thirty percent of respondents said they hang out more with their neighbors and local friends now because expensive gas prices and airfare impact how far they travel to see others (yes, really).

“Neighborhoods are the crux of our society," Woodbury added. "Being 'neighborly' goes beyond a friendly wave while driving down the street or offering to water plants while on vacation. To be neighborly is opening yourself up to building relationships and ultimately a community that is rooted in compassion, trust, and care.”

Read Neighbor.com's full list of the most neighborly cities in the country here.