Utah’s capital of Salt Lake City was named the Most Neighborly City in the US in a new report published by Redfin.
A “neighborly city” is defined in this study based on the rates of citizens who report community involvement, volunteering and helping neighbors; affordable homeownership opportunities are also factored into consideration. City rankings are based on data from a city’s greater metro area.
Salt Lake City topped the list thanks to the 43% share of residents who volunteered in the last year – the highest ranking among the metros in this report. The city also claimed a 44% share of residents who help a neighbor at least once a month. Also cited was the local median home sale price of $544,000, which recorded a relatively mild 3.7% year-over-year increase during 2025.
“In Salt Lake, we build our lives and livelihoods around a shared passion for the place we call home,” said Daniel Lopez, a local Redfin Premier agent. “We have all chosen to live and work here for a reason, and that immediately unifies us as neighbors. We take out each other’s trash bins, we meet on the trails and the slopes, we fill our stadiums, and we host gatherings. We find fulfillment in giving back to our community.”
Portland ranked second in the Redfin study, with the Oregon city receiving praise for its 58% share of residents who donated at least $25 to a charitable organization last year and a 22% share of residents who discuss civic, societal or local issues with neighbors at least once a month. Portland’s median home sale price of $545,000 represented a mere 1.2% year-over-year uptick.
Local Redfin agent Meme Loggins observed, “Home prices have come down from their peak, and it’s a bit more affordable to buy here in Portland than it was a few years ago. But still, I’m seeing quite a few buyers team up with friends and family, partly to help cover costs and partly to live in a communal environment. This past fall, a client bought a three-bedroom home because he plans to have two roommates live with him, and I’ve also seen some adult children co-buying with their parents.”
Rounding out the top 10 list of neighborly cities were Missouri’s Kansas City, Denver, Nashville, Atlanta, San Diego, Austin, Raleigh, and Tampa. As for the nation’s least neighborly city, Redfin diplomatically refrained from pointing fingers at metro areas with a perceived misanthropic streak.
