What Makes a Good Neighborhood?

“It is simple: the residents take pride in the appearance of their front yards!

Many neighborhoods have homeowner associations that take care of this important function, but many don’t and need to take matters into their own hands through encouragement and a helping hand when needed.

A new survey found that 75 percent of Americans believe the most important factor in determining a neighborhood’s safety is the upkeep of surrounding homes, especially the conditions of the front lawns, which trumps even Googling neighborhood statistics to get a feel for a community.

The survey also found that 74 percent of respondents indicated they would select a neighborhood based on ‘word-of-mouth’ or its local reputation over any other reason, while 67 percent of the respondents say they pay attention to local crime reports and statistics as reported in the local media. Less compelling, according to the survey, are ‘a gated community with security patrols’ and ‘proximity to a police or fire station’ when determining the safety of a neighborhood.”