Love thy neighbour? These days, many Aussies couldn’t even name them. A shocking new nationwide survey reveals that nearly half of Australians don’t know all their neighbours’ names, with more than three-quarters agreeing we’re less interested in getting to know them compared to two decades ago. But it’s not too late to jump the fence! The Real Neighbours Report 2025 also found that most Aussies still rate their street mates as ‘helpful and likeable’, proving there’s hope to bring the neighbourly spirit back.
In Real Insurance’s Real Neighbours Report 2025, more than 5,000 Australians were surveyed to find out which regions have the friendliest and frostiest neighbours. Each person scored their area on friendliness, likability, helpfulness, community spirit and noise levels, painting a pretty good picture of life in their ‘hood.
A clear divide emerges between metropolitan and rural communities when it comes to positive neighbourly interactions. People living in regional areas are more likely to know all their neighbours’ names (32 per cent) compared to those in cities and metropolitan areas (24 per cent). A big reason for this is that only one-third actively introduced themselves, while ten per cent waited for their neighbour to make the first move – so it’s no wonder things aren’t adding up.
While roughly two-thirds of Australians find their neighbours helpful and likeable, and 80 per cent value good neighbourly relationships for safety and emergencies, it’s not all sunshine and backyard barbies. Around one in three households reported having at least one disagreement with a neighbour in the past year, most commonly due to noise, rudeness or parking disputes. On top of that, a quarter of Aussies received passive-aggressive messages from their block buddies, with another 37 per cent feeling their privacy was invaded – whether from spying, entering property without permission, eavesdropping or spreading rumours. But hey, who doesn’t love a little neighbourhood gossip?
On a brighter note, the report spotlighted Australia’s most neighbourly ‘hoods, with a charming southern Sydney spot crowned the friendliest of them all. In Sutherland, more than three-quarters (75.7 per cent) of residents rate their neighbours as ‘excellent’ – the highest percentage in the country. Cairns and South Australia’s south-east tied for second (74.7 per cent), closely followed by Moreton Bay South (74.7 per cent) and Victoria’s Warrnambool (74.6 per cent). So, if you’re keen to make friends, these are the neighbourhoods to call home.
You can check out the full report here. And after having a read, how about we all go bake a cake tonight and finally introduce ourselves to the folks next door?