Palm Bay is ranked No. 9 in the U.S. for neighborhood safety and upkeep, according to a new report from mortgage lender Neighbors Bank. The city earned an 81 out of 100 score in the "Good Neighbor Effect" study, the highest among three Florida metro areas included in the analysis. Tampa and Cape Coral followed with scores of 79 each. The report surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults and used data from the FBI, EPA, Census Bureau, Zillow and County Health Rankings to compare the 100 largest metropolitan areas.
Safety was the strongest category for all three Florida cities. Cape Coral and Palm Bay had two of the lowest principal-city crime rates among the areas studied. The report considered factors like cleanliness, access to healthcare, walkability, parks, green space and housing value. Madison, Wisconsin, topped the national rankings, with Allentown and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, rounding out the top three.
The survey found 56% of Americans value respect for boundaries and privacy as the most important neighbor quality. Being quiet and considerate came next at 47%. Nearly two-thirds of respondents preferred neighbors who are friendly but keep some distance. The study also found 66% of Americans have at least one neighbor they could rely on during an emergency.
Renters were almost twice as likely as homeowners to say they lack an emergency contact in their neighborhood, with 44% of renters compared to 24% of homeowners. More than half of respondents said they would pay a premium to live in a more connected community, while 23% would pay 5-10% more for a home with great neighbors.