Six out of the 10 friendliest neighborhoods in the United States are located within Western states, with the Magnolia neighborhood in Seattle earning the top spot as the friendliest community of all. A recent study by All Star Home analyzed the 200-most viewed neighborhoods on Zillow from 2022 to 2023, including Google reviews for the areas themselves and the businesses located there.
Melissa Stephenson, spokesperson for All Star Home, a North Carolina-based roofing and siding firm, told The Epoch Times that the study indicates that the American West may offer better lifestyle options for homeowners.
“I think the Western communities got such high marks due to things like good weather, nice topography, good businesses, and overall happier people,” she said.
Angie Mykel, broker and owner of Keller Williams Greater Seattle, was not at all surprised that the city’s Magnolia neighborhood earned first place.
“It’s just an idyllic place with a classic Americana feel, reminiscent of a bygone era,” she told The Epoch Times.
“It’s almost like a movie backdrop with amenities such as quaint shops, restaurants, a community center, a pool with kids’ birthday parties, a farmer’s market, and lots of festivals throughout the year.”
A former Magnolia resident herself, Ms. Mykel said the area attracts many who are working in the tech or medical industries. Just a 10-minute drive from downtown Seattle, some describe Magnolia as an “island,” accessible via bridges and offering expansive views of the Puget Sound. The area is best known for Discovery Park, the city’s largest park, with its scenic waterfront trails.
Of course, she admitted, with all that the area has to offer, the price tags on homes there are higher than in other parts of the city. In January, for example, the median price for a single-family home in Magnolia was $1.48 million.
“It’s one of Seattle’s premier neighborhoods, and it can take some time to find a home there, since inventory is low,” Ms. Mykel said.
Currently, there are just 46 Magnolia properties on the market, and 33 of them are single-family homes. The remaining properties are townhouses or condominiums. Two-bedroom condos typically sell for about $600,000, while one-bedroom condos are priced at about $350,000.
“The community has always kept its charm, and yes, the people there are very friendly,” she said. “It’s definitely one of my favorite places I’ve ever lived, and I can’t imagine anyone in Magnolia not being happy.”
Houston’s Kingwood neighborhood took second place on the “friendly” list, followed by Highland in St Paul, Minnesota; Rancho Bernardo in San Diego; and South Boulevard Park Row Historic district in Dallas. Two Tucson, Arizona, neighborhoods and two in Portland, Oregon, also made the top 20 list. Coming in at No. 18 is the Tribeca neighborhood in lower Manhattan—the only New York location named in the study.
Situated just south of Canal Street and Chinatown, Tribeca borders the Hudson River on Manhattan’s West Side and is adjacent to the financial district and the world-famous Wall Street.
“Some people just love the hustle and bustle of Wall Street and are attracted to living so close to a global financial capital,” Ms. Stephensen said.
Tribeca is also known as a trendy section with many of its old industrial buildings converted into residential lofts. The area’s cobblestone streets offer boutiques and restaurants.
Bianca D’Alessio, a broker with Nest Seekers International in Manhattan, told The Epoch Times she was quite surprised to learn that Tribeca made the list.
“Actually, I’m surprised that any New York City neighborhood made that list,” she said. “But I can see why Tribeca was included because it’s changed so much over the past 10 years and has attracted so many families.”
According to Ms. D’Alessio, the area has experienced not only a revitalization of the waterfront district but also a wealth of new residential development. It has a reputation for great schools and has a wide variety of restaurants. New parks and playgrounds have also been added to the landscape to meet the growing demands of the influx of families.
However, the area is quickly becoming one of the most expensive in New York, with one-bedroom apartments garnering $1.5 million to $3.5 million, and two-bedrooms selling for $3 million to $7 million.
“We have a mix of different age groups moving in—some in their mid-40s with children and some empty-nesters as well,” Ms. D’Alessio said.
Most of the homebuyers are New Yorkers who are already living in the city or surrounding suburbs.
“It’s a very in-demand neighborhood, and yes, it is very expensive,” she said. “Those who want to live there are willing to pay the price. In addition to being a great place to live, Tribeca also offers more water views than many other sections of Manhattan.”
Several of the neighborhoods deemed the most friendly are, in fact, some of the nation’s most upscale neighborhoods.
“It does seem that a lot of favorite locations on our list are the wealthier communities, but we did analyze reviews of people from all socioeconomic levels,” Ms. Stephensen said. “The type of businesses in the areas also contributed to their popularity.”
Grocery stores and retailers ranked the highest, with Trader Joe’s voted the friendliest well-known store. Other high-rated businesses included dry cleaners, pharmacies, coffee shops, and even automotive services.
“The main reason why these establishments received such high marks is due to the people working there,” Ms. Stephensen said. “When customers have a great experience, they remember these businesses and where they are.”
On the flip side, those neighborhoods ranking as the least friendly in the United States include North Dallas, Ansley Park in Atlanta, and South Dorchester in Boston.
