Consumers are willing to spend nearly 14% more on a home if they feel it’s in a “safe” neighborhood, according to a recent vivint.com survey.
But what makes a neighborhood feel safe? The top answer is kids playing outside. According to more than half of respondents (53.6%), children playing outside is a feature of a safe neighborhood. Seeing walkers, joggers and running is another safe characteristic, said 53.2%, as is visible presence of neighbors, according to 46.4%. And 43% said nearby parks and playgrounds is a good indicator of safety, as is nearby schools, said 42.8%. High resale value of homes nearby, a neighborhood watch, thriving local business, limited police presence and regular local events also make consumers feel a community is safe. Millennials and Generation X were more likely to say children playing made it a safe area, while baby boomers depended on visible walkers, joggers or runners.
In addition to spending more to live in what they consider a safe area, buyers are also willing to make sacrifices. More than 40% said they would suffer through a longer commute to and from work to live in a place they deem safe, while 39.2% would put up with more police presence. Others (34%) were willing to live in the lowest-value home in the area and 33.5% said they would live in a smaller home. Millennials were more likely to say they would deal with more police presence, while both baby boomers and Generation X would take a longer commute to and from the office.
Respondents who were parents said they would spend 20.5% more to live somewhere they considered safe, while baby boomers said they would pay 26.6% more.
Topics
Member Discussion
Recent Articles
-
Is Gen Z’s Debt Preventing Homeownership?
- April 7, 2025
- 2 min. read
Of all generations, Gen Z has the highest average personal debt of $94,102, according to research from Newsweek.
-
Nearly 6.5 Million Homes Classified as Inadequate in 2023
- April 4, 2025
- 2 min. read
In 2023, 6.45 million homes, equivalent to about 5% of the U.S. housing stock, were classified as inadequate. Of those, 1.65 million were severely inadequate.
-
Bucks County Realtors® Teach High School Students About Real Estate
- April 3, 2025
- 2 min. read
“By investing in education and mentoring young minds, we help shape the future of our industry and ensure that the next generation is well-prepared for success,” said BCAR President Frank Blumenthal.
Daily Emails
You’ll be the first to know about real estate trends and various legal happenings. Stay up-to-date by subscribing to JustListed.