Charlotte: Where your neighbor definitely saw you take out the trash, a new survey says

This is the South, y’all. Of course our neighbors are nosy in Charlotte.

A recent survey by Secure Data Recovery explored the topic of nosy neighbors. The survey, while small with nearly 3,000 respondents nationwide, offered some interesting insights.

Here are the Charlotte numbers, according to a company representative:

▪ Charlotte ranks 6th in the U.S. for nosiest neighbors.

▪ 34% of Charlotteans say they have had a neighbor invite themselves over, ranking 8th in the U.S.

▪ 53% of Charlotteans say they have a neighbor who asks inappropriate questions, ranking 3rd in the U.S.

▪ 81% of Charlotte residents surveyed say they caught a neighbor staring at them from afar, ranking 6th in the U.S.

For comparison, Indianapolis ranked as the nosiest city, while Austin was the least nosy.

So, what is there to do about it? The survey said this is how people deal with nosy neighbors:

▪ Put up curtains and keep them closed

▪ Confronted them

▪ Put up security cameras

▪ Put up a fence or planted privacy-friendly greenery

▪ Moved away

▪ Called police.

Are nosy neighbors in or out?

So, what do we say, Charlotte? Are our neighbors nosy, and if so, is it even really a problem?

The staring from afar while watching you take out the trash or mow your lawn might be a bit much, but in general, people some who live on streets with close neighbors might actually prefer for area homeowners to know what’s going on.

For the record, if my neighbors Rick or Tâm are reading this, I actually love how close you are — it makes me feel safe! In my old house near Marvin Ridge High School (out in Waxhaw), my next-door neighbors were so far apart that we would both have to walk 20-30 steps or so to meet at the fence just to have a conversation.

Now in NoDa, with our narrow yards, I can stand on my front porch and Rick can stand on his front porch, and we can say good morning without yelling. On Tâm’s side of the fence, we’ve talked about installing a side entry/dog door our dogs can play together even more easily. I think it’s more fun that way — feels more like a community — but I know everyone has a preference.

Spill the tea, Charlotte: We want to hear your nosy neighbor stories! Email us at charlottefive@charlottefive.com and tell us about your nosy neighbors. Or maybe you are the nosy neighbor? Either way, we want to hear from you. Make sure to include your name so we can quote you in any upcoming coverage.

Melissa Oyler

The Charlotte Observer

Melissa Oyler is the editor of CharlotteFive. When she’s not writing or editing, you’ll find her running, practicing hot yoga, weightlifting or snuggling with her rescue dogs, X and Charlie. Find her on Instagram or X: @melissaoyler. Support my work with a digital subscription