What freeze? New poll shows Seattleites are enjoying their neighbors more than they used to

SEATTLE — If you’ve ever moved to Seattle, or even visited, you’ve surely been warned about “The Seattle Freeze.”

“It’s hard to meet people” and “be ready for the passive-aggressiveness” are just a few of the cautions given to those who head out to the Pacific Northwest.

But with the massive changes Seattle has seen in recent years, is the “freeze” going away? A new poll from PEMCO sought to answer just that.

PEMCO’s “Great Neighbor Index” reveals that, while Seattle-area residents are enjoying their neighbors more than they used to, they still don’t want to be invited over.

As part of the poll, the Seattle-based insurer asked Seattle and Portland residents to rate the qualities of great neighbors, the attributes of a bad neighbor and how they would classify their own neighbors.

>> Poll says Washington residents more concerned about public health than the economy

The results were reported as part of the “Great Neighbor Index.” A higher score, out of 100, indicates the presence of more great neighbors than bad ones.

The index was last published by PEMCO in 2015.

The Seattle-based insurer says there were no changes to how Portland-area residents feel about their neighbors. However, Seattleites are now “significantly more likely” in 2020 to say they have more great neighbors than bad ones.

The index score for Seattle went from 27 in 2015 to 40 in 2020.

PEMCO said today, 88% of Seattle-area residents say they have more great neighbors than bad, compared to just 69% in 2015.

“It’s encouraging to see so many Northwesterners embracing the people who live in our communities,” PEMCO Insurance spokesperson Derek Wing said in a news release. “But true to Seattle form, our poll found that residents here don’t think that being a good neighbor necessarily means spending time socializing or hosting a dinner.”

The majority of respondents said respecting others’ rights, being reasonable, being trustworthy and watching out for your place if you’re away were the most important traits of being a great neighbor.

However, here’s where “the freeze still remains”: Only about 5% of respondents in the Seattle area said taking interest in your family and extending invitations for visits were qualities of being a good neighbor. PEMCO said Portland residents ranked them even lower.

The poll also revealed interesting takeaways from behaviors in the pandemic. About 80% of residents said they’re engaging with their neighbors about the same or even less since the pandemic began, but they are enjoying their neighbors more.

About 33% said the most important quality of being a good neighbor is following public health guidelines like wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.

“We’re glad to see that people here are taking our collective responsibility seriously when it comes to keeping each other safe,” Wing said. “It shows that there are many ways we can all be great neighbors and support our community in challenging times and beyond.”

Cox Media Group