Is Seattle really one of the friendliest cities in the country? (2024)

A recent report from OfferUp claims that not only is Washington the friendliest state in the U.S., but Seattle is also the country’s second friendliest city behind San Diego. But does that hold water?

“Uh, nope,” said KIRO Nights co-host Aaron Mason.

“I’m calling shenanigans,” he added.

The study asked respondents a series a questions based on how they treat their neighbors, ranging from how often they interact, to how often they’re willing to lend a helping hand.

Can a new dating app break the Seattle freeze?

That came with a bit of a hole in OfferUp’s methodology, with almost 80 percent of the users on the company’s platform in Seattle interacting over its app.

“Yeah, here’s the thing about Seattle — if you’re talking to people through an app, we’re really freaking friendly,” Mason pointed out.

“Passive-aggressive friendly,” KIRO Nights co-host Gee Scott noted.

“But when you get in person we’re this socially awkward teenager,” Mason continued.

That tracks with the defining feature of the so-called “Seattle Freeze,” positing that the city’s residents are friendly on a surface level (read: over an app), but are generally reluctant to interact with or befriend strangers.

Debunking the ‘Seattle Freeze’

As for OfferUp’s claim that Seattleites are friendly?

“That’s a lie,” said Gee.

“I’m not here to shoot the messenger — I’m just here to call shenanigans on the whole situation,” said Mason.

Is Seattle really one of the friendliest cities in the country? (2024)

FAQs

Is Seattle really one of the friendliest cities in the country? ›

Seattle has a long-standing reputation as a place where people are polite, but not exactly friendly. For whatever reason — our long, gloomy winters may play a role — Seattle seems to have a high concentration of introverts who'd rather nest than hang out with friends.

What is the #1 friendliest city in America? ›

Savannah, Georgia

Earning the top spot among the friendliest cities in the U.S., Savannah made quite an impression on travelers this past year. It's hard to say what exactly makes the locals here so happy. It may be the city's robust, unapologetically Southern food scene.

Where do the kindest people in America live? ›

We surveyed 1,258 Americans about how friendly the residents of their city are. Austin, Charlotte, and Columbus top the charts for the friendliest cities in America. In a world filled with bustling cities and busy lives, being outwardly friendly to people can often require true effort.

What is the second friendliest city in the US? ›

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester is the second-friendliest city in the United States, according to a new Readers' Choice Awards survey from Condé Nast Traveler.

What city in the world has the nicest people? ›

The friendliest cities in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards
  • Victoria, Canada. Score 95.51.
  • Dublin, Ireland. Score 95.37. ...
  • Quebec City, Canada. Score 94.92. ...
  • Malaga, Spain. Score 94.19. ...
  • Izmir, Turkey. Score 93.85. ...
  • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Score 93.13. ...
  • Cartagena, Colombia. Score 93.02. ...
  • Mexico City, Mexico. Score 92.97. ...
Oct 3, 2023

Where do the kindest people live? ›

Canada. This North American country is known for its amiable people and cheerful atmosphere. Canada is certainly a country with friendliest people in the world. Canadians are supposed to be the most polite people on earth, who witnessed very little war.

Where do the nicest people on earth live? ›

Friendliest Countries in the World
  • South Africa. First up on our list of the friendliest countries in the world is South Africa. ...
  • Vietnam. Vietnamese people are noted for being quite humble and welcoming to tourists and expats. ...
  • Colombia. ...
  • Hungary. ...
  • Netherlands. ...
  • France. ...
  • Saudi Arabia. ...
  • New Zealand.
Oct 15, 2023

What is the friendliest place on earth? ›

Friendliest Cities in the World
  • Liverpool, United Kingdom. First up on our list of the friendliest cities in the world is Liverpool, located in North West England, United Kingdom. ...
  • Geneva, Switzerland. ...
  • Jaipur, India. ...
  • Izmir, Turkey. ...
  • Tokyo, Japan. ...
  • Seville, Spain. ...
  • Nairobi, Kenya. ...
  • New Orleans, United States.
Dec 24, 2023

What small town has the nicest people? ›

Beaufort, South Carolina. The South is synonymous with things like “Southern hospitality” and “Southern charm,” and tiny Beaufort, South Carolina epitomizes both. Located a mere 90 miles from Charleston, Beaufort is a 300-year old town chock-full of charm and good neighbors.

Which city is peaceful in USA? ›

Fort Collins, Colorado topped the list as the most peaceful city in the country with a noise level of 38.03 decibels and an access to outdoor score of 73%.

What city is the easiest to make friends? ›

Among the large cities, Jacksonville ranked behind Washington, D.C.; Portland, Ore.; and Nashville on the list of Best Cities to Make New Friends. The list is based on many factors, including how many residents join civic groups, vote, have easy access to the Internet and interact with friends and neighbors.

What is the happiest small town in the United States? ›

And when all was said and done, it named the town of White Rock its No. 1 pick. "With a rural feel and a close-knit community, White Rock is one of the happiest small towns in America, where the abundance of picturesque landscapes is great," The Travel shared in its findings.

What city has the happiest citizens? ›

Happiest cities in America 2024: Results are in

Where does yours rank? The results are in, and Fremont, California, is the happiest city in America again. The Golden State was well-represented at the top of the list. But, the South and Northeast scored shockingly low.

Which state is kindest? ›

1. Minnesota. The term “Minnesota nice” lives up to its name. Minnesota residents are known for being extra polite, even during the state's cold, bitter winters.

What is the friendliest area in the US? ›

According to the study, the U.S.'s top 10 friendliest neighborhoods are:
  • South Boulevard-Park Row Historic, Dallas, Texas.
  • Casas Adobes, Tucson, Arizona.
  • Mount Tabor, Portland, Oregon.
  • Catalina Foothills, Tucson, Arizona.
  • Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego, California.
  • East Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jan 12, 2024

What is the kindest state in the US? ›

1. Minnesota. The term “Minnesota nice” lives up to its name. Minnesota residents are known for being extra polite, even during the state's cold, bitter winters.

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