Suburbs friendlier in study

Still no word on whether a stitch in time really does save nine, but a professor at the University of California, Irvine, has uncovered evidence to support another famous proverb: “Good fences make good neighbors.”

In a study of 15,000 Americans, economist Jan Brueckner found that suburban living is better for people’s social lives than city dwelling.

The less crowded a neighborhood is, the friendlier its residents become, the report says.

For every 10 percent drop in population density, the likelihood of people talking to their neighbors once a week goes up 10 percent, regardless of race, income, education, marital status or age. Involvement in hobby-oriented clubs also soars as density falls, the study found.

Such behavior contradicts a widespread criticism that suburban sprawl causes social isolation and anonymity.

“Our findings suggest the old proverb may be true: ‘Good fences make good neighbors,’” Brueckner said.

The professor, who co-wrote the study with Ann Largey of Dublin City University in Ireland, offered several theories about why city slickers don’t mingle as much as their suburban counterparts.

In crowded environments, “people are in your face all the time and you kind of want some privacy,” he said. Fear of crime can exacerbate wariness, he said.