Most homeowners super competitive with neighbors about this

Three in four Americans feel pressured to keep up with their neighbors when it comes to their home, according to a new survey.

The research of 2,000 American homeowners with lawns found that 76% admit to feeling like they have to be competitive with their neighbors for curb appeal.

In fact, half of respondents said they’ve found themselves comparing their home’s exterior to their neighbors’ exterior.

One in nine (11%) said they’ve taken inspiration from those close by and directly copied a style choice or presentation. Fifteen percent went as far as to say they’ve suspected a neighbor of copying their landscaping or home exterior’s décor.

Conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Weed Man, the survey not only found that people feel pressured to keep up with neighbors’ front yards, but many people are striving to be the best house on the block and are openly competitive about it (25%).

Fifty-one percent said it’s important to them to have one of the nicest home exteriors around, and clearly the effort pays off — a further one in four said their yard is award-worthy (23%).

“When you become a homeowner, it’s like you’re instantly drafted into a competitive sport within your neighborhood,” said Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man. “Every part of your house is a part of the game, and you better believe your lawn is too. This friendly competition isn’t just about curb appeal — it’s also about showing pride in your home and community.”

The top three areas respondents said they feel the most pressure to keep up are a well-manicured lawn (67%), healthy green grass (66%) and lush flower beds (52%).

Having well-maintained exterior paint and siding (51%), the cleanest driveway and sidewalks (47%) and an inviting porch or entryway (47%) were also important.

Typically, respondents said they spend three hours (2.8) per week maintaining their home’s exterior.

And hard work brings results — from gazing at the lawn to staring out of the window — the average lawn-owner spends two hours a week admiring their home’s outdoor space.

When it comes to money allotted for upkeep, respondents said they spend $122 per month, including lawn care.

Forty-six percent said it’s obvious in terms of quality when their neighbors maintain their home's exterior using a professional lawn care service than if they do the work themselves.

“No matter how much time or money homeowners spend on their lawn or home exterior, a sense of honor and accomplishment is at the heart of maintaining a beautiful, standout property,” added Lemcke. “At the end of the day, a thriving lawn isn’t just for show — it’s a source of pride and enjoyment.”

TOP AREAS PEOPLE FEEL PRESSURED TO KEEP UP

• Maintaining a well-manicured lawn, including mowing, edging and trimming (67%)
• Maintaining healthy green grass (66%)
• Maintaining lush flower beds (52%)
• Having well-maintained exterior paint and siding (51%)
• Having the cleanest driveway and sidewalks (47%)
• Having an inviting porch or entryway (47%)
• Having fresh mulch (41%)
• Having stylish, seasonal décor (41%)
• Maintaining a good-looking roof (40%)
• Having attractive outdoor lighting (39%)
• Having a well-maintained fence/gate (34%)
• Having beautiful outdoor furniture (33%)

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American homeowners with lawns; the survey was commissioned by Weed Man and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Feb. 14 – Feb. 21, 2025.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

• Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
• Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

• Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
• Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
• Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
• Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.