How to Make Friends in Your New Neighborhood

Co-authored by Jessica George, MA, CHt

Last Updated: December 16, 2022 References

It can be difficult and daunting to make friends after you move to a new neighborhood. As long as you are open and friendly, you will be able to make new friends after you move to a new area. It helps to get to know your immediate neighbors, as well as look for locals who share interests with you to connect with. Stay positive and be patient, and soon enough you'll have a new local network of friends to spend time with!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Getting to Know the Neighbors

1
Smile and say hello to any neighbors you see. Make a point of smiling and giving a friendly “hello” to your neighbors from day 1. Being warm and friendly with your neighbors is the first step to getting to know people who could turn into friends. A smile invites folks to approach you and strike up a conversation!
- Even if you’ve just moved in and don’t feel like talking, a simple greeting and a smile go a long way to show that you are a friendly new neighbor. People will be more likely to talk to you later on if you give a good first impression.
2
Go for walks around your new neighborhood. This will allow you to discover communal spots around the neighborhood and give you more opportunities to run into neighbors. Taking a walk in the morning or the evening is an easy way to open yourself up to meeting people and learning more about the neighborhood.^{[1]
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- If you have a dog, you will be walking anyways. Keep an eye out for other neighbors with dogs and take the chance to say hi and talk to them when you bump into them around the neighborhood.
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3
Compliment your neighbors to break the ice. Give your neighbors a compliment on their home or garden. This lays the foundation for building friendly relationships with your neighbors.^{[2]
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- For instance, say something like, “Your flowers are looking beautiful today!” After that, your neighbor might invite you over to see their garden close-up and have a conversation.
4
Lend neighbors a helping hand if you see they could use it. Random acts of kindness often lead to meaningful interactions. Establish yourself as a good neighbor by helping a neighbor out with something.^{[3]
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- For example, help an older neighbor carry groceries to their door, or shovel snow in front of a neighbor’s home if you are shoveling in front of yours.
- If you accidentally receive a neighbor’s mail, take it to their door and deliver it to them personally rather than just tossing it in their mailbox or sliding it under the door.
5
Ask neighbors questions about the neighborhood. Ask neighbors that you see out and about questions about local attractions and local life. This will help you get to know the neighborhood so you can find more places to meet locals, as well as identify people with common interests who you might want to be friends with.^{[4]
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- For example, you can ask them what the best restaurants are, where to find a good cup of coffee, what parks are nearby, or if there are any local events they can recommend.
6
Host a casual housewarming party at your new place and invite the neighbors. Parties are one of the quickest ways to expand your social circle. Have a small gathering at your new apartment, or a backyard BBQ at your new house, and invite your neighbors over to get to know them.^{[5]
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- You can invite people in person if you have already talked with people. Another option is slipping invitations under their doors or into their mailboxes.
Tip: You don’t need to feel like you have to invite everyone. A smaller gathering gives you more opportunities for in-depth conversations. Invite people who seem friendly or interesting.
7
Exchange phone numbers with anyone you click with and make plans. Don’t be afraid to try and make future plans with your neighbors if you meet someone you think you could be friends with. Ask them if they would like to get a coffee or go to a local event sometime and exchange numbers.^{[6]
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- For example, if you ask a neighbor about local coffee shops, you could follow it up by asking if they want to go for a coffee and chat sometime. Don’t be afraid to make it clear that you’re new to the area and just want to get to know people.
- Don’t worry if not everyone seems to want to get to know you. It’s completely normal for some neighbors to keep to themselves.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Local Friends with Shared Interests

1
Go to popular communal spaces frequently to meet locals. Identify popular local spots that align with your interests. Become a regular at those spots to meet other locals who share your interests that you could befriend.^{[7]
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- For example, find a local coffee shop to go sit at and get some work done on your laptop and strike up a conversation with someone. Find a park with basketball courts if you enjoy playing basketball and join a pickup match.
- Say you are sitting reading at a coffee shop and spot someone reading a book you have read or heard of, this is a perfect opportunity to spark up a conversation by asking a question or commenting on what they are reading!
2
Leverage your existing networks to find people who live near you. Take advantage of all your social networks to find mutual friends who live near your new neighborhood. Ask around to see if any of your friends or acquaintances know people in the area you are moving to and can put you in touch.^{[8]
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- It’s a great ice breaker when you already have a mutual connection with someone who lives in your new area.
- If you can’t think of anyone off the top of your head that might have a connection in your area, you can just post a question on your social media and ask. You might be surprised!
3
Join local groups or classes to meet people with common interests. Ask around or search on social media for local groups that revolve around an interest you have. Sign up for a class to share time doing an activity you love with other locals who do too.^{[9]
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- For example, if you play a sport, find a local league in your new area. You could also sign up for a class at a local gym if you are into fitness.
- Search on Facebook for groups you can join relating to a hobby you have. For example, if you like to play board games, there is most certainly some sort of local board game meetup group on Facebook that you can join!
4
Use the Internet and apps to meet interesting locals. There are lots of apps and sites that help locals meet each other based around shared interests. Don’t be afraid to use these resources to help you make friends after a move.^{[10]
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- For instance, https://www.meetup.com/ is a very popular site that helps you find local groups and people who are doing certain activities to meet up with.
- There really is an app for everything these days. You can download apps that specifically help you find local workout buddies, join supper clubs, find a date if you’re single, and pretty much anything else you can think of!
Tip: Dating apps don’t just have to be for meeting other singles to spark a romance with. You can also use them for finding new local friends.
5
Volunteer in the local community to meet fellow community-oriented people. Find a local organization that offers volunteer positions relating to a cause you support. Try and lend a helping hand whenever you can to meet other people who support the same cause.^{[11]
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- For instance, if you are an avid gardener, you could look for a community garden to volunteer at to meet other like-minded individuals.

Community Q&A

Question

I'm only 12 years old and I want to make a new friend in my neighborhood but its emberising to go to someones house and try to start a conversation.

Gavin Donnelly

Community Answer

Try to meet other kids your age at a park by playing a game of some kind, or if you go to school then meet local kids who live near you.
Question

What if I've met many people in my apartment complex already? I remember ALL their names, but I never see any of them again. What should I do?

Gavin Donnelly

Community Answer

You could try inviting some of them to a little gathering at your place to get to know them, if that interests you. Try slipping invitations into their mailboxes or under their doors.
Question

There are no kids on my street, and I'm home schooled. What do I do?

Gavin Donnelly

Community Answer

Ask your parents if you can sign up for some classes or join a club of some kind, that's a good option to meet other kids your age!