Missouri's Most Neighborly Cities Announced as 84,398 Acts of Neighboring are Reported in 2026 from all 114 Missouri Counties

Missourians reported 84,398 acts of neighboring during 2026, shattering the statewide goal of 50,000 and more than doubling the number reported during Missouri Good Neighbor Week in 2025.

The results were announced on Friday, October 9 following Missouri Good Neighbor Week, (Sept. 28–Oct. 4), along with names of Missouri's Most Neighborly Cities and Counties.

"This year proved that neighboring isn't limited to one week on the calendar," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. "Missourians reported 84,398 acts of neighboring, over 34,000 beyond our goal. More important than the number are the thousands of stories behind it: people learning names, checking on neighbors, gathering together, taking food to a sick neighbor, helping with needs and intentionally creating places where people belong."

The 2026 total is double the 42,134 acts reported in 2025.

Missouri's Most Neighborly Cities

Cities were recognized in population categories based on the Missouri Municipal League classifications, allowing communities to compete among comparable municipalities.

Points come from reported acts of neighboring and neighboring events in the city, nominations and winners for the various awards, participation in Show Me Neighborhood Art Month, the 100 Miles in 100 days campaign, official singing for a good neighbor week proclamation and other MU Extension programs related to neighbors and communities.

The six 2026 Most Neighborly Missouri Cities are:

• Marble Hill — Very Small City, population 1,500 and under
• Houston — Small City, population 1,500–5,000
• Excelsior Springs — Medium City, population 5,000–15,000
• Republic — Large City, population 15,000–30,000
• Springfield — Metro City, population over 30,000
• Lee’s Summitt – Judges Choice award for highest ranked city that does not win a size category. Lee’s Summitt actually ranked second overall this year.

Four additional communities (St. Peters, Columbia, Salem and Fremont Hills) also earned Neighborly City status for finishing among Missouri's Top 10.

"These rankings demonstrate that neighborliness isn't dependent on the size of a community," Burton said. "A town of 1,500 people can be intentional about belonging just as a metropolitan city can. What matters is whether residents are willing to notice one another, connect and take action."

Fifteen additional Missouri communities finished among the state's Top 25 Neighborly Cities for 2026: St. Louis, Goodman, Jefferson City, Lebanon, Warrenton, Independence, Kansas City, Higginsville, Kirkwood, Boonville, Forsyth, Camdenton, California, Raymore, and Warrensburg.

Missouri's 10 Most Neighborly Counties

New year, counties were also ranked based on reported acts of neighboring.

The Top 10 Most Neighborly Missouri Counties for 2026 are, in order: Greene County, Jackson County, Clay County, Texas County, St. Charles County, Boone County, Christian County, Bollinger County, St. Louis County and Dent County.

Organizers entered 2026 hoping to document neighboring in all 114 Missouri counties. With the help of new Missouri Good Neighbor Week Ambassadors this goal was accomplished, making this a true statewide activity.

"Reaching all 114 counties is something worth celebrating," Burton said. "We know neighboring is happening across Missouri and demonstrates that fact. Now our goal is to get an ambassador in every Missouri County."

A Week to Celebrate Neighboring

Missouri Good Neighbor Week was founded in 2021 and became an official state observance in 2022. It is celebrated annually from Sept. 28 through Oct. 4, but the initiative has increasingly emphasized neighboring as a year-round practice.

In 2022, participants recorded 5,346 acts of neighboring, followed by 19,752 acts in 2023, 30,024 acts in 2024, and 42,134 acts in 2025. The 2026 total of 84,398 represents an increase of 42,264 acts, or about 100.3 percent, in a single year.

"Missouri Good Neighbor Week gives us a reason to celebrate, but 84,398 acts remind us that neighboring is not an event," Burton said. "It is a habit. Strong communities are built when people repeatedly choose to know, include, help and spend time with the people around them and create a sense of belonging."

Additional awards were announced during Missouri Good Neighbor Week. This previous award announcements included Missouri’s Most Neighborly Businesses (6), Missouri’s Most Neighborly Neighborhoods (3), and Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors (17) for 2026. These media releases can be found at https://extension.missouri.edu/.

Missouri Good Neighbor Week is an effort of University of Missouri Extension and community partners to encourage residents to build stronger neighborhoods through intentional connection, kindness and engagement which creates social capital and a sense of belonging among residents.

Missouri Good Neighbor Week was named the Neighboring Program of the Year in 2023 by Neighborhoods USA and has been a model for similar good neighbor weeks since 2023 from the east to west coasts.

Sponsors this year included University of Missouri Extension, ServMo and National Good Neighbor Day. Two or three sponsors are being sought for 2027 at a rate of $5,000 each.

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WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.