A significant portion of Americans are willing to pay a premium for homes in gated or controlled-access neighborhoods, according to a recent survey. Half of U.S. adults indicated they would pay above market price for such a property, with nearly a third stating they would spend at least 6% more.
The findings come from a survey of 1,000 American adults conducted by Tri-State Gate, a company specializing in automated driveway gate installations.
This trend is partially supported by real estate data. Prior research from the American Real Estate Society suggests that homes in gated communities already command an average premium of approximately $30,000 compared to similar non-gated properties.
While many express a willingness to pay more for perceived security, the survey highlights a disconnect between the perceived danger of neighborhoods and actual feelings of safety. Sixty-nine percent of respondents reported that crime in their area has not worsened. However, a larger group, 72%, admitted to not feeling entirely at ease in their homes, with most opting for a more cautious "mostly safe, but I stay alert" assessment rather than feeling "very safe."
According to Matthew Prato, president of Tri-State Gate, this sentiment is less about reacting to crime and more about a desire for control. "A gate doesn't change what's happening in the neighborhood; it changes who can pull into your driveway without you knowing," Prato stated. "For a lot of homeowners, that's the difference between thinking about their home when they're away and not thinking about it at all."
This underlying unease about home security is reflected in consumer behavior. Sixty-nine percent of respondents now own a security camera or video doorbell, and a third of these owners check their feeds multiple times a day. When factoring in those who check daily or upon receiving an alert, over 80% of camera owners are frequently monitoring their homes.
Despite this increased vigilance, many Americans remain passive when it comes to proactive security measures. Fifty-six percent indicated that they would only seriously invest in physical security upgrades after experiencing a break-in or observing a clear pattern of nearby crime, a notable figure given that home break-ins remain relatively rare. In the past two years, only 8% of households reported experiencing or attempting a break-in, though package theft is a more common concern, affecting 23% of respondents.
National crime rates have generally trended downward over years, and broader polling from Gallup indicates that only a small percentage of Americans consider crime in their area a serious issue. However, this data has not necessarily translated into increased peace of mind for homeowners. The proliferation of security technology and constant footage may be contributing to anxiety rather than alleviating it, turning some homeowners into perpetual monitors of their immediate surroundings.