A new survey by U.S. News & World Report has highlighted a fundamental shift in how Americans view home security
The August survey of 1,200 US adults found that more than half (52 per cent ) have already changed their daily habits or taken new safety measures this year due to security anxieties. For many, home security systems are now seen less as a reaction to threat and more as a source of reassurance, convenience, and connectivity.
Rise Of Watching Homes
The study reveals that externally-focused video technology has become the standard for home protection. Outdoor cameras (62 per cent ) and video doorbells (56 per cent ) are the most common forms of home security, followed by indoor cameras (36 per cent ) and smart locks (31 per cent ). The increasing normalisation of this technology is clear: half of video doorbell owners use the device multiple times a day, and nearly one in three have successfully used it to catch a “porch pirate.”
This growing acceptance of monitoring extends beyond one’s own property:
90 per cent of Americans now find it acceptable to use cameras to monitor package deliveries (a significant jump from 75 per cent in 2022).
70 per cent approve of using cameras to monitor their neighbourhood (up from 63 per cent ).
64 per cent find it acceptable to monitor service providers while they are working inside their home (up from 49%).
Americans are also looking out for one another, with 84 per cent saying they would feel safer if their neighbours had cameras installed, and 54 per cent considering purchasing systems for family members, such as elderly parents.
Security As Lifestyle Feature
The research clearly shows the security market merging with the broader smart-home ecosystem. For most respondents, remote access is now a minimum expectation, with 68 per cent considering remote access via smartphone apps to be an essential feature.
The preference for comprehensive protection is also evident in monitoring choices, which were found to be almost evenly split: 35 per cent subscribe to professional monitoring, compared with 32 per cent who opt for self-monitoring. Notably, nearly half (49 per cent ) of respondents consider 24/7 professional monitoring a non-negotiable feature, aligning with industry projections for hybrid security solutions.
This demand for sophisticated, interoperable systems has led half of all respondents to believe that security systems should be a mandatory requirement in all new-home construction. This expectation underpins data from Parks Associates, which projects the US smart-home market to reach USD 15 billion by 2029, driven by this demand for interconnected, professionally installed solutions.
The survey serves as a potent reminder of the impact of crime on behaviour: among the 35 per cent of respondents who have experienced a break-in, a decisive 78 per cent installed a security system immediately afterward.