I can't know for sure...but in my very limited experience, a first-year, in-ground, uncovered fig in zone 6 is surely dead. Assuming that your neighbor's plant is the same variety as yours and assuming that there are similar "microclimates" (e.g., sun, wind, water, etc. exposure), I would presume your plant dead.

I had my third-year in-ground fig covered for the winter and still lost a fair number of tips. But at this time in zone 6, it is showing new leaf and breba crop growth. Temps here have been 50s-60s during the day and 40s (sometimes high 30s) at night.

Regarding your neighbor's, I'm wondering if he did anything to protect it from the weather. Also, where is it situated...is there natural protection?

One quick way to know if a twig is still alive,
is to finger-nail scratch the bark
- green is good - brown is bad.

Still, do not give up yet; many winter-killed figs do
come back with new shoots from (under-ground) roots.

Good luck...

Can someone explain to me about the different zones im in south jersey and i just inherited a cluster of either black trianas or white genoas or brown turkey i keep seein zones what zone am i in and whats the diff.?Pl e mail me back thanks in advance john wysocki

If you are in Cape May and up to Willingboro to the north then you are in Zone 7
If north of Willingboro,you are in zone 6,except 2 miles of land close to Ocean which is zone 7 up to NY.
In Zone 7 the climate is milder than zone 6,and so it is possible to grow fig trees inground with a little help from the Gardener,in the winter:mulching at base ,covering the tree with leaf bags,etc.