Moving Tips: How to Find the Right Neighborhood

iStock/gorodenkoff

When moving to a new city, there are often several nice neighborhoods to choose from, and the decision can be particularly overwhelming, especially when moving. How do you pick the right neighborhood? Start with these tips to help you narrow down the options:

Investigate the area online.

When searching for new homes, you’re probably going to start with a service such as Trulia or Zillow. These are great resources for home searching, things like home prices, and getting a lay of the land.

You’re probably thinking about finding a new apartment, a new job and a new friend group. You’re wondering about broadband access, the cost of living, commute times, co-working spaces and how to discover the cool places that will become your go-to hangout spots. 

However, it’s equally important to immerse yourself in the community you’re considering. Livability.com is a treasure trove of information, offering everything from school rankings to significant employers, hospitals, and local attractions. We highly recommend exploring our annual ranking of the Top 100 Best Places to Live or our Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Place to Live for a comprehensive understanding of your potential new home.

Another invaluable resource for familiarizing yourself with a new place are chambers of commerce and economic development organizations.

Check out the neighborhood statistics.

For many, one of the most important factors when moving is finding a community that aligns with their specific priorities. When determining which neighborhood to live in, safety is top of mind. Some of the most important factors for safety include crime statistics, street lighting and the overall vibe of the area.

Of course, every area will have some crime from time to time, but there are several resources to help potential residents determine the level of crime in their area. Databases like Neighborhood Scout pull data to create interactive crime maps for different areas. Most city websites or local law enforcement offices will supply criminal reports that provide the most accurate and up-to-date data.

One of the best ways to gauge a neighborhood’s vibe is to go straight to the source. Whenever you see a neighbor walking a dog, mowing the lawn or grabbing their mail, introduce yourself and tell them you’re interested in moving to the neighborhood. They can tell you firsthand whether or not they feel safe and what they enjoy about the area.

Other questions to ask yourself include whether or not your area has a neighborhood watch, adequate street lighting and walkability.

Determine the likelihood of a natural disaster.

When picking the right neighborhood, you’ll want to know if the house you’re purchasing is at a high risk for natural disasters. Ask your insurance if the home is in a flood zone and will need flood insurance. Ask realtors or locals if there have been any recent natural disasters in the neighborhood where your future home is located.

Check nearby home values.

Check the home values in your neighborhood. You may plan on living in this house for the next 30 years. However, what happens if you get a job transfer, or your kids get into a special school across the country, and you must sell in two years? Or what will happen when you want to sell in 30 years? You want to know if your house is in a part of town and in a neighborhood that will appreciate in value. Ask your realtor, and get online to see what’s recently sold in your neighborhood and for how much. Look at the price history to see where home values around you have been. Also, look at the last sold values of homes in your neighborhood to see where home values have been most recently.

Map it!

Google Map your favorite store locations closest to the house you’re buying. If you currently live within half a mile of Kroger and Publix, it’s probably going to be hard to move 20 minutes from a grocery store in your new home. The same rule applies to Target or Walgreens or whatever stores you frequent most. Make sure you’re picking a new neighborhood sufficiently close to what you need most.

Get a smart start.

Whether you’re a young family or thinking about starting a family in the near future, finding a well-performing school district is something many families prioritize when looking for the right neighborhood. There are several resources available to determine whether or not a school is ‘good,’ including:

• Test scores and academic data, both at the state and local level, can be a good indicator of whether or not a certain school district is performing at, below or above average. Great Schools is a nonprofit that provides high-quality information to support parents in finding an excellent education for their children. They analyze data from all state departments of education and the federal government to provide analysis, insights and quality rankings.
• School Programming and extracurriculars are beneficial for both parents and students alike. It’s important to determine if your district has before and after-school programming to account for childcare for working parents. Another consideration is Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programming, which can count as credit toward higher education. Finally, check to see if the local district offers extracurriculars that your child cares most about. Do the local schools offer athletics? What about musicals and theater? Perhaps a school newspaper? Or maybe a debate team or science club? Finding a district that caters towards your family’s interests and strengths will help your child settle in more comfortably.
• Parent involvement is important to help both you and your student feel more connected to both your school and neighborhood. Parent Teacher Organizations or Associations (PTO/A) is a great way to communicate with teachers and get plugged in.

Plug into your new place.

Aside from the necessities you need to survive, there are many secondary factors that will help you thrive in your new area. Does your neighborhood have community events or a neighborhood association? If you’re a foodie, you’ll want to check to see about nearby restaurants and takeout spots. If you’re outdoorsy, check the area parks and recreation associations to learn about walking and bike paths, natural areas and parks. For the bookworms, explore your local bookstore. 

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