Finding your perfect neighborhood means research. You’ll want to know what areas cater to your lifestyle, needs, and future goals. You might be concerned about safety, the quality of local schools, and proximity to your workplace. All of these factors can influence whether a neighborhood is right for you or whether you should keep looking.
Before your big move, read our guide below to learn how to find the right neighborhood, understand the difference between needs and amenities, research local housing costs, and interpret local zoning laws.
Defining Your Ideal Neighborhood
Decide what you’re looking for in a neighborhood before you hire a moving company. Identify which variables are non-negotiable features and which are nice-to-have amenities. Read more below.
Identify Must-Have Features
Create a list of non-negotiable features that your ideal neighborhood offers. These are the elements you can’t live without. Consider the factors below.
- Proximity to work or major highways
- Quality of school districts
- Safety and low crime rates
- Specific housing styles or lot sizes
- Your budget
Consider Nice-to-Have Amenities
After identifying your must-haves, think about amenities that can improve your quality of life but aren’t necessarily deal-breakers. These might include the following:
- Access to parks and green spaces
- Bike lanes or walking trails
- Community centers or recreational facilities
- Proximity to cultural attractions or entertainment venues
- Walkability to shops and restaurants
Remember to keep an open mind, as you might discover unexpected perks in neighborhoods you didn’t initially consider.
- Homeowners’ associations and fees
- Local home values and housing market
- Nightlife
- Pet amenities (dog parks, walking trails, etc.)
- Public transportation options
- School options
- Traffic
Pro Tip
- Sometimes the best neighborhoods are the ones you’ve never heard of. When This Old House profiled Whittier Mill Village in Atlanta, resident Jan Stephens described her experience: “We had no idea this place existed. A lot of people in Atlanta have never heard of it.” The neighborhood featured houses surrounding a 22-acre park, quiet wooded lots, and was just 15 minutes from downtown—a reminder that expanding your search beyond well-known areas can uncover unexpected gems with exactly the amenities you want.
Researching Potential Neighborhoods
Once you’ve decided what you need out of your new neighborhood, start researching potential areas.
Utilize Online Resources
Consider the resources below as you begin to evaluate neighborhoods. They should serve as starting points for your search.
- AreaVibes.com: Provides livability scores and detailed information on various neighborhood features.
- BestNeighborhood.org: Ranks areas based on desirability factors such as housing prices, income levels, and education.
- NeighborhoodScout.com: Offers insights into local real estate markets and unique neighborhood features.
Analyze Crime Statistics
Safety is a top priority for most homebuyers. Use the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer to access comprehensive crime statistics and get a clear picture of how safe a neighborhood is. You should also check websites such as SpotCrime.com or CrimeMapping.com for recent crime reports and locations.
Finally, consider looking at sex offender databases through the Department of Justice National Sex Offender website. Remember to interpret crime data in context, and consider trends over time. Don’t let isolated incidents be deciding factors.
Evaluate School Districts
The quality of nearby schools is important if you have children or plan to have children. Use the resources below for more information.
- Greatschools.org: Offers rankings based on test scores, student progress, and college readiness.
- National Center for Education Statistics: Provides enrollment statistics and student-to-teacher ratios.
- Niche.com: Allows you to filter schools by type, academic programs, and other criteria.
- Your state’s Department of Education website: Often includes school rankings and performance data.
Contact schools directly for more detailed information about programs and culture.
Assessing Neighborhood Affordability
Affordability is a key factor in choosing a neighborhood, whether you’re searching for a forever home or a starter home. Consider the overall cost of living in the area. Use the Housing and Transportation Affordability Index for data on local trends.
Pro Tip
- Bob Vila, legendary host of This Old House, advises homebuyers to think beyond the sticker price of a home: “I’d look for something that’s efficient, that the fuel costs have been reduced. You know, it’s got all those kinds of extras added in that make it a low cost of operation. And that, I think, is what we’re all gonna have to think about hard as we move along in housing over the next few years.”
Understand Housing Costs
Research local real estate markets to get a sense of home values and trends. Consider the variables below.
- Average time homes spend on the market
- Price trends over the past few years
- Recent sale prices of homes that are similar to those you seek
Calculate Cost of Living
The cost of living is more than a matter of how expensive a house or apartment it. Consider grocery prices, healthcare costs, transportation expenses, and utility costs.
MIT’s Living Wage Calculator provides insights into the minimum costs necessary to live in different locations.
Factor In Property Taxes
Property taxes can have a significant influence on your monthly housing costs. Research current property tax rates in the area, upcoming ballot measures that could affect tax rates, and historical trends in local property taxes.
Remember that areas that have lower home prices might have higher property taxes, and vice versa. Factor this variable into your overall affordability assessment.
Exploring Neighborhood Amenities
Amenities and conveniences can enhance your quality of life in a neighborhood. Read more about how to find these below.
Map Local Conveniences
Use Google Maps or a similar tool to visualize the layout of potential neighborhoods. Look for the amenities below.
- Access to healthcare facilities
- Location of banks and other essential services
- Nearby restaurants and coffee shops
- Proximity to grocery stores and pharmacies
Consider how these conveniences align with your daily routines.
Pro Tip
- Wanda Urbanska, author of Moving to a Small Town, advises that simply comparing real estate prices and salaries is not enough: “It’s important to take into account everything from how open the town is to newcomers to the health-care system, the education system, the cost of housing, utilities, and groceries, as well as the availability of a good cup of coffee.”
Investigate Recreation Options
Explore the recreational opportunities available in each neighborhood, too, such as those below.
- Community pools or sports facilities
- Fitness centers and gyms
- Hiking or biking trails
- Parks and green spaces
Evaluate Public Transportation
If you rely on public transportation, research the available options, which may include those below.
- Bike-sharing programs
- Bus routes and frequency of service
- Trains or subway stations
- Walkability scores from sites such as WalkScore.com
Good public transportation can reduce your reliance on cars and potentially lower your overall transportation costs.
Considering Future Neighborhood Growth and Development
Consider how a neighborhood may grow and develop when you’re choosing between areas. Read more below.
Research Zoning Laws
Zoning laws can significantly influence how a neighborhood develops. Look into the variables below.
- Current zoning regulations for the area
- Proposed changes to zoning laws
- Restrictions on property use or modifications
Pro Tip
- David Callies, professor at the University of Hawaii’s Richardson School of Law, stresses the importance of being proactive: “When it comes to zoning, homeowners do have rights, but they have to take positive action to know them.” Being prepared—knowing ahead of time what homeowners are permitted to do under the codes and being aware of how the codes may change—is the most effective strategy for preserving a property’s comfort and value.
As This Old House Magazine reported, Linda Morris of The Colony, Texas, learned the hard way what can happen when zoning codes change unexpectedly. She bought a new house in a development bordered by woodland, and her real estate agent told her the surrounding land would likely become a park. The tract was zoned for business use, so Morris figured at worst she’d have a small shopping center for a neighbor. Instead, the city council approved a zoning change that brought an entirely different—and unwelcome—type of development to her doorstep. The lesson: always investigate not just current zoning, but proposed changes and the political likelihood of future rezoning.
Examine Economic Trends
Local economic factors can dictate how a neighborhood will grow and change. Consider job growth rates in the area, new businesses or industries that are moving in, and unemployment rates and trends. A strong local economy usually means stable or increasing property values.
Assess Infrastructure Plans
Look into any planned infrastructure improvements or developments, such as new schools, community facilities, public transportation enhancements, and road construction or expansion projects.
Pro Tip
- William Bronchick, a Denver attorney specializing in real estate investing, cautions that predicting neighborhood turnarounds is inherently uncertain: “It looks like a neighborhood is starting to happen; a couple of people move in and start fixing up their homes, then it never picks up. It’s always a risky move.” Before buying into an up-and-coming area, research concrete indicators of growth—like new infrastructure projects, business permits, and municipal investment plans—rather than relying on speculation alone.
Visiting Prospective Neighborhoods
After you’ve collected a sufficient amount of data, make sure you experience your potential new neighborhoods firsthand. Personal visits will allow you to get a tangible sense of different spaces.
Conduct Day and Night Tours
Visit neighborhoods at different times. Evaluate lighting, safety, and ambiance at night. Look at how traffic operates during rush hour, and pay attention to noise levels. Keep an eye out for activities and social events on weekends.
These visits can help you determine if the neighborhood’s rhythm is similar to your own.
Observe Traffic Patterns
Pay attention to traffic flow and parking availability. Check for road work or planned construction, and note congestion levels during peak hours.
Traffic patterns can significantly impact your daily life, so take these matters seriously.
Engage with Local Residents
Take the opportunity to talk with people who live in the area. Ask your neighbors what it’s like to live in the community, and if they’ve ever had particular challenges over the years. Residents offer valuable perspectives that you might not find elsewhere.
Consider Work-from-Home Possibilities
Consider whether remote work is an option for you. Determine whether the neighborhood you’re considering offers reliable internet connectivity, and look for nearby coworking spaces or cafes from which you can work. Consider how a home office might fit into potential housing options.
FAQs
What are the best neighborhoods to live in?
The best neighborhood to live in depends on the safety of the area, school quality, noise level, and other variables that are important to you.
How do I choose a community to live in?
You can choose a new community to live in by researching the area online. This will help you to narrow down your choices based on your priorities. Visit your top choices to get a sense of what they’re like.
What makes a perfect neighborhood?
The perfect neighborhood is affordable, has low crime rates, low cost of living, and access to amenities.
