When you’re trying to find the best places to live, choosing the neighborhood is almost as critical as choosing your house or apartment.
Before you dive into looking up apartments or houses to live in any random neighborhood, take a step back and think about what you want in a neighborhood, or where you want to live. Do you want to live in an area with plenty of restaurants? Do you want to live in a good school district? Maybe you would rather live in a quieter area with no bars or restaurants, or in a thriving neighborhood with a plethora of them. We put this guide together to help you find the perfect place to put down your roots.
Step 1: Profile Your ‘Perfect’ Neighborhood
Depending on your needs and personal preferences, it should be safe, walkable, affordable, and with people you can imagine yourself interacting with. Depending on your situation, you may be looking to live near other families that have children, playgrounds and parks, and a good school district. What are the things that are most important in a neighborhood, and what would make it special for you and your family?
Some things to consider:
● Quiet streets or a busier active area with plenty of bars and restaurants?
● Walking distance to amenities like grocery stores and plenty of shops?
● Are there any parks or trees around?
● Is it an older neighboorhood or a newer development?
● Will you need access to public transportation?
Step 2: Zeroing In On An Area
Now that you have your mind on what your ideal type of neighborhood is, it’s time to narrow your search. If you already live in a city, it might be easier for you to be able to decide on which area you’d like to live in.
If you want to be closer to your job, it’s probably a good deciding factor on where you want to move. If possible, spend time walking through the neighborhood. You can try doing it at varying times of the day to get a sense of how it is so that it will be easier to pick a neighborhood that is right for you.
Step 3: Information
After you choose an area, it’s time to start digging up some information. After profiling what you wanted in a neighborhood, you know what to look into.
School Information:
What type of school do you want your family to attend? Whether it be a university or high school, looking into good rating schools can be beneficial to your family’s needs, and can help you decide on where you want to live.
Crime Rates Online:
Having children, crime rates can be very important – or even if you are single. You can lookup online “Crime Statistics by Neighborhood.” It should give pretty general information, especially depending on the size of the city. If you are living in larger urban areas, they typically will have detailed crime reports and on the other hand, smaller towns most likely will only have general information.
Parks and Recreation:
Parks are essential in communities. They are a great benefit economically, environmentally, and physically. Both parks and recreation facilities also provide benefits for members of their communities. They bring people together and connect people to each other and to nature.
Restaurants & Bars:
What types of restaurants or nightlife would you want to be surrounded by? Restaurants and bars are often the centers of activity in a neighborhood. If there is live music, more people will flock in the area.
Step 4: The Decision
Once you’ve determined your priorities and answered all your questions, you’re a lot closer to making a final decision to move. Moving to a new community can be overwhelming and also a bittersweet experience. It can be exciting to explore a new place, make new friends, and cultivate brand new opportunities.
On the other half, it’s often painful to leave behind friends, loved ones, and special memories. During what’s already an emotional ride, being able to find the right neighborhood for you and your family can make all the difference in the end and make the worrying worth it.
If you have questions about neighborhoods in Philadelphia and are trying to figure out where you want to move, contact us and we’d be happy to help you in your search!
