Where Should I Live? 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Locations

If you’re wondering “where should I live?” then you are not alone. Every year, nearly 40 million Americans, or 14% of our country’s population, move at least once. We are a very mobile society, and many of us relocate several times in our lives. 

Some people move because they have found a new job. Others move in search of a better place to bring up their kids, or for a better climate. Some move to be closer to family, to attend a college or university, or for more business or cultural opportunities.

Still, others move because they want a change of environment or a change of pace.

No matter what your reasons, moving to a new area can be eye-opening and life-changing. People are often inspired by relocating to a new state, city or town.

Remember, if you don’t like it, you can always move again, or go back to where you started.

It’s much easier and less stressful to get it right the first time, though. There are a lot of factors to consider when trying to determine where to move. Read on to find out what they are; giving each a lot of thought will help you to know before you go, whether you are making the right decision.

Where Should I Live? Five Factors to Consider When Moving

When deciding “where should I live,” there are lots of things to think about. What’s right for one person may not be what is right for you. Even if someone says a city or town is wonderful, you may not feel the same way.

Consider each of the following factors on a personal level. Think about the wants and needs of your family in particular.

Housing and Cost of Living

Being sure that you can afford the area you wish to move is crucial. If you feel that you will struggle to pay your bills, rent or mortgage and pay for other expenses, while still having some money left over for leisure activities, it may not be a good fit. 

Remember, the cost of living does not just include your home costs, but also utilities, groceries, gym membership, transportation costs and more.

Create a sample budget for your income compared to your spending in the new place and see if it works out.

Opportunity

Look into job opportunities in an area before you move there and start looking for one. In some cities, jobs are hard to come by, or there is little to no work in certain fields. 

If you have children, you will want to investigate the local schools. Higher education institutions can also affect an area both positively and negatively.

Quality of Life 

One of the most important things to consider is the local quality of life. Local culture can make or break a place. If you are someone who is into museums, food, sports, and volunteer opportunities, research those for your intended area. 

Climate can also play a big part in your happiness or unhappiness with a location. 

Healthcare options, like clinics and hospitals, are important, too.

There are many resources online to research neighborhoods online. For example, if you are looking for up-and-coming neighborhoods in the state of California, you can find more info on them here.  

Transportation

Getting around is something most people do every day, so checking to see what transportation is like in the area you’re considering is important too. If you don’t have a car, then public transportation options are crucial. If you drive to work, you’ll also want to check on the commute.

If you’re someone who flies a lot, then you’ll need an airport close by, or at least within fairly easy driving distance.  

Safety 

Most of all, you want to make sure that you and your family are safe. There are a lot of resources out there today to help you learn about both non-violent and violent crime rates in an area. Don’t let the looks of a neighborhood fool you; looks can be deceiving.

Do the research.

Happy Relocating

No matter where you decide to live, if you have considered all of these factors, you will be one step closer to being happy there. If you are wondering “where should I live?”, just remember that it is an important decision, but moving again is certainly allowed, too. Good luck!

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