Are you thinking of moving on to a new city? Then, you have plenty to research before looking for jobs and places to move there. Some of these things you need to know include the rental or real estate prices, the average salary, crime statistics, the transit situation, the best and worst neighbourhoods and more.
Thanks to digital advancements, it is now easier to know about a city even when you are not physically present. You can use the internet to look. On that note, this article provides five different ways to learn about a city before moving. It lets you know the tools you can use to familiarize yourself with your future home.
1. Neighbourhood Databases
Today, numerous online databases collect and analyze data about U.S. cities. For instance, you can find city profiles at City-Data.com. These city profiles also include relevant statistics, such as median income levels, cost of living, and average salary. Other databases, such as StreetAdvisor and NeighborhoodScout, can provide more information.
2. The City Hall
If looking for information about the city, one of the best sources is the city itself. So go or call the city hall. You can ask them for some resources for new residences. If not, you can visit the city’s official website. There, you can find information, shareable guides, and contact information to become familiar with the city.
3. School Reviews
Great schools are a sign of a great neighbourhood. It said that residents who care about the school in the neighbourhood also care about their community. In that case, if your new neighbourhood has a great school, you can generally say you are moving to an attractive neighbourhood.
4. Crime Rate Research
Crime rate databases are important statistics that tell you if you should move to a new city. You can often find this information on the official websites of city police departments. If the data you seek is unavailable online, you can also gather data over the phone. Sites like Family Watchdog, CrimeReports, and SpotCrime also offer this information.
5. User Forums
There is no more value in learning about a city than user forums. In these places, you can find the information you need from the people living in the city. You can obtain honest feedback from locals and current residents. It also allows you to ask specific questions about the area.
If you are about to move, learn about the new area you will be moving to. Try these methods and become familiar with your new city. Also, check out:
Preparing to Move Overseas(Opens in a new browser tab)
