Best Places to Live

Deciding on Best Places to Live in a few easy steps

MINE MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN YOURS. FOLLOW THIS GUIDE TO FIND YOUR OWN BEST PLACES TO LIVE

In order to find the best place for you, there are a few steps you need to consider to make it a successful decision. Each one is important. Consider each city's attributes, and liabilities.

While I’ve never gravitated towards the big city life like many have, I’ve always looked for the best places to live near a larger city. And things haven’t changed for me now that jobs don't dictate where I have to live. I still want the smaller community, but access to a larger city. I want access to shopping malls, restaurants, theater, sports and other entertainment but I don’t want to live in the thick of it. You need to make that choice too. Finding a good mix, if that’s what you’re looking for, can be a challenge but certainly not impossible. But you do need to make the decision about the size of the city or town you want to live in first.

Your first step then will be to go to City Data for information on everything you need to know about cities across the US.

Then ask yourself these questions.

STRESS

Sometimes we have no choice about where we are going to live. If you do have a say in where the best places to live for you are, you might want to consider the stress level of the city. We have a list of the top five cities with high stress levels you might want to take a look at.

WEATHER

Weather and climate are very important factors for me when it comes time to choose the best places to live. Having grown up in California I was a bit of a wuz when it came to the cold and snow. Then I was told I had to relocate to a state with four seasons for my job. It took some getting used to, but once I became retirement age, I could decide for myself where I wanted to live. And for me, while snow is beautiful, I don't ever have to shovel it again or worry about slipping on the ice and falling.

When deciding where your best places to live might be, think about the challenges weather can be, the kind of activities you enjoy and how much weather will affect those activities.

We like boating and other water activities in the summer and want a mild climate in the winter. I’d rather be hot in the summer than freezing in the winter. But you may be different. You might like a lot of rain, or want to enjoy the four seasons. Whatever your preferences are, you need to consider weather and how it will affect your retirement.

For 10-day forecasts of cities worldwide, go to the Weather Channel's website and get up-to-the minute information including average temperatures for the area and precipitation.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Do you need to live near your friends and family, or do you want to start a new lifestyle in a new place? This may or may not be an option if you are working and your employer wants you to transfer out of state, or you are looking for employment and a great job opened in Austin but you live in Spokane. The fact is, today most of us are more transient than when our parents and grandparents were raising families. It may not be wise to forego a good job offer to stay near family and friends as they may have to relocate at some point too. But it definitely plays in making the decision of your best places to live.

If you are retirement age, you may not be able to afford to live in the same community you raised your family because you no longer enjoy the same income level. If that is the case, look for smaller towns that are within driving distance to your children and grandchildren.

CLICK TO SEE THE SAFEST PLACES TO LIVE and then go to The top 10 MOST POPULAR PLACES TO LIVE

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT

Make a list of all the activities you enjoy. Include hobbies and activities you have wanted to do before but couldn’t for whatever reason, and will start doing once you find your best places to live. If you're into the great outdoors, look for a compatible climate and surroundings that support your love of the outdoors. If you are an art lover and enjoy theater and other cultural events, big city life will be a better choice for you.

That’s why my best places to live are smaller communities that are within one hour from the amenities a larger city offers. Research your options based on your wants and needs. Spend time looking at city guides you can find at the library or a bookstore. Look online. Most cities and towns have their own website with photos and links to local activities etc.

Small Towns Big on Outdoor Living Towns and Cities for the art lover

TRANSPORTATION

Me, I like to drive. But many people that live in large cities prefer using public transportation. They find avoiding parking fees, licensing, the cost of car repairs, insurance and gas prices are too expensive. If you don’t want to drive, find a city that has a good public transit system that will allow you the flexibility you need to get to work, shop and recreate.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

As we age, having good medical facilities nearby becomes more and more important. Likewise, if you have a family member with a health problem that requires weekly visits to the doctor your best places to live will include finding somewhere close to hospitals and doctors. Make sure you consider all city infrastructure your family needs when making this important decision.

CRIME RATE

Call the local Police Department for neighborhood crime reports. You can also research online using Google, Yahoo, Bing or MSN. Type in the name of the city, plus crime statistics by neighborhood. Look at the personal and the property crime statistics in the neighborhood. Most larger cities have detailed crime reports.

POLITICS

Is politics important to you? Are you conservative or liberal? If you want to live among people who have the same political leanings that you do, you might want to consider looking in to the political climate of the cities you're considering as the best places to live.

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY TRENDS TO WATCH

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

Many people want to find a city or town that supports their spiritual beliefs. Some prefer to live in communities that have a strong support system of their faith while others prefer to live where there are a variety of churches, temples and mosques to choose from. Check out this link. Belief.net It offers information about places in cities across the country about the religions in the area along with articles and history about the area regarding its spiritual or religious background along with discussion forums

COST OF LIVING

For most people, whether they want to retire or are still raising a family, the of living is extremely important to them. Find out the cost of real estate, how much rentals cost, the cost of basic groceries, entertainment, the state tax rates etc. This will help you evaluate your monthly budget for living in that area. When we were deciding where our best places to live were going to be, we found that Arizona for example comes in 9% lower than the national average.

Where to Retire Cheap and live on a beach.

European lifestyles you never considered may be the right choice for the best places to live for you.

And if you are looking for a city to RETIRE here are a few more considerations

Do you want to live in a retirement community with other retirees, or do you want to be in a family neighborhood?
Retirement communities offer self-contained communities with amenities geared to retirees. Some of the larger retirement communities like the ones in Del Web communities in Arizona have their own shopping, medical, recreational, and even cultural amenities onsite. Retirement communities are also quieter. No teenagers hanging around outside late at night, no basketball hoops in the street either. But many retirees prefer to live in communities where there are young families.

What type of home would you prefer for retirement?
Multi-family homes such as condos and townhouses where maintenance is provided at a sometimes high monthly cost, single family homes where you continue to maintain your own yard, manufactured homes, farms or ranches, or beachside bungalo. Those are most of the choices so now consider how each will fit in with your lifestyle. Do you love to entertain? Do you prefer the quiet lifestyle? Do you love to have a large yard or do you want to do away with cutting grass etc?

Prefer to retire in the U.S. or would you consider living outside the U.S.?
Living outside the U.S. may enable you to enjoy a warm climate and a lower cost of living, but it isn't always the case. Sometimes things look better in the brochures. How important is it to have English as the native language? Do you speak another language? Do you have enough money if you are moving to a country with another currency? The value of the dollar is vastly lower than other currencies in Europe for example today. These are all things to consider when looking for the best places to live.