By Joe Costello


The thought of moving to a new state or city can be exciting. But there is a lot to consider before leaving your current town and trying out a new place to live.

In the final analysis, you will need to be at least moderately happy with your new residence. The quality of the area will have a significant impact as well. There are of course other practical considerations that should be factored in when planning a move to a new city.

The most important factor to look at when considering a new city is the cost of living. Bigger cities are simply more expensive than smaller cities or towns. There are many websites that can provide you with cost of living information or even allow you to compare cities.

It is best to keep your monthly rental payment or mortgage payment to no more than one third of your monthly income. When considering a new town or city, ensure you can afford the places you are considering to live. If your housing cost is more than one-third of your monthly income you can end up on a very tight budget.

Also important to research is the crime rates in your prospective city or town. This information can be found on the Internet and be a good way to decide whether you are interested in moving to a particular place.

Unemployment rate and job opportunities are also useful items to research about a prospective city. If you are not moving with a job offer these can be the most important factors. Checking our average salaries and commuter information can be helpful as well.

Also consider the number and quality of businesses in the neighborhoods and cities you are interested in. A city may have a strong infrastructure with good schools, libraries and high-quality hospitals, or those elements may only be in certain parts of the city. Also consider your lifestyle and how important to you grocery stores, banks and restaurants are in your daily life. In a large city, especially if you do not have access to a vehicle, the public transportation system takes on great importance in planning.

Look for recreational options and don't hesitate to learn about the weather and general climate of a city. These are of course just some of the factors you should consider when deciding to move to another city.




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