When looking for the best place to live, whether you're retiring, going to school or looking for a fresh start, it's a good idea to look at a variety of components that go into creating that ideal place - just for you. Note that the order of the steps are in accordance to my preferences in choosing a place to live; you need to decide which steps are a priority in making your decision.
Step 1: Size of City or Town
When I was in my twenties and early thirties, I gravitated towards large urban centers, where things were happening and I felt connected to the city's pulse. Now that I've reached my forties, I find myself looking for a mix of both; desiring access to events and activities while maintaining a sense of community and quiet living. This isn't an easy mix to find, so now when I seek the next place to live, I look at size of city compared to its offerings.If you need a little mix of both, then you should look at what size of city or town you prefer. Are you into the urban scene or do you prefer the quiet, easy-going streets of a small town? Is the city you're considering have small neighborhoods that can offer a small-town feel? Can you live in a small town that's close to a larger city, still giving you access to the arts and cultural scene?
To find out the size of cities across the globe, go to City Population; it lists cities by country and provides stats based on the latest country census. Also check out City Data for information on everything you need to know about cities across the US, including weather (Step 2), population stats and unemployment rates.
Step 2: Weather/Climate
Weather and climate are probably the most important factors for me when it comes time to choose the best place to live. Having grown up with the long, cold Canadian winters, now that I'm older and can choose where I want to live, I try very hard to make sure I don't ever have to shovel snow again.When deciding where to live, think about the kind of activities you enjoy and how much weather will affect those activities; are you a hot weather person, cold weather person or do you like a moderate, year-round spring-like climate? What about the amount of rain or snow you can withstand? Can you tolerate weeks of heat with no rain?
For 10-day forecasts of cities worldwide, go to the Weather Channel's website and get up-to-the minute information; for climate information, including average temperatures, percipitation and sea-level pressures, check out World Climate.
Step 3: Culture, Entertainment and Lifestyle
Start by making a list of all the things you like to do, including those activities you want to be doing, but can't because your current living space doesn't provide that option. If you're into the great outdoors, you probably don't want to be living in Manhattan or downtown LA and maybe Seattle or Portland would be a better choice. However, if you're into the arts and prefer a night of opera, Manhattan or LA or San Francisco may suit you better.While we may not always take advantage of the opportunities that our city or town provides, it's always better to have the option of doing things than no option at all. And to research your options, I recommend spending some time in your local bookstore, perusing the travel guides/city guides, and doing some online surfing. Most cities have their own website and local online newspapers will list activities and cultural events.
For more general information, check out the following links:
- Cities Around the World Critiqued by Readers
- Find a Community Newsletter
- Best Places to Live for Outdoor Activities
- Smart Places to Live that are Fun and Vibrant
- Best City for Singles
Step 4: Employment
If your career comes before anything else, then you should check out Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For; here you'll find information on average salaries, turnover rate and just what makes the company so great.If you need some extra tips and advice for changing your career or preparing your resume, go to About's site for Careers.
Step 5: Infrastructure (Schools, Hospitals, Transportation)
Are you the kind of person who likes to take public transit to work, avoiding parking fees, traffic and high gas prices? Find a city that has a good public transit system that will allow you the flexibility you need to get to work or to do errands. And if you have family members who require good healthcare, then this should be a priority in choosing where to live. Make sure you consider all infrastructure needs of the entire family before you decide on where to live.Check out these links to information on infrastructure:
- Finding a Good School
- City Transit Systems (US only)
- City Transit Systems - Canada
- Google's Worldwide Hospital Listing
- International Airports by Country
