How to pick a place to live that you’ll love

There are a lot of neighborhoods to choose from when you’re trying to find the perfect place to live. Take Asheville, North Carolina. There are 36 neighborhoods in Asheville alone. (Source: Greybird Realty)

How do you choose a neighborhood that you’ll love? Evaluate your priorities — schools, walkability and housing, for example — now and in the future.

Housing costs vary by state and neighborhood. $307,700: median cost of a home in the U.S. (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis)

West Virginia is the least expensive and Hawaii is the most expensive. $166,000: West Virginia. $635,000: Hawaii (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

A neighborhood with access to good public schools may be important in the future. Safety also matters. You can search crime statistics to compare neighborhoods or talk to current residents.

Check out the neighborhood’s walk score, which determines access to public transportation and proximity to people and places, among other factors.

Your job may limit your search. The average commute time of almost 30 minutes equals 200 hours of drive time every year. (Source: U.S Census Bureau)

 Some people value the proximity of restaurants, cafes and more.

Diversity is key to consider, too. Many neighborhoods are geared toward families, with lots of single-family houses. Others offer different housing types, attracting a mix of generations.

The more positives a neighborhood has, the more likely housing costs more.

Wherever you’re looking, talk to people who already live there to gain insight into what they like.

Finding the perfect neighborhood for you means ranking all the factors, figuring out current and future goals, and striking a balance.

Find more ways to build community. NeighborhoodofGood.com^®