How to Find the Perfect Family-Friendly Neighborhood

If you’re moving and you have a family, you know how important it is to find a good neighborhood. In fact, it’s almost as important as finding the right house.  With kids, you have a few different things to think about. The school district needs to be good, and you probably want to feel safe letting your kids play in the yard, or ride their bikes down the street. Nearby parks are always nice, too, as are family-friendly amenities like a public swimming pool or rec center.  How to find this magical, family-friendly neighborhood? Do some research.

How to Find the Right Family-Friendly Neighborhood for Your Brood

Don’t get too focused on the house you want and forget the surroundings. Eye prospective neighborhoods critically to narrow down what will work for your family.

1. Check Out Nearby Schools

The first thought for many a parent when checking out a new neighborhood: “Are the schools good?”

This is rightfully a weighty concern for your kids’ education. Definitely look at school ratings online, call up the principal or other head and talk to them, and, most importantly, visit the school before you make your final decision.

The most important things to check out are class sizes, classes and extracurriculars offered, and the quality of the instructors.

2. Check Crime Rates

The saying is true: Crime knows no zip code. As such, you need to check out your prospective neighborhoods and see what the statistics say about how safe they are.

You can Google “crime rate statistics” plus your city name to get good information, including from local police departments. You can also use Neighborhood Scout to get maps of safe and unsafe neighborhoods based on recent crime analytics.

3. Look for Outdoor Recreation

If your home won’t have much of a yard, look to the neighborhood to see what’s available for recreation. Do the streets have well-kept sidewalks? Are there playgrounds or parks nearby?

Parks are an especially great amenity in a neighborhood because you’ll inevitably meet other parents and their children there. This makes forging connections pretty easy in a new place. Plus, your kids could make new friends at the park, too.

4. Evaluate the Traffic

Don’t forget to look at the cars whizzing by on the nearby roads as you evaluate the neighborhood. Note how fast cars are going and how much traffic passes through. If the street seems busy for a residential area, there might be traffic branching out from the main road, or a bit of a jam as parents pick up their kids from a nearby school.

Take the traffic into consideration with all the other factors, because a busy street is an unsafe street for playing children.

Strike a Balance to Find the Best Family-Friendly Neighborhood

The right family-friendly neighborhood looks different for everyone. You and your kids might prize great parks over quiet streets. A fantastic school district can outweigh all other factors for some. Find the balance that suits you, and find a home and neighborhood that’s a perfect fit.