The time to study the area where you buy a home is before you close the deal.

A little research before you hit up a real estate agent goes a long way to making sure that where you plan to settle down is a place that not only meets your career, financial, and family needs but also makes you feel happy and comfortable.

While it’s no secret there are neighborhoods out there struggling, there are others absolutely killing it, helping many make the American dream come true.

Finding the right place to settle down takes time, and there are many factors to consider, from access to quality education and amenities to safety and affordability.

Many factors go into ranking a neighborhood. Average living costs and home values, amenities access, education quality, and crime rates are just a few of them.

How to choose the right neighborhood

To choose the right neighborhood, talk to your family members first to find out what their needs are and what they value in a comfortable neighborhood.

Do they value safety? Access to quality education and amenities? Cost of living?

If you have a family with kids, consider their future in the neighborhood you choose. Does it have a reputable college nearby? Can they get good jobs close to home?

Also consider your own career opportunities. Can you grow professionally where you’re looking to settle down?

At the end of the day, whether you’re single, in a partnership, or have a family, consider your budget. Research the costs of living of the neighborhoods interesting you.

And, finally, talk to a real estate agent whom you trust to find out about appreciation potential. Ideally, you’ll want to live in a neighborhood that will, over time, increase the value of your home. 

America’s best affordable neighborhoods

CNBC Make It reports that the best affordable neighborhoods in the United States are the suburbs, some of which are so affordable that millennials are quickly buying up suburban houses.

According to CNBC Make It, which took its data from real estate company Redfin, these are America’s top five affordable suburban neighborhoods:

McKinley Park, Chicago

Average home price: $270,000

Average home price in metro area: $230,000

East Mount Airy, Philadelphia

Average home price: $200,000

Average home price in metro area: $199,000

Parkville, Baltimore

Average home price: $204,900

Average home price in metro area: $270,000

Hamilton, Baltimore

Average home price: $159,500

Average home price in metro area: $270,000

Fircrest, Vancouver, Wash. (Portland, Ore. metro area)

Average home price: $282,500

Average home price in metro area: $385,000

The safest neighborhoods

Security company Safewise published data ranking the top one hundred safest cities in America.

Their data suggests that these cities boast an average violent crime rate 22.5 percent lower than the national average — 0.20 per 1,000 people, compared with the national rate of 4.49 per 1,000 people.

Property crime rates are also lower, at 3.8 times lower than the national average — 7.11 per 1,000, compared with the national rate of 27.11 per 1,000 people. Here are Safewise’s top five safest communities:

Hopkinton, Mass.

Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000

Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.401

Ridgefield, Conn.

Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000

Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.378

Madison, Conn.

Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000

Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.744

Harrison Town, N.Y.

Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.035

Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.073

Bernards Township, N.J.

Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.037

Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.298

Best college neighborhoods

According to Best College Reviews, the best college towns in America aren’t where you might expect them to be.

To rank these towns, Best College Reviews considered livability, student-to-resident ratio, cultural offerings, and school presence, as well as the presence of “large employers” looking to scoop these students up.

Their top five college towns are the following:

Boulder, Colo.

Population: 97,385

Student Population: 47,000

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Population: 113,934

Student Population: 59,000

Madison, Wis.

Population: 240,013

Student Population: 42,820

Ithaca, N.Y.

Population: 30,331

Student Population: 27,400

Ames, Iowa

Population: 58,965

Student Population: 33,241

The bottom line

Finding the right place to settle down takes time, and there are many factors to consider, from access to quality education and amenities to safety and affordability.

There’s a place to call home out there for everyone, and with a little research and the help of a quality real estate agent, you should be able to find yours.

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