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How to Pick Your Own Best Places to Live

Cutting Through the Hype to Find Your Best Place

It seems every time I’m at the magazine rack I see a new list of the “Top Ten Towns for Boomers,” or the “Ten Most Affordable Retirement Places,” or the “Best Places for Paper Airplane Lovers.” You get the drift. Either way, it seems to always be the same towns, and I still don’t understand how they are picked. What makes these towns the best? No one ever asked me, “What’s important to me in considering a town for my Best Place?” The real question is, “What would make a town your best town?” As consumers, we are constantly bombarded by mass amounts of information. With everything handed to us, it’s easy to start accepting what’s presented, without making a decision for ourselves.

When I started looking at towns in North Carolina and South Carolina, for the relocation of my family, I realized, after reading all the “Best Places” lists, I still didn’t know what a “Best Place to Live” meant to me. So, I put together a list of the most important questions to ask when evaluating a new place. Using it, I was able to cut through all the media gloss and hype surrounding the true facts. Yes, we have a “Best Places” list, but they’re just suggestions, as we make perfectly clear. And I’m willing to bet most of them are new to you, not the same old ones you’ve read over and over. See our Free “Best Places to Live” Report at www.PlacesOfValue.com.

Below is a sampling of some things I research before deciding whether a town is one I’d like to live in, or if it qualifies as a town that would be best for me. If you’d like to receive 39 more things I research when selecting “Best Places to Live”, visit www.PlacesOfValue.com. Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear about towns you love, or things you think of when choosing your Best Places to Live:

One of the most important factors to consider is climate. Even though we’re only considering two states here the climate can change quite a bit. The middle areas of the Carolina’s are the hottest and often feel the most humid, while at the coast you’ll have more of a breeze. The mountains stay coolest, and in the winter you’ll get a bit of snow and ice.
The size of the city or town, and it’s pace of life. If big cities or suburban sprawl make you sick, you’ll be wise to consider a quieter area, and be willing to drive a bit further for services. There are many pretty little spots “outside of town,” with access to all you’ll need, if you’re willing to drive a bit to get there.
Growth rate. How fast is the area growing, and is there infrastructure in place to handle it? Will your sleepy hollow become a bustling thoroughfare? How will the growth affect your daily commute and shopping?
Airports. Depending on how much you fly this can be an important question. There are many smaller airports throughout North and South Carolina, many of which have connecting flights to larger airports. Most of our towns are within an hour of a major airport.
Housing costs. Median housing costs vary greatly from place to place throughout the Carolinas. Picking one town over another, even within twenty miles of each other can make a big difference.

Hopefully these 5 tips gave you a good start, and got you thinking about what’s important to you. Don’t make your choice based on other people’s criteria. There’s only one way to know what town is best for you, and that’s by asking the right questions and doing the research. Ready to find your Best Places to Live in the Carolinas?!

Visit www.PlacesOfValue.com for more articles on best places in North Carolina and South Carolina, relocation made easy, top retirement communities, cost of living, and designing and building your Dream Home.