Take a Look Around

Spend time walking through the neighborhood. Try doing this at different times of the day to get a sense of its highs and lows. Take note of the condition of the houses, the front yards, the streets, and sidewalks. Observe if people you encounter make eye contact with you. If they do, chances are it's a safe and friendly community.

Commuting Time

How long will it take to get to work? Will you be going with or against traffic? Is the route easy to navigate? It's a good idea to try the route during rush hour to find out whether it's manageable.

Schools
The sign of a good neighborhood is a well-kept school. And if you have children, this is probably the first consideration when looking for a good neighborhood. You can also learn about the schools online, which is well worth your while if you have school-aged children. How large are the classes? How well do students perform on standardized tests? Do most of the children graduate from high school and/or go on to college?

Current Value of Housing

Find out what houses in the neighborhood are currently valued at, then ask a real estate agent how that compares with the average value five and 10 years earlier. How much has the property increased? Has the neighborhood changed? Is the real estate agent aware of any future developments? Do be aware, though, that realtors are not allowed to express an opinion such as "this neighborhood is wealthy and safe," or "that neighborhood is dangerous and poor," so you might also want to knock on a few doors and ask questions of potential neighbors.
 

Future Development

Information can be found at city hall or through the local Chamber of Commerce. Future developments change a neighborhood, increase taxes, and increase traffic. It's a good idea to investigate the future potential of the neighborhood then decide if that outlook will be suitable for you and your family.

Amenities

How close are you to a grocery store, convenience store, cafes, and restaurants? If there are bars close by, how noisy will it be on the weekends?

If you're a person who enjoys getting involved with the community, look into nearby houses of worship, art centers, libraries, and other centers of activity. Consider checking out the local newspaper, websites, or bulletin boards to find out what's going on in the area.