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These Are the 6 Best Types of Neighborhoods to Raise Your Kids In

April 23, 2025 | Leave a Comment

Image Source: Unsplash

Deciding where to raise children is more than a housing choice—it’s about finding the backdrop for their entire childhood. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, parents who rate their neighborhoods highly report far fewer worries about their kids’ well‑being than those living in areas they view as just “fair” or “poor.” So what kinds of communities consistently help families thrive? Below are six neighborhood types—each offering its own blend of safety, connection, and opportunity.

1. Walkable Urban Communities With Family Amenities

Not all city blocks are concrete jungles. Many urban districts have reinvented themselves with wide sidewalks, pocket parks, and stroller‑friendly greenways. Living where grocery stores, libraries, and after‑school programs are a quick walk away gives kids early independence: they can bike to piano lessons or meet friends at the playground without a chauffeured schedule.

For parents, walkability trims time behind the wheel, lowering stress and transportation costs. When you tour: notice whether crosswalk signals are long enough for small legs, if streets have speed‑calming measures, and how many other families you see on foot at dusk; their presence signals an environment that feels safe even after dinner.

City living isn’t automatically kid‑unfriendly. Many urban neighborhoods now feature wide sidewalks, pocket parks, and libraries within strolling distance. Easy access to everyday destinations gives kids early independence and social confidence. Planning experts highlight that walkability also boosts physical activity and reduces car‑related stress on families; see the Walk Score neighborhood index for snapshots of how walkable an address really is.

2. Suburbs With Strong School Districts

Well‑funded schools often go hand‑in‑hand with safe streets, active PTAs, and plenty of youth programs. Communities built around top‑rated districts tend to have low traffic speeds, abundant green space, and stable property values—attributes that rank high among families in Niche’s annual “Best Places for Families” reports.

3. Tight‑Knit Small Towns

In a place where neighbors greet one another by first name, children benefit from a built‑in support system of trusted adults: coaches double as deacons, the pharmacist sponsors the Little League team, and Main Street’s diner posts lost‑backpack flyers in the window. Community events—parades, holiday lightings, Saturday markets—become rites of passage, cementing a sense of place. Amenities may be fewer than in big cities, so look at how far you’ll drive for specialized healthcare or advanced extracurriculars. Spend a weekend attending a local ball game or arts festival; the crowds’ warmth and diversity will speak louder than any realtor brochure.

In places where shopkeepers know your name and neighbors look out for each other, children grow up with a tangible sense of security. Local events—from farmers’ markets to high‑school parades—double as gathering points, giving kids strong social roots and a clear sense of belonging.

4. Master‑Planned Communities Designed for Families

These developments come loaded with playgrounds, splash pads, and sometimes even on‑site schools. Because they’re designed as one cohesive unit, traffic patterns are calmer and walking paths safer. Parents often cite a “built‑in village” feel, which makes finding playdates, babysitters, and community events almost effortless.

A playground with inclusive swings, symbolizing accessible neighborhood design.
Image Source: Unsplash

5. Inclusive Neighborhoods With Accessible Design

Family‑friendly communities must serve all children, including those with disabilities. Areas with ADA‑compliant ramps, inclusive playground equipment, and accessible community centers help foster empathy and peer connection. Urban planners point out that universal design isn’t just about meeting regulations—everyone benefits when spaces are easy to navigate.

6. Areas Focused on Child Health and Well‑Being

Some neighborhoods are intentionally planned around fresh‑air living: extensive bike trails, community gardens, and quick access to pediatric care. Research compiled by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps shows that children in areas rich in green space and health resources experience better long‑term physical and mental outcomes.

Final Thoughts: Where Your Child Grows Up Matters

No neighborhood is perfect, and every family’s priorities differ. Yet the environment surrounding your kids will shape their friendships, habits, and sense of security for years to come. Tour schools, chat with future neighbors, walk the streets at different times of day, and trust your instincts about what feels right—because choosing a community is really about choosing a childhood.

What kind of neighborhood feels best for your family? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your experiences.

Read More

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Samantha Warren
Samantha

Samantha Warren is a holistic marketing strategist with 8+ years of experience partnering with startups, Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. With an entrepreneurial mindset, she excels at shaping brand narratives through data-driven, creative content. When she’s not working, Samantha loves to travel and draws inspiration from her trips to Thailand, Spain, Costa Rica, and beyond.

Filed Under: Growing Up Tagged With: child development, Community, family life, moving with kids | Lifestyle, neighborhood safety, Parenting, real estate

What to Do When Your House Is Too Big for You?

December 7, 2023 | Leave a Comment

Large white two story home with a pool in the front.

My husband and I moved last year from Arizona to New York. Our three kids were 18, 14, and 12. Unfortunately, we only had one week in New York to find a house before the move, which limited our choices. Our first two offers on other homes fell through, so we ended up with our third choice, a 2,040-square-foot, four-bedroom house. However, our oldest decided to move out of state for college, so quickly we had a house that was too big for our family. My husband and I have discussed this situation at length, as having this size house seems wasteful.

What to Do When Your House Is Too Big for You?

Ultimately, even though the house is too big for us and will only get bigger as our younger two grow up and move out in the next five to seven years, we’ll stay in the house until we’re much older, likely our 70s or 80s. We plan to stay in this house for 20 to 30 years more. Here’s why:

We’ve Already Put Significant Repair Money In This House

When we moved in, the house had several issues we needed to address; the most important was the leaky basement. We’ve spent a few thousand dollars on repairing the leaks. In addition, we’ve had to fix the garage door, replace the washer, dryer, and stove (all were original to the house and broke within the first year we moved in), and update the electrical outlets. We don’t want to think about moving again only to have to update another house. Now that we have this one in good working order, we’d like to stay here.

The Interest Rate

Person with three blocks. Each block on the end has a percentage sign, and the block in the middle has a house

We bought this house when interest rates were on the rise. I was unhappy to pay 5.375 percent interest when we bought the house in August 2022, but now, when I look at how high mortgage interest rates are, I’m happier with the rate we have. If we moved within the next year or two, we’d have a much higher interest rate and a payment that would be several hundred dollars more per month even if we bought a house at the same price we bought our current home.

Smaller Houses Aren’t That Much Cheaper

In our area, most houses are two-story houses the same size as ours. There are fewer smaller, one-story houses. They’re hard to find, and when you do find them, most tend to be in less desirable areas, making eventual resale more difficult.

In addition, we don’t find utilities for our house expensive. Utility prices are cheaper here than in Arizona, so moving to a smaller home wouldn’t make much of a difference when it comes to those costs.

Kids Might Move Back for a While

Even though all of our kids might leave to go away to college, one or two of them might return for a while. I had an interrupted path through college myself and moved back home two times for a total of four years I lived with my mom after I graduated high school between the ages of 18 and 27. Our children might do the same, and it would be nice to have room for them.

We’ll (Hopefully) Need a Big House When We Have Grandkids

Our kids are now 19, 15, and 13. Within the next 10 to 15 years, we likely will have grandkids. When we do, we want to have a big house to accommodate our grandkids and all of our kids’ families when they come to visit. Staying in this home makes that possible; moving to a smaller home does not.

The House Will Grow in Value and Appeal to Families When We Move

Our subdivision is filled with families since most of the homes are larger. The subdivision was built 20 years ago, but it’s still well-maintained and a desirable place to live in our small city. I don’t see that changing, so selling will hopefully be easier when we are ready to move. In addition, we’re hopeful that our home will continue to increase in value, especially as we make necessary changes and improvements.

We Hate Moving

Man and woman packing up boxes

Finally, we hate moving! We have had three major moves during our marriage: from Michigan to Illinois, from Illinois to Arizona, and from Arizona to New York. Moving requires a large time commitment and is also expensive. Since we’re already settled in this house, we see no point in moving again.

The Downsides of Living in This Home

Of course, even though we have many reasons to stay in this house, there are downsides to keeping a house that is too big for us.

Yard Maintenance Is Time-Consuming

Our property is .67 acres, so mowing takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours each week in the summer. We currently use a self-propelled mower, but as we age, we could buy a riding lawn mower to make the job easier and less time-consuming.

In addition, our yard has five pine trees and four maple trees. For most of the spring and summer, the pine trees drop pine cones that we need to rake up before we mow. In the fall, the leaves can take 10 to 20 hours or more to clear from our property. We plan to cut down some of these trees in the next few years, which should also help reduce yard maintenance.

No First Floor Bedroom

Some of the two-story houses we looked at had one first-floor bedroom, which would be helpful as we age. However, our house has all the bedrooms upstairs. The downstairs does have two living rooms, so we could convert one into a bedroom. However, the bathroom downstairs is a half-bath, so we would also need to remodel the bathroom. That will be an expensive endeavor.

Final Thoughts

What should you do when you have a house that is too big for you? You’ll have to consider all variables, as we have, to decide if it’s worthwhile to stay in place or if moving makes more sense.

Read More

Should You Buy a House in a Bad School District?

How to Reduce Your Household’s Water Consumption

Is It Child-Approved? The Best Home Buying Checklist When You’re House Hunting with Kids

Melissa Batai
Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

Filed Under: Real Estate Tagged With: big house, empty nest, home ownership, real estate

The First Timer’s Guide to Purchasing an Investment Property

February 15, 2014 | Leave a Comment

investment propertyBuyers purchase an investment property for many reasons; to get a foothold in the property market, to build a financially secure nest egg for retirement or to build a property portfolio. Every property investor has to start somewhere, so your first investment property purchase should be researched thoroughly, as not all purchases will deliver positive returns.

 

Select the Right Property, in the Right Area, at the Right Price

Always choose a property that will increase in capital growth. Purchase in an area you are familiar with and as a first timer, do not consider offshore or interstate properties. Always get an independent valuation and research the current market value of properties in your chosen area. Select an area where there is a demand for rentals to ensure you have a steady flow of rental income. Also check out the demographic of the area as to whether there is greater demand for family homes or apartments to rent.

 

Select the Right Mortgage

When sourcing finance for an investment property, you will be faced with many options. Your loan will need to be structured correctly, so get expert advice from your financial advisor or mortgage lender. For taxation purposes, it is probably better to keep your current home loan and your investment loan separate. It is also highly recommended that you use an ltv, also known as a Loan-To-Value calculator to help you work out the ratio between a loan amount and the value of the property being purchased with the loan.

 

Hire a Good Property Manager

A good real estate agent will look after your needs and screen suitable tenants on your behalf. They will do inspections several times a year which you can also attend if you are able to. Your property manager can provide you with a wealth of information on the landlords and tenant’s rights and responsibilities. It will be their responsibility to take care of the general maintenance, hire companies like these commercial carpet cleaning services in Des Moines, IA and any emergency situations that might arise. They can also attend court proceedings in the event of non-payment of rent. It is a good idea to build a good rapport with your property manager and keep in regular contact.

 

Make Sure Your Property is Ready

If your investment property needs sprucing up, just give it a coat of neutral paint. Make sure your property looks tidy and fresh, as a well-presented property will have no trouble attracting quality tenants. If you’re struggling for funds to get the property renovated, you can look into getting preferred equity financing for property developers for an extra injection of cash to see you through the final stretch. In addition, you will need to ensure that your property is in a livable condition. No tenant wants to move into a new home only to find that there is a mold or pest problem. Preventative maintenance is crucial, and connecting with an experienced pest control company like https://www.pestcontrolexperts.com/aptive/florida/ for example, is advised to keep your property in top condition.

 

Negative Gearing

There are many things to take into account with property investing. Your accountant will be able to give you advice on capital gains tax, stamp duty and interest deductions. If you make a loss on your investment property, this can be used to offset or reduce tax paid on other income you earn.

Purchasing an investment property is an exciting time and can help you reach your ideal financial goal. Investment properties are a longer term type of investment. Do not place yourself into financial hardship just for the sake of buying a rental property. This could put you in the position of having to offload and sell the property at the wrong time. Choosing the right home loan at the outset will put you on a stable financial path. A Clear Path Variable Rate Home Loan from BOQ can be used to purchase an investment property and gives you flexible repayment options.

Do you have any tips from experience when it comes to purchasing an investment property?

Brian
Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

 
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Filed Under: Money and Finances Tagged With: first time investor, investment property, property, real estate

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Basic Principles Of Good Parenting

Here some basic principles for good parenting:

  1. What You Do Matters: Your kids are watching you. So, be purposeful about what you want to accomplish.
  2. You Can’t be Too Loving: Don’t replace love with material possessions, lowered expectations or leniency.
  3. Be Involved Your Kids Life: Arrange your priorities to focus on what your kid’s needs. Be there mentally and physically.
  4. Adapt Your Parenting: Children grow quickly, so keep pace with your child’s development.
  5. Establish and Set Rules: The rules you set for children will establish the rules they set for themselves later.  Avoid harsh discipline and be consistent.
  6. Explain Your Decisions: What is obvious to you may not be evident to your child. They don’t have the experience you do.
  7. Be Respectful To Your Child: How you treat your child is how they will treat others.  Be polite, respectful and make an effort to pay attention.
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