Rate and Score Your Prospective Best Places:

You can use the form below to help evaluate each place you visit and compare the scores.

• The most important thing is to get an immediate feel for the city and to form an initial impression. If you are going to make a major move to a new place, you will need to feel an emotional attachment towards it. You know how there are some places that just resonate with you? Where for some indescribable reason you just feel comfortable and at home? It isn't necessarily anything tangible, it's just something about the place that feels right. If the area doesn't elicit that type of response then it's probably not what you're searching for. (Rate from 0-15)
• Check out the downtown. Does it seem alive? Are there prosperous looking businesses there? Nice stores and restaurants? People? Is there activity at night? (0-10)
• Pick up some of the local free real estate magazines and drive around the neighborhoods. You've done research on the market, now look at it for yourself. Do you like the general look of the city- architecture, neighborhoods, commercial areas, etc. (0-10)
• Drive by the schools and colleges and see how those look. Are they modern and well maintained? (0-10)
• What about the shopping? Do the malls and the stores offer the brands you like? (0-10)
• What is within a 90 minute drive? If you are moving to a small town you may be able to supplement the amenities there by incorporating attractions in nearby towns. (0-15)

For instance, within 90 minutes of Bennington, VT a small town of 15,000, is the famous racetrack in Saratoga, NY (75 minutes), the Clark Museum and the Williamstown Theater festival in Williamstown, MA (20 minutes), Contemporary Arts Museum in N. Adams, MA (30 minutes), outlet stores in Manchester VT (30 minutes), skiing in Mt. Snow, VT (45 minutes) etc.

• What are the environmental conditions? Are the streets and the air clean? What about the parks and the lakes? Is it scenic? (0-10)
• How are the restaurants? Is the food up to your standards. Is there a variety of dining options offering a range of menu styles? (0-10)
• What about the community facilities? Is there a library, hospital, youth center, museum, bank, etc. (0-10)

Score each category and add them up. You can also add or subtract your own questions and change the weighting to suit your needs. If you don't have a total score of at least 80 (out of 100), then it might not be the best place for you.