Relocation

Having to relocate? It's something I've done many times in my life (see profile for a few instances) and have picked up some pointers. You may already know which city you are moving to, either because of work or personal preference, but deciding on the particular area can be difficult.
Accessability to work (especially with the current gas prices) is a priority, but then so is safety, affordability and the social scene. Making friends and getting to know people is as important as having the right job if you are going to have a successful move. A supportive network will help you while you are becoming established and settling in to a new area.
With or without children, aim for areas with good schools. In nearly every case the school grade will reflect the area. Properties may be more expensive but are always popular with parents who want to live in that catchment area so are a better investment. There are lots of websites available that give this information and have helped me enormously when moving to a completely unknown area.