When looking for the best place to live, whether you’re retiring, going to school or looking for a fresh start, it’s a good idea to look at your options and what you think is an ideal location – just for you.
Size of City or Town
When we are in our twenties and early thirties, we want to live in large urban centres like Nairobi, where things were happening, and we feel connected to the city’s pulse. Then we reach our forties, we find ourselves looking for a mix of both, where we can still find things we like to do but in a quieter, more connected community.
If you need a little mix of both, then you should look at what size of city or town you prefer. Are you into the urban scene or do you prefer the quiet, easy-going streets of a small town? Is the city you’re considering have small neighbourhoods that can offer a small-town feel? Can you live in a small town that’s close to a larger city, still giving you access to the arts and cultural scene?
Weather/Climate
Weather and climate are probably the most important factors for some when it comes time to choose the best place to live. Most of Kenya is filled with highlands and cold areas like Limuru and most parts of Kiambu county.
When deciding where to live, think about the kind of activities you enjoy and how much weather will affect those activities. Are you a hot weather person, cold weather person or do you like a moderate, year-round warm-like climate? What about the amount of rain you can withstand?
Culture, Entertainment, and Lifestyle
Start by making a list of all the things you like to do, including those activities you want to be doing, but can’t because your current living space doesn’t provide that option. If you’re into the great outdoors, you probably don’t want to be living in cold, rainy areas.
While we may not always take advantage of the opportunities that our city or town provides, it’s always better to have the option of doing things than no option at all. And to research your options, we recommend spending some time researching potential areas.
Infrastructure (Schools, Hospitals, Transportation)
Are you the kind of person who likes to take public transit to work, or want a short commute, or wants to avoid parking fees, traffic, and high fuel prices? Find a town that has a good public transit system.
And if you have family members who require good healthcare, then this should be a priority in choosing where to live. Make sure you consider all the infrastructure needs of the entire family before you decide on where to live.
If you have children, then you’ll want to consider schools and how schools in a neighbourhood rank. Of course, neighbourhoods with higher-ranking schools will be more expensive; it’s good to know before you move.
Outdoor Life
Some people equate a great location to live by the number of outdoor activities available, the number of days you can be outside enjoying the weather and easy access to parks and all things green.
Safety
Research the Internet: Identify the risk of personal and property crimes for a location. This should generate some information, depending on the size of the city.
Most larger urban areas have detailed crime reports, while smaller towns may only have general information. Either way, this is a good place to start.
Politics
Think about the way you live, what is important to you and the values you take with you. Ask yourself if you prefer a conservative climate or a more liberal one? How does the city or county usually vote? How important are local politics? Is the social structure of a city or neighbourhood important to you?
Cost of Living
For most Kenyans, this is a crucial piece of information to access; cost for housing, food, entertainment, and transportation are all factors in your decision. These helpful tools allow you to measure the cost of living in a variety of cities nationwide.
Spiritual
For many Kenyans, finding a community that supports one’s spiritual needs is important; likewise, some prefer to live in a city that offers a variety of churches, temples, and mosques.
Kenya Homes can help you find the dream location that suits you.
