RelocationAmerica's Most Literate Cities - This annual report rates cities around the US for factors relating to literacy such as education, libraries, and newspaper circulation. (Central Connecticut State University)
America's Most Livable Communities - Rates the Most Livable Communities throughout the US, based on their 'innovative approaches to prepare for the New Economy through the creative strategies, actions, and visions of their leadership'. Also describes selected Entrepreneurial Communities which have found success in providing unique solutions to local problems (Partners for Livable Communities; non-profit organization). See also SustainLane for an annual ranking of the largest 50 US cities by sustainability factors such as affordability, food, energy, transit, environment, innovation, and more (commercial site).
Apartment Ratings - Online apartment listings combined with reviews of apartment communities 'in renters' actual (and unfiltered) words', allowing renters to share their rental experiences (anonymously) and giving apartment hunters additional information about listed properties. Ratings are highly subjective, so use with caution. Includes a list of Best Cities for Renters based in part on data collected from the site. NOTE: Best Cities list has not been updated since 2006. (Commercial site)
Best Performing Cities: Where America's Jobs Are Created and Sustained - Annual ranking of U.S. metropolitan areas, based on how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. (Milken Institute, 'a publicly supported, nonpartisan, independent think tank.')
Best Places For Doing Business in America - Annual list of cities selected for good job growth and other signs that businesses are thriving. You can view the entire list or search for specific cities; includes accompanying articles, statistics, and maps (Inc. Magazine).
Career One-Stop Relocation Center - A variety of resources to help you evaluate employment and housing options for a temporary or permanent relocation, plan and finance your move, and settle into your new community. (US Department of Labor)
City / Town Info - Links to government and Chamber of Commerce websites for towns and cities in every state. (High Cotton Information Systems)
Cleanest & Dirtiest Cities in America - Ranks cities according to environmental factors such as air, water, toxics, hazardous waste, and sanitation; ranking was done in 2005 (Reader's Digest, commercial site). SustainLane offers an annual ranking of the largest 50 US cities by sustainability factors such as affordability, food, energy, transit, environment, innovation, and more (commercial site).
CNN / Money Magazine Best Places to Live - Annual statistical rankings on housing costs, weather, crime, leisure, culture, environment, and more for over 1,200 towns and cities in the US. Results are sorted by region and population size. You can also search for places with specific characteristics such as low crime and affordable housing. A related site is CNN / Money Magazine's Best Places to Retire. For more tools and data to help you choose your best place to live, see Sperling's Best Places and Kiplinger's Best Cities.
Community Information by Zip Code - Links to numerous sources of community information, including education, health, environment, and business (California State University).
Cost of Living Calculator - Helps you compare living-cost indexes and salary differentials between any of 300-plus U.S. cities. Also suggests 'the salary adjustment needed to maintain your standard of living, and what salary increase or decrease is likely given local market factors' (Commercial site: Salary.com). With Pay Wizard you can compare your earnings against what other people get for the same job in the same state, and share your Salary and Job Information in an anonymous Salary Survey (powered by the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School). See also Salary Survey Links for links to more websites that will assist you in researching salaries for different occupations and areas (Morris County Library).
Cultural Profiles - Thinking about moving to another country? This website was written to help Canadians welcome immigrants to Canada, but should be helpful to international relocators as a general introduction to countries, cultures and people from around the world. NOTE: These profiles have not been updated since they were created in 1998 and 2002, so some information is out of date. (Citizenship and Immigration Canada). See also Portals to the World (Library of Congress), Background Notes (U.S. State Department), Global Edge (Michigan State University), and Living Abroad (described below).
EPodunk - Profiles of more than 25,000 communities around the country, 'from Manhattan to Los Angeles, Pottstown to Podunk... [plus] information about thousands of parks, museums, historic sites, colleges, schools and other places.' (Commercial site)
Go City Kids - A guide to kid-friendly resources in major U.S. cities. Covers childcare, entertainment, schools, services, parks & playgrounds, shopping, transportation, and more. NOTE: Site may be slow to load and navigate. (Commercial site)
GreatSchools.net - Offers profiles of public, private, and charter schools in all 50 states (nonprofit organization, commercial ads on site). For more information about schools, see the South Plainfield Public Library's links to School Directories & Information.
Homes: Buying, Selling, & Renting - Our selected links to information and resources for buying, selling, or renting a home. (South Plainfield Public Library)
Hometown Locator Gazetteer - Maps, aerial photos, and quick facts for more than 1.7 million cities, towns, villages and neighborhoods in the US (commercial site: HTL, Inc.). See also TerraServer (Microsoft/USGS), Terrafly (Florida International University) and Google Earth (requires free download).
Housing Discrimination - Explains your rights under the Fair Housing Act, with guidance on filing a complaint if you feel your rights have been violated. (NJ Department of Community Affairs). See also Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
Kids Count - State- and city-level data for over 100 measures of child well-being (Annie E. Casey Foundation). See also 100 Best Communities for Young People (America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth).
Licensed Occupations - If you're relocating, check this site to find out what the requirements are for obtaining a license to practice your profession in another state. You can search by state, occupation, or licensing agency. (US Department of Labor)
Living Abroad - Links to information about living, studying, and teaching abroad. For more on working abroad, see Working Overseas; aimed at Foreign Service family members, but some resources will be useful for anyone planning to work abroad. (US State Department)
Living Abroad and Returning Home - A list of books and other materials to help families adjust to living in a foreign country. (US State Department)
Military Youth on the Move - Advice and support for children of military families to help deal with the difficult time of moving, saying goodbye, and starting over in a new place. Separate sections for elementary, middle, and high school students. (U.S. Department of Defense)
Moving.com - Advice for planning your move, choosing a mover, packing & unpacking, transferring school records, arranging for utilities & other services in your new home, and more. See also Moving Checklist. (Commercial sites)
Paycheck to Paycheck - A searchable database of wage information for more than 60 occupations and home prices and rents for nearly 200 metropolitan areas. (Center for Housing Policy)
Renting with Pets - Advice on how to find pet-friendly rental housing. (Humane Society of the United States)
