Different Neighbourhood Types

Neighbourhood watch, neighbours, neighbourhood policing

Individual tastes and preferences vary considerably, and there is a wide range of neighbourhoods to suit each of these preferences. Let us examine some of the different types of neighbourhoods, with their advantages and disadvantages.

Urban Core / Downtown

This kind of neighbourhood is found in the central areas of big cities. The kinds of homes here include flats above shops, offices and other business establishments, old single family residences, warehouses made into condos and new luxury loft apartments. The kind of people who live in urban core areas are usually a potpourri of different races, with varying incomes. It is usually young working singles and low to middle income families who live here.

The advantages of living in such an area are that homes are generally affordable here, as well as centrally located, and your neighbours will be from a range of backgrounds.

Parking can be a problem in such localities and the incidence of crime may be higher. The population tends to be transient in downtown or urban core neighbourhoods.

Some examples of urban core neighbourhoods are downtown Chicago, downtown New York and downtown Detroit.

Urban Pioneer / Up-and-Coming

This kind of neighbourhood is located near the centres of cities and the inner city suburbs. You will find fixer uppers, garden-style apartment buildings and all kinds of older residences in urban pioneer neighbourhoods. The people living near you in such a neighbourhood will consist of a people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, of different ages and family situations, from people who have retired to young people living alone or in small families.

One advantage of an urban pioneer neighbourhood is that you won’t have to pay much for a new home here, but it is likely to increase in value over time. However, you may find the noise of new construction that is likely in such a neighbourhood, disturbing.

Some urban pioneer neighbourhoods include East Austin and Montrose (Houston) in Texas, and Potrero Hill in San Francisco.

New Urban

New urban neighbourhoods are close to a business area – not downtown. You will find old style new residences for single families, lofts above shops and offices and condos and luxury apartments. Your neighbours will be well to do, young professionals with perhaps a few children.

A new urban neighbourhood is advantageous if you like to live near a business area, shops and entertainment establishments. But prices can be quite high here.

Fairfax in Los Angeles, Verrado in Phoenix, Arizona and Royal Oak in Detroit are good examples of new urban neighbourhoods.

Cul-de-Sacs / Kids

You will find this kind of neighbourhood in new developments and suburbs. Large, new houses with plenty of garden space and facilities like basements and tract houses are features of these areas. You will generally find families with children in such neighbourhoods.

These homes are very attractive, but you may find the distance from the city centre inconvenient. Also, this kind of neighbourhood is not really ideal for childless couples or singles.

Some cul-de-sac neighbourhoods include Blackstone in Portland, Oregon, Chandler in Arizona, and the Reserve at Dog River in Atlanta, Georgia.

Pedestrian

Pedestrian neighbourhoods can be seen in little sections in big cities. You will find small condos, lofts above shops and offices, and apartments. Your neighbours in such a locality will generally be young singles.

In pedestrian neighbourhoods, you will find everything you need within walking distance of your home – this is a big advantage of such a neighbourhood. This kind of neighbourhood may be quite crowded and noisy, though, and you may find parking difficult.

Beacon Hill in Boston, Wicker Park in Chicago and Seattle’s Capitol Hill are all pedestrian neighbourhoods.

Historic

Historic neighbourhoods are located all over the country. Homes in historic neighbourhoods include well-maintained, big houses in a variety of architectural modes such as Colonial Revival, Victorian or Queen Anne.

Your neighbours in a historic neighbourhood will tend to be people who have lived there for a long time. They are likely to be sophisticated, in their mid forties or fifties and will often be the kind of people who are keen on home improvement.

Living in such neighbourhoods can be a delight, with the beauty and history a part of every building. However, you will probably have to follow stringent rules about maintenance and aesthetic issues.

Historic neighbourhoods such as Buxton near Portland in Maine, New Orleans’ French Quarter and Kenwood in St. Petersburg in Florida are very attractive.

Status / Destination

Status or destination localities are located in gated communities or in a place of natural scenic beauty. You will find big, single family homes designed to the owner’s specifications with all kinds of luxurious amenities, mansions on lake fronts, beach homes and fancy penthouses and lofts in hip city neighbourhoods in status localities.

Your neighbours in such a neighbourhood will be extremely wealthy, high achieving people.

Such homes are a major status symbol and the privacy, security and restrictedness here are perceived as major benefits by those who appreciate these qualities in a neighbourhood. You may not, however, be able to afford the style of living that is demanded of residents here.

Status localities include La Jolla in San Diego, Manhattan’s West Village and Highland in Denver.

Ethnic

Ethnic neighbourhoods, as the name indicates, contain various ethnic groups. Young families and those with limited financial resources live here. These neighbourhoods are generally located near the downtown areas of big cities. The kinds of homes usually found in these neighbourhoods are small flats and single family houses that were built a while ago.

It does not cost much to live in ethnic neighbourhoods, and you will find the culture and life around you – and the shopping - quite fascinating. However, if you are not familiar with the culture in question, you may feel a bit left out of the community.

Some interesting ethnic neighbourhoods are Ukranian Village in Chicago, Chinatown in San Francisco, Koreatown in Los Angeles and Little Italy in Manhattan.

Active / Resort

Active or resort neighbourhoods are located in attractive places with scenic backgrounds. You will find modern, luxurious homes like cabins and condos, here populated with generally older people who are well established in life.

If nature, sports and fun activities are not your cup of tea, you would probably prefer another kind of neighbourhood. But if you are an outdoor enthusiast, you will find living in an active neighbourhood thoroughly enjoyable.

Active or resort neighbourhoods include Lake Placid in New York and Palm Springs in California.

Golf

Golf neighbourhoods are found in developments around or very close to golf courses.

Modern, luxurious condos and single family homes with excellent amenities are characteristic of golf neighbourhoods. Naturally, your neighbours will all be golf fans; there are likely to be couples with small children living here, too.

The amenities are good in golf neighbourhoods. If you are a golf enthusiast, you will love this kind of neighbourhood; if not, it would be wise to look at other options when you are searching for a neighbourhood for your new home.

Examples of golf neighbourhoods include Hideout Canyon in Park City in Utah and Greenbrier in New Bern, North Carolina.

Retirement

Retirement neighbourhoods are generally in places with a warm, sunny climate such as Florida. The homes in retirement neighbourhoods are characterized by a lot of facilities, and a convenient size, with not much maintenance required. The people living around you in a neighbourhood like this will usually be elderly couples and singles.

The weather is generally pleasant in the places where retirement neighbourhoods are located. Also, there is plenty of community activity and social interaction with neighbours in these localities. However, this kind of neighbourhood would not appeal to young couples, or those with children.

Find retirement neighbourhoods in places like Palm Springs in California and Palm Beach in Florida.

Rural
Rural neighbourhoods are located out in the country, away from urban centres. The residences here are homes built to the owners’ specifications, with plenty of space around them. Neighbours will be few and far between.

The best part about living in a rural neighbourhood is the spaciousness. You will have plenty of room to grow, and privacy is well safeguarded in this kind of locality. You may find it hard to access shops, or to commute to your work, though.

Some examples of rural neighbourhoods are Rio Linda near Sacramento in California, Worthington in Minnesota and Jackson in Wyoming.