If you were to look for a new job, where would it be? Very often, when we’re searching for a new job, we look in our immediate area. We look for something within driving distance of our home.

But, every now and again, a big change can be refreshing. A new city can offer new job opportunities. It can open up social doors that didn’t exist before. It can add excitement and variety to life.

If you’ve ever thought of making a big move, the first question is where? And, frankly, where to even begin?

If you’re 35 or older, moving to a new city can feel daunting. Friends are no longer served up on a platter like they were in high school or college. You’ll have to find new doctors, new restaurants, new everything. You’ll have to get a new driver’s license. The list goes on and on.

Many people are thwarted because of all of the pieces involved. This is especially true for those who are married and have children.

If you are considering a move, make a list of the things you value in a city. There’s no right or wrong thing that should be on the list.

Your list might include things like the population size. Or, maybe you want to research the average cost to buy a home or the average income in the area. If you’re single, you might want to look at the number of single people who live in the city.

You might want to research the political views in the city to see how closely you align. You might want to look up the average temperature.

And, you might also want to look up the crime rate in the places you’re considering.

Once you have this list, create a list of possible cities. Then, research each city using your list as a guide. When I’ve done this, I have put this data into a spreadsheet so I can easily compare the cities.

Another great source of information about cities is the LinkedIn Workforce Report. LinkedIn puts out data each month that will allow you to learn more about the job markets in large cities across the U.S. It can help you to understand where there are labor shortages, and which cities the most people are moving to.

Glassdoor also recently published a list of the 25 best cities for jobs in 2020. These cities were compared across three categories: hiring opportunity, cost of living and job satisfaction.

Moving is a big decision. It’s one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. And, it shouldn’t be put off.

Making a move to a new city is much easier when the job market is healthy. If you’d like to make a change, there’s no time like the present.

Start your research and you’ll be on your way.

Angela Copeland, a career expert and founder of Copeland Coaching, can be reached at copelandcoaching.com.