When looking for real estate, a neighborhood’s vibe is one of the most important considerations, especially if you’re a first-time property buyer.

Another important consideration is a neighborhood’s diversity. Ideally, weighing your options based on which properties offer you diverse benefits that can work for you and your needs is the best approach.

A diverse neighborhood has a more communal, cultural, and social neighborhood vibe, all of which make the neighborhood and the immediate surroundings a nice, ideal place to live/own property.

Here are some signs you should look out for to check whether you’re buying in a diverse neighborhood:

1. Major establishments and developments

One key sign of a diverse neighborhood is the key and essential establishments in the area, including diverse hospitals, schools, transportation routes, recreational areas, and other amenities.

Areas rich in such establishments and developments often serve a wide-reaching range of people from different backgrounds and cultures.

For example, areas with mixed developments like apartments, houses, and business premises are an obvious indicator of neighborhood diversity because they often attract people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, ethnicities, etc.

2. Transportation

Commuting options around a neighborhood are another key indicator of its diversity.

Most diverse neighborhoods offer various transportation means like public transportation–bus, train, taxis, etc.–or good road corridors on which to drive a personal vehicle.

Moreover:

Neighborhoods with better transportation corridors and roads that make it easier to access key amenities and travel to and from work, school, college, etc., often attract people from diverse backgrounds, which adds to a neighborhood’s diversity.

3. Eateries

As unorthodox as it may sound, the eateries in and around a neighborhood can indicate its diversity.

For example, a neighborhood known to have Mexican food trucks, halal markets, restaurants offering different cuisines like Indian, Sudanese, etc., and a thriving street food scene is likely more diverse than one that does not have any of these.

A neighborhood with a range of cultural restaurants could indicate the area has a diverse mix of people from different backgrounds because people often immigrate with their food traditions and cuisines.

4. Demography

Demography and diversity often go hand in hand– so much so that, according to a paper by the Department of Defence, we often define diversity demographically.

Demographic diversity is perhaps one of the easiest signs of a diverse neighborhood. This is because when an area has different people from different demographic backgrounds like ethnicity, gender, race, and age, to mention a few, it creates an undeniable neighborhood vibe.

You can get demographic data that tells you the ethnic makeup, income, and average educational level–and more–of an area from a government agency like the Census Bureau.

5. Places of worship

Various religious establishments are a good indicator of a neighborhood’s diversity.

For example, when using a service like PrimeStreet to find the perfect home for you, if you notice that the area around your desired address has temples, churches, mosques, synagogues, and other religious establishments, it’s a good indicator of neighborhood diversity.

This is because, besides being places of worship, most religious centers and institutions also serve as cultural centers that host cultural community events and activities that gel the community and add to a neighborhood’s vibe.

6. Language diversity

Language diversity is another key indicator of a property in a diverse neighborhood.

For example, a neighborhood with residents who speak a mix of different dialects indicates that the area plays host to people from different cultural backgrounds.

Conclusion

The above are only a few signs to look out for to ensure you’re buying in a diverse neighborhood.

Besides diversity, when making your first real estate investment, you should also pay attention to other things like the crime rate, amenities, payment plans and price, and value for money.

Happy hunting!