Best Resources When You’re Moving to CoMo

Moving to a new city can be a little scary. A new home means getting use to a new way of living: navigating your new neighborhood, finding new restaurants and stores, enrolling your kids in schools, and even simple things like where to recycle and catch the bus.

At Century 21 Community, we’re here to help. We provide the resources to not only find the best homes in Columbia, but also how to make the transition to your new home as easy as possible.

Getting to Know CoMo

The book 50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family calls Columbia “a fast-growing city, valued for its highly educated work force, low cost of living, favorable government attitude toward business, award-winning schools and nationally recognized quality of life.” It’s an accurate portrait of this vibrant, family-friendly city that also offers countless shopping, dining and entertainment options. Its centralized location also provides easy access to nearby cities like St. Louis and Kansas City, along with outdoor attractions like Lake of the Ozarks and Mark Twain National Forest.

• Neighborhoods and Geography: Though it is comprised of 36 unique districts and neighborhoods, Columbia is centered on its historic Downtown, which includes some of its most recognizable landmarks, a bustling business district, and the University of Missouri.
• Cost of Living: Columbia routinely ranks well below the national average for cost of living (median home price for an average home is $150,000) with an abundance of affordable housing in safe, friendly, affordable neighborhoods.
• Shopping and Dining: In Columbia, you’re never more than a few minutes from one of 13 major shopping areas including the region’s largest mall as well as the Downtown area with independently-owned shops, bars and restaurants.
• Education: You’ll find excellent schools in Columbia, including four highly-rated high schools, several middle and elementary schools, and the main campus of the University of Missouri.
• Job Opportunities: Columbia has become a fast-growing city with a thriving economy, many of its newest residents drawn specifically to its abundant job opportunities. University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia Public Schools and Shelter Insurance are among the top employers.
• Transportation: Located at Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 63, Columbia offers an easy commute to and from surrounding communities, as well as a simple street layout that makes getting around easy. Rail service is available, a regional airport is nearby, and Columbia Transit provides bus service throughout the region. Foot paths and bike trails throughout Columbia make it simple to get around without a car.
• Life and Culture: There’s no reason not to have fun in Columbia. From college football to the annual Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival, there’s always something going on. The city also offers a hopping nightlife, with countless bars and clubs, as well as legendary theaters and music venues like the Blue Note and the Missouri Theater Center for the Arts.

Resources for Relocating

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce offers a wide variety of online resources and publications that can help answer all your questions about moving to Columbia, including information on local utilities and telephone service, public transportation, and banking. Our real estate agents will also provide you with any information you need for living, working and playing in Columbia, including how to find the best moving companies in the area.

Moving to a new city is a big step, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Contact C21Community today to learn more about making CoMo your new home.