This is a very good idea. What’s the most difficult part about moving (aside from the dreaded visit to U-Haul, what is the deal with that place)? Savvily picking a new neighborhood that will be just what you want for your new home. Craigslist, where “steps away” usually means a ten minute walk, obviously can’t be trusted on this count. No thank you.

NabWise has launched a well designed, user-content-contributed site for reviewing and rating neighborhoods. Right now, it is only in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Chicago and Austin. I’ve been clicking around the Boston page and finding neighborhoods I’d never even heard of that sound great. Random people’s opinions can only take a site so far, and the reason I really like NabeWise is because of their handy integration of maps and graphics. Mapping the boundaries of a neighborhood alone, particularly when you’re clicking around Craigslist, is super helpful for newcomers to a city.

Here’s my review of Beacon Hill. I’d love to read your thoughts if you review a neighborhood as well!