I researched for 2 years looking for a place to move to. CityData was very helpful in helping me narrow things down. Pop density, crime rate, weather, taxes, job opportunities, disaster histories (tornadoes, fires, earthquakes), etc. Saved alot of unnecessary travel, but still had to make a half dozen trips to different areas.
And real estate listing photos almost always look better than the properties. They'll showcase a photo of a creek, but its probably in the bottom (ravine) where you can't see it.
Joel Skousen has a book on safest places to live, "Strategic Location". His suggestions were a factor also.

Saint John's county and surrounding counties east/south are low in crime and a low number of registered democrats