Building a Social Circle After Moving

Americans are on the move this summer, relocating to different parts of the country or moving to a new home in the same state. Whether the move is in-state or out-of-state, it usually means leaving some friends behind and building a social circle in the new community.

A social circle is important for both physical and mental health. Social connections help reduce feelings of loneliness and lower stress. A social circle can also lead to opportunities for shared activities, such as going on hikes or walks. A network of friends and neighbors provides a support system and a sense of belonging—vital for overall well-being.

How can you create a social circle in a new community? We share some tips for making acquaintances and assembling a new network.

Finding Common Ground

The best place to start building a social circle is with the people who are already around you—your new neighbors. You are likely to see them on a regular basis and can strike up a casual conversation to get to know them better.

That’s the approach Blue Cross VT President and CEO Beth Roberts took when she moved to Vermont in 2025. “I have focused on building my social circle in our neighborhood,” says Beth. When making new connections, it’s important to get outside your home and be visible to the neighbors, she advises, as this leads to natural interactions. “Through outside activity I have had the pleasure of meeting my neighbors and have felt immediately welcomed by them.”  

Start building social connections with a few low-pressure interactions, such as introducing yourself and complimenting the neighbor’s landscaping or offering a positive comment on a visible hobby. As a newcomer to the area, you could also ask for recommendations on things like nearby parks to visit or good places for grocery shopping.

Find common ground with your new neighbors by being observant, but not too nosy. Note bumper stickers on their car that might indicate sports teams, travel destinations, or other interests you share. Look for bikes, kayaks, or other gear in their yard for activities you have in common. Notice their gardening habits, if you both have an affinity for growing things.

Once you’ve identified common areas of interest, it’s easier to chat with your new neighbors about things you both like. You can move beyond small talk and have genuinely enjoyable conversations. From there, you can suggest activities to spend time together, such as going for a ride on the local bike path.

Expanding Your Network

With a few neighbors as the foundation of your new social circle, it’s time to expand deeper into the community and make additional contacts. To do this, you can:

• Get in touch with old classmates who live in your new town and offer to reconnect.
• Ask family members and friends where you used to live if they know anyone in your new town, and if so, ask if they’d be willing to introduce you.
• Meet people through your job and participate in after-hours activities with them.
• Volunteer to work for a nonprofit organization and meet fellow volunteers.
• Find some social hobbies that you can do with other people, such as joining a club or taking classes.
• Join a gym and strike up conversations with other members.
• Register for a local Meetup group that shares your interests.
• If you have a dog, hang out at a local dog park and talk with other dog owners. Conversations about pets are great icebreakers.

If you have kids, participating in an organization like Girls on the Run Vermont is a great way for you and your children to meet new people. Girls on the Run Vermont has more than 120 teams across Vermont, with teams located in each of Vermont’s 14 counties.

The Girls on the Run curriculum is designed to help girls build confidence and learn how to make positive connections with others. Volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including fostering friendships. At the end of the season, each team of girls participates in a celebratory 5K run together, with events in Essex and Manchester.

Blue Cross VT is the statewide sponsor of Girls on the Run Vermont. “We support Girls on the Run Vermont because of its lifelong impact on girls’ health and wellness,” says Megan Peek, Blue Cross VT’s director of community relations and health promotion. “It’s powerful to see how proud the girls are when they cross that finish line. The energy, positive reinforcement, and sense of community is palpable.”

Girls on the Run Vermont helps participants build social circles and lasting friendships, Peek says. “Over the 23 years that we have been involved with the program, we have seen thousands of girls impacted in a positive way. The value of Girls on the Run goes far beyond the accomplishment of completing the 5K. Even more than the feeling of crossing the finish line, the girls will remember the impact of the entire program: weeks of training and curriculum, relationship building, and personal growth—and ultimately the sense of community that led to their success.”

Other community programs Blue Cross VT sponsors that help participants build social connections include:

• Velocity, an afterschool program for students who identify as male. Velocity helps them tackle challenging issues and build self-esteem through physical activity and group discussion with male mentors. 
• Wellness Revolution, a free program designed to help women make cycling part of their lives. Wellness Revolution holds events in Addison and Rutland counties.
• Blue Sky VT Days, in-person events held in different parts of Vermont throughout the year. Participating in events like hiking, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and apple picking helps you get exercise and meet people who share similar interests.

Don’t Stress About Moving

Moving to a new community can be exciting, but it can also be stressful if you don’t have a social circle around you. Feeling isolated and lonely can have a substantial impact on your mental and physical health.  

If you’ve recently moved to a new community, or would like to enlarge your existing social circle, we hope you’ll use the tips in this article to meet people and make new friends. Not only can it help manage the stress of moving to a new community, you’ll have a network in your community to rely on in the future if you need help or just someone to talk to!