There are several reasons you might want to look up who lives in a specific neighborhood—in most cases, it’s because it is your neighborhood. For one, security awareness is at an all-time high, given the proliferation of threats like burglary, gangs and drug activities, human trafficking, and so much more. In the U.S. alone, about 2,300 children go missing from different communities every day.

But what if you don’t have kids or own a home in a search area? What if you’re a service provider or an employee who needs to deliver a product to the right customer? In these cases, you also want to confirm their address. Here are some ways to do that:

Ask a Neighbor

Nothing beats the good ol’ “Hey buddy, do you, by chance, know who lives at the end of this block?” It’s direct and saves you the trouble of going full CIA—except, of course, when it’s necessary. With other means, you may get a name, work history, or even a criminal record. But with a neighbor, you get more detailed information, most of which doesn’t make it to online repositories.

For example, you might learn that a property you’re looking to move your family to has sex offenders or too many crimes. And the last thing you want is to raise your children in such a place, no matter how tempting the price tag. So yes, neighbors are your best bet.

They are in touch with the daily happenings around them and are likely to give you first-hand information if asked politely and genuinely. However, a significant drawback is that you risk compromising your identity. Depending on your approach, a neighbor might get suspicious about your intention and give it away. So, you may want to consider the following options.

Reverse Search the Address

In the words of Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin’.” Gone are those days when neighborhoods were small and tight-knit, where everyone knew who lived where and did what. It’s now more a metropolitan area where residents barely see one another, as most people spend more time at the office. And when home, we spend more time indoors than catching up with Jack and Jill from across the street.

It would be much easier to order salt online than to borrow it from a neighbor, making it nearly impossible to know more about those living next door. In times like this, you’ll be better off using a reverse lookup tool, which provides detailed information about the occupants of a property using its address.

But how can you reverse search an address? Enter the property’s address and click Search. After this, you’ll find its owners’ full names, ages, criminal records, and other personal information.

Use Online Search Engines

Let’s admit it: online search engines are now part of our lives, making it the first point of call when we need to gather intel on anything or anyone. And if the person you’re looking for information about has a digital footprint, you’re in luck, as you can find out their address without having to ask or dig deeper. On search engines like Google and Bing, you might stumble on a blog post or news article detailing where they work, their social handles, and even recent events within or outside their residence.

More tailored websites like Nuwber allow you to search for people by location. They are a hub for home hunters, real estate agents, investors, and other players in the industry looking for info on properties and local communities, and as such, hold millions of records you can explore for free.

Turn to Social Media

Like search engines, social media platforms are a go-to when digging up someone’s background. Most people share their lives on these platforms, with an estimated 350 million photos and 1 billion stories uploaded daily to Facebook. Among these posts, you’ll find locations, events, work histories, and personal connections that can aid your search, but most importantly, you’re likely to find who lives where by looking up the address (if provided) using the search bar.

While some may not provide their exact location (right down to the home number), a little sleuthing will likely reveal addresses nearby or within the vicinity. When paired with other shared content you find, it won’t be long before you link the dots.

Visit the Tax Assessor’s Office or the County’s Website

In the absence of the above, you can always go to the county office of the municipality where the property is located and ask the tax assessor for its records. This office maintains all relevant information regarding ownership and tax payment status and is accessible to the public, provided you follow due process.

If you find this too cumbersome or time-consuming, check the county’s website for a list of property owners (including their licenses, permits, and voter registration information), as some now provide access to search databases that allow you to look up such details without leaving the comfort of your home. The best part? It’s free.

Finding out who lives at an address isn’t rocket science as there are tools and resources now in place to ease the process, as shared in this guide. Many of them are free and easy to use, with no downsides. However, use them responsibly and at your discretion, keeping in mind that no one likes to be stalked.