Home buyers often focus on the qualities of a property when house hunting, assessing factors such as the age of the roof and amenities in the kitchen. At the same time, buyers rarely view a home in a vacuum; they'll also consider the state of the community and the surrounding residences to see if they're likely to get along with their future neighbors.

This determination can be a little more difficult when your neighbor is a school. Although schools can offer a range of benefits, they also come with unique challenges that you'll need to take into account.

If you have children of your own, having a school nearby can be especially convenient. Your son or daughter simply needs to take a brief walk down the sidewalk or cross the street if they attend classes in a neighboring school.

Anyone next door might have habits that you find irritating, from loud parties on the weekends to keeping junk on the lawn, but schools are less unlikely to cause such aggravation. Hattie Bernstein, writing for the Boston Globe, notes how schools are essentially a part-time neighbor. Students and faculty will clear out by the end of the day, and they won't be present during weekends or summers.

Schools tend to have certain safety measures that lend peace of mind to the neighborhood. Ana Durrani, writing for Realtor.com, says police officers are often stationed at or near schools as a security measure and to enforce speed limits in school zones.

Being near a school means you'll have easier access to certain community events. You might attend craft fairs or other events hosted at the school gymnasium, or head over on an autumn evening to take in a football game.

A school will also typically have certain year-round amenities that will be easily accessible to neighbors. If you live next to an elementary school, you'll have a nearby playground where you can take your kids. Middle and high school campuses usually have sports facilities such as baseball fields and running tracks where children and adults alike can get some exercise.

Neighborhoods with schools may take precedence when it comes to municipal upgrades like repaving roads and replacing sidewalks. Gustan Cho, a real estate agent in Lombard, Ill., says schools often receive priority for snow plowing.

The benefits of being next to a school can easily be reflected in nearby home values. Bernstein says buyers are often willing to pay a premium for these advantages, or to be near a highly rated school.

Traffic issues are one of the main disadvantages of living near a school. Durrani says the streets around the school will be packed with buses and parents' cars during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. Certain occasions, such as sporting events, can also snarl up traffic after school is dismissed. If parking is limited around the school, some drivers may even park in or across your driveway.

A school may result in more noise and light pollution near your home. Schools often leave many lights on as a security measure, and stadium lights can be particularly glaring during nighttime athletic competitions. Anything from public address announcements to the delighted shrieks of children on the playground will create a noisier environment.

In an area with a higher population density, a substantial share of the student body might walk to the school. Students may loiter near your home after school, or take a shortcut across your property.

While there are certain downsides to living near a school, they are fairly mild. People are more likely to be dissuaded from properties that are close to facilities such as airports, railroad tracks, or transfer stations.