One decision can greatly influence your daily life — whether to live in the city versus the suburbs.
Both have their own unique merits and demerits to consider, so consider more than what type of wine to order with dinner (although that’s still important).
City Vs. Suburbs: What’s the Difference?
Cities and suburbs varies widely By size and scope.
Cities are regions within an urbanized area that is also within a major city, such as Los Angeles or Atlanta. Of course, some cities aren’t that big, so whether it’s a small, medium-sized, or large city depends on population.
Suburban areas, however, are regions outside the main city, but still within the urbanized area. Suburbs also range in size. For reference, a small suburb has a population of less than 100,000, but a large suburb has more than 250,000.
Suburbs are also considered Low density areas. So they may have the same population as a city, but spread over more land. Commercial and residential zones are thus separated, unlike in cities, where they can literally be on top of each other.
Pros and cons of renting in the city
There are many songs dedicated to singing the praises of city life, and many people shudder at the thought of relocating to the ‘burbs.
Although the ability to grab a churro at 2 a.m. might not make our list of top three perks, it’s still up there. However, it’s not all sunshine and roses, so City Vs. Check out these pros and cons of living in the suburbs.
City Pro: Close to the action
The convenience factor is huge for city slickers, especially if you live, work and play there. Although cities have their fair share of chains, restaurants are mostly locally owned and operated. Thus, they are more unique.
Entertainment, bars and clubs to museums and other cultural facilities are also more diverse than the suburbs. There are more employers (that density thing, again), so you’re more likely to find or keep work nice and close to home.
City Pro: Tons of variety
Life in the city comes with an abundance of choices. Whether it’s deciding between three amazing local pizzerias or three amazing local hospitals for an upcoming surgery, city areas have more options than suburbs.
Cities are also more culturally diverse than their suburban counterparts, a trend likely to continue ever since 70 percent of US cities More ethnically diverse now than in 2010. So if you want to surround yourself with a wide variety of people and cultures, city life is probably the way to go.
Pro-City: Transportation benefits
People who don’t want to waste their lives commuting through gridlocked highway traffic often opt for city living.
Although some people prefer to have their own wheels, in some cities the public transportation options are so great that owning a car is not even necessary! So any premium you pay on an in-town apartment is at least partially offset as you save on car payments, gas and insurance.
Incidentally, the Best cities for public transport is New York City, San Francisco And Boston.
City Con: Noise level
All those people can squeeze into a relatively small land area and make it very loud. Traffic noise is the biggest culprit, as well 80 percent of urban noise pollution Due to cars, trucks, emergency vehicles and the like.
As electric and hybrid vehicles become more affordable and common, however, this will hopefully begin to decline. But don’t count on it.
City Con: More expensive
Rent prices are usually (but not always) higher in the city versus the suburbs. A 2017 Forbes Report An average price difference of $600 per month was found, with some major cities even higher! That’s a pretty big chunk of change for most people.
Although some of that is offset if you don’t need a car, there’s still the cost of public transportation to consider.
City Con: Air Pollution
Air pollution in cities poses a major health risk, especially for vulnerable groups with allergies or asthma. Poor air quality is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. This is particularly problematic Low-income cities.
Pros and cons of renting in the suburbs
Suburbs sometimes get a bad rep, but there are millions who swear by life in the (comparatively) wide open spaces. Suburbanites enjoy some pretty significant benefits that elude city dwellers, but there are tradeoffs, too.
Pro for suburbs: more space
Everything is bigger in the suburbs. There’s simply more land to move around per person, so as a result, apartments, houses, restaurants, roadways, green spaces, and more are bigger, more plentiful, and often better.
If you’ve ever navigated an SUV on a city side street you’ll appreciate the difference.
Suburbs Pro: Low Crime
Cities are more notorious for crime than suburbs, although activity in both types of areas is attributable on the decline.
In 2014, violent victimization rates for women and men in urban areas were 9.4 and 9.3 per thousand people, respectively. This, compared to 7.8 (men) and 6.0 (women) in the suburbs. Property theft and other types of crime are also more common in cities versus suburbs.
Pro the suburbs: your dollar goes further
That’s not to say you still won’t spend as much money in the suburbs versus living in the city, but you’ll get more bang for your buck. Most things are usually cheaper than you can get from a major city, such as gasoline, food, taxes, and rent.
If you’re okay with paying more for less to show for it (aside from convenient city access), then city life is fine. Otherwise, the suburbs are a better choice.
Suburbs Con: Travel time
A long and tiring journey That’s often the price people pay to live in the suburbs. Unless you’re lucky enough to find a job nearby, the city (or close to it) is where the employers are.
According to the US Census Bureau, the average commute time is 26.9 minutesOr about an hour both ways. Sure, some fields are lower than that, but many are really high. Oops!
Suburbs Con: Less eclectic
A lot suburban areas Nature is pretty cookie-cutter. They feature similar house/apartment styles, businesses, restaurants and so on. Although suburbs are becoming increasingly diverse, culturally speaking, they are still no match for cities.
Suburbs Con: Car required
You’ll be able to safely walk to one or two places from your apartment, but most of the suburb will be out of reach without a car. This means that a working vehicle, insurance and funds to maintain/gas up the car are not only advisable but mandatory.
City Vs. Suburbs: The choice is yours
As long as you clearly understand your own situation and priorities, city vs. The choice between suburbs will be clear. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions either. Everyone’s circumstances are different, so make the decision that’s right for you!
