We’re all unique in our own way with specific wants and needs. Therefore, our preferences all vary, including the environment we prefer to reside in. For the most part, we have two ways of life: urban vs suburban living. Both lifestyles differ drastically, one way is quick pace and the other route’s laidback and peaceful. However, our employment or family needs may dictate our lifestyle and force us to choose between urban vs suburban living. In this blog post, we will compare urban vs suburban living to help determine which lifestyle fits you!
Defining Urban Vs Suburban Living
Urban Living: The way of life within the city or urban environment is a quick-paced lifestyle. Living within an urban setting can be hectic with the noise and constant traffic. The population’s much higher with a lower density of space for individuals to reside. Therefore, within an urban environment, there are more apartments and condos than standalone single-family homes. At times, the walkability and public transportation are excellent, making it easy to live within city limits without owning a vehicle.
Suburban Lifestyle: If you’re an individual who enjoys your personal space and a more laid-back lifestyle, the rural setting can be ideal for you. Most suburbs have residential neighborhoods or plenty of space between, separating you from your neighbors. Therefore, it’s rarer to find apartment complexes or multi-units; most properties in the suburbs are single-family residences. Highlighting the ability to have more space and larger yards, with driveway parking compared to street parking. In addition, since things are so spread out, living in the suburbs may force the homeowner to own a car, making it more challenging to walk from point A to point B.
Lifestyle Difference: Urban Vs Suburban
- Pace of life: Living in a city setting, everyone seems so rushed and on edge. Hardly taking time out to breathe and enjoy your surroundings. While in the suburbs, it’s a slower rhythm with much less noise and hassle. It seems like young adults prefer the fast-paced lifestyle of urban living. However, as we age, we prefer less noise and certainly being around fewer people, which makes the urban setting more appealing.
- Amenities and Entertainment: Some of us value convenience, which means being within a short distance of restaurants, shopping stores, parks, and nightlife. In the city or urban environment, individuals can go food shopping or find different entertainment options within walking distance. However, if you value a relaxed setting over amenities, then you may favor urban living.
- Social Environment: A highlight of urban living is the ability to interact with individuals from diverse communities and nationalities. Cities are typically a melting pot of culture, giving us an opportunity to associate with other people who differ from us. In addition, suburban lifestyle seems to be more tight-knit with few options to try new foods or explore different cultures.
Types of Housing: Suburban Vs Urban Living
Although both environments can consist of the same types of housing. Some areas tend to favor a certain type of building compared to other ways of life.
Urban Homes: Within an inner city or urban setting, there tends to be limited space. The majority of the housing consists of apartments and condos. The rent or mortgage payments in cities are typically much higher than in the suburbs. The rent/mortgages tend to be higher because of the extensive amount of employment opportunities, overall amenities, and higher operating costs and taxes for landlords.
Typical Suburban Houses: The highlight of suburban homes happens to be the amount of space. These properties are larger, with both front and backyards big enough to entertain guests or raise a family. In addition, suburban homes have garages and driveways, making it easy to find parking after a long day at work. Therefore, it’s more comfortable to reside in suburban properties.
Average Transportation for Urban Vs Suburban Living
The ability to have multiple options to commute is a substantial aspect of urban living. Furthermore, most cities have solid walkability scores along with public transit, like buses or trains. In cities, most individuals can utilize bicycles to lower living expenses and protect the environment by limiting pollutants such as carbon dioxide, which is released by fuel-powered vehicles. However, the major downside is the traffic congestion. When there’s a higher population in your area, expect heavier traffic.
Overall, there are minimal options for transportation in the suburbs. These individuals forced to rely on owning a car, with longer commutes to work and other amenities. Public transportation is slim or nonexistent in the rural setting, and with everything spread out, it can be challenging to get around without a personal vehicle. However, limited traffic’s an upside of rural living. Therefore, weighing out the pros and cons of transportation is a vital aspect of determining which living setting is more appropriate for you.
Compare Education from Rural to Suburban Living
The quality and environment of education vary from urban vs suburban living. Living in urban settings allows your children to attend more diverse schools and participate in a variety of extracurricular. Inner city schools tend to have a high population, which allows for more sporting teams and after-school activities. However, the funding for urban schools is much lower than that for rural schools, which can result in lower-quality education. Most of the time, suburban schools rank with higher ratings than inner city schools. However, as parents raising children in an urban environment, there are always alternative options to public schooling, such as a private school education. Therefore, keep in mind that just because you live in a city, it doesn’t mean your children can’t obtain an excellent education.
Overall Safety and Environment
- Urban Living: For the most part, living in an urban setting, you are subjected to higher crime rates along with more open drug abuse. City living tends to have more noise and air pollution, making it difficult for individuals with anxiety disorders or breathing issues.
- Suburban and Rural Quality of Life: Although the suburbs still experience crime, the amount’s much lower compared to urban environments. The suburbs have higher taxes, which leads to more public servants, such as police officers. In addition, criminals feel less comfortable committing crimes in the suburbs, considering it’s easier to get caught and the consequences are more severe in the suburbs. In addition to safety, rural settings have more green spaces, and due to lower populations, there’s less pollution.
Which Lifestyle Fits You: Inner City Vs Rural Living
At times, our lifestyle needs dictate where we reside. When determining where to live, consider various factors to figure out the best fit. One aspect to consider is our personality, such as getting overwhelmed by large crowds of people or having a strong desire for a quiet environment. Additionally, our career path can lead us to certain settings, leading us to life within the city. While some of us work remotely, our employment’s irrelevant to where we live.
Other factors, such as family goals, can determine where we live. If you’re looking to raise a family, the safety and higher quality of schools may make a rural setting a more desirable option. In contrast, young professionals may prefer the urban, fast-paced area. It’s vital to weigh out the pros and cons of each lifestyle to determine the best fit for you and your loved ones.
Is Life Different Between Urban Vs Suburban Living?
As we explained, lifes drastically different between urban vs suburban living. Life seems to be slower in a rural setting, while there are endless employment opportunities and things to do within the city. As young adults, we prefer amenities and nightlife. However, as we age, we prefer a peaceful environment with more space to enjoy life.
Overall, there’s no better option when it comes to choosing urban vs suburban living; everyone has different wants and needs. Therefore, determine what you need out of life before exploring housing options in the city or suburbs. As real estate professionals, our only piece of advice is to rent a place for a year to see if the areas is the right fit for you. After the yearly lease expires, you can determine if you want to continue living in the city or if it’s time to branch out to the laidback suburban lifestyle. Therefore, the only way to know is to experience both ways of life with trial and error to know what’s best for you.