Suburbs vs. City: Which is Best for You? |
If you're looking for a new home, you've got a decision to make: whether to move to the city or move to the suburbs. Obviously, the answer to the question depends on what you want from your community - there's no right answer for everyone, just a right answer for you.Suburbanites Happiest with Their CommunitiesTo dig a little deeper into this issue, however, it helps to consider some of the findings from the Pew Research Center's "Social and Demographic Trends" report which was released recently. The report shows that suburbanites are significantly more satisfied with their surrounding communities than residents of cities, small towns, or rural areas.The trends report had respondents rate their current community based on eight questions dealing with cost of living, climate, a place to raise children, job opportunities, recreational and outdoor activities, shopping, cultural activities, and opportunities to meet people and make friends. In total, 42 percent of suburbanites gave their communities high scores; 34 percent of city residents; 29 percent of rural dwellers; and 25 percent of people who live in small towns. It's interesting to note, however, that only 25 percent of the overall public would choose a suburban setting for their home. The most popular choice overall would be to live in a small town which garnered 30 percent of votes, even though current small town residents are not highly satisfied with their communities. Determining the Right Community for YouThe bottom line for making the decision between city vs. suburbs comes down to your personal likes and dislikes. City life has many benefits - greater access to cultural activities and job opportunities, often higher levels of infrastructure including high-speed Internet, digital cable, and digital phone access, more restaurants and shopping areas, and more pedestrian venues to explore. The suburbs are generally a great place to raise a family and are filled with recreational activities. The suburbs also tend to be more affordable compared to city living.The decision will also depend on where you are in your life. If you're just starting out on your own, it's fun to explore the many exciting features of city life. If you're ready to start a family, suburban living and schools may prove a wise choice. Or maybe you're an empty-nester ready to sell your house in the suburbs and head to an urban downtown environment for cultural activities. You just need to decide what is best for you. Explore this website to discover helpful information about saving money when you move, steps to buying a home, first-time homebuyer tips, moving truck services, storage services, connecting cable service, digital phone, digital television, and high-speed Internet at your new home, and much more. |
