Living In The City Vs. The Suburbs: Pros And Cons

What’s Best For You Depends On Your Situation

There are some who would do much better in the suburbs than the city. There are some who would absolutely languish in the suburbs. Some folks prefer small towns, and others want some hidden cabin nestled between obscure mountains somewhere near Alaska.

Everyone is different, and determining the lifestyle that best suits you can take time. You may want to explore. In this writing we’ll focus on the pros and cons which come with suburban life, and those which come with metropolitan life toward the center of a big city. There’s good and bad in either category.

Pros And Cons Of The City

A city can provide you all the opportunities the world has to offer. Museums, night life, fine dining, top-tier properties, intrigue, romance, adventure—you’ll find it in “the city”. Which city best suits you will depend on what sort of income you can secure, and what your preferences are as pertain to weather.

In Jacksonville, Florida, you’ll seldom be cold. In Anchorage, Alaska, you’ll seldom be warm. Places like New York City have hot and cold seasons. Los Angeles also has some variance in weather—though generally it’s more temperate.

All that being said, generally, when the population of a municipality approaches 500k, certain commonalities in terms of amenities and opportunities develop. These will differ per region, but be generally similar. The cons will be backhanded features of the pros. For example, cities generally have a better public transit system than the suburbs. But you’ll have to use it.

Home values are higher, but so are home prices—the same is true in terms of rental. There are better police, but there is more crime. Your daily commute to and from work may be reduced in the city when you factor in time and distance. However, leaving the city may take more time unless you make your exit in the middle of the night.

Pros And Cons Of The Suburbs

Suburban life will usually give you bigger residential appointments at a reduced cost—but you’re going to be a long way from “the action”. Chicago is a huge city, but suburban communities are still considered “Chicago” up to around sixty miles from the city’s center. North of Chicago is a little town called Woodstock where you can catch a train into the city.

New York City similarly has many suburban options which are some distance from the city center—here’s a list of the best areas as of 2019 according to niche.com. Many people decide to use suburban transit options to get to work, living far from the hustle and bustle of the city. They save on transportation, but lose out in terms of associated time involved with travel.

Education is generally going to be a bit better in a suburban community than an “inner-city” school. However, getting your children enrolled in such institutions may be more difficult. Shopping in terms of groceries will likely be less expensive, but you’ll have to travel longer to and from the grocery store.

Also, if you buy property in a suburb that has yet to “fill up” with other residents, then your property value could gradually decline over time, diminishing associated equity. This can also happen in the city, but depending on the city, it’s less likely. For example, a hovel in Oakland, California is worth more than a mansion in Detroit.

Making Your Move

Whether you’re looking to move from the suburbs to the city, from the city to the suburbs, or to some rural area beyond either, you might want to look into moving options that are built around reducing the hassle of such lifestyle changes. For example, UMoveFree offers an amazing option.

Pros and cons aside, moving is always a life-changing event. However it’s one of those events—though it may be—that it is better to have, than not to have. There’s an excitement with any move, and a strong satisfaction that comes once the process is complete, and you’re “settled in”.

Whatever best fits your lifestyle, you want to carefully plan things in advance. The future isn’t something anyone can predict, and even the most well-considered plans are subject to unforeseeable changes. Weigh the pros and cons of city as well as suburban life carefully in accordance with your specific preferences to choose your best option.

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