Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen facing a steep cost of living and a cramped apartment, the idea of only being able to FaceTime friends isn’t a terribly huge drawback. That is especially true after a year of having to live distanced anyways. Things that would have once seemed deeply strange have quickly become commonplace. More and more people are uprooting and leaving friends and family behind with the knowledge that it’s easier to stay digitally connected than ever. Besides, it feels more normal than ever before. With the lower cost of living in smaller areas, it even becomes possible to visit. As Redditor \/u\/UAtraveler1k said, “<\/span>Heck I could probably just fly in when I need to.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nA home office is quickly becoming a must-have for many city dwellers. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n8. Office Space<\/span><\/h2>\nVirtually every newer home in the 1990s had a dedicated home office, despite almost no jobs allowing remote work in that era. You can thank that fact to the strong economy of the 1990s and the oversize homes that resulted. However, with the lack of laptops and wireless, these offices typically housed the single-family computer. People used them for taxes, accounting, and other humdrum activities in the pre-internet times. In the 2000s, dedicated home offices often looked dated. They were repurposed for craft rooms, children’s rooms, and many other uses since most didn’t see the need for a home office.<\/span><\/p>\nCredit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOf course, in the Covid era, many of us are exclusively working from home. A large portion of them are hoping to continue working from home even after the pandemic settles down. This rapid rise in telecommuting has led to a massive cultural shift in the perception of the dedicated home office. Many people, especially parents, realize how valuable a quiet, isolated space can be. Especially one where work and personal life can be separated. For those living in cramped apartments in major cities, separation is quite impossible. Thus, it is sending many fleeing to the suburbs to look for larger houses where they can have that quiet office.<\/span><\/p>\nMany leave big cities to find a higher quality of life. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n7. Quality Of Life<\/span><\/h2>\nEveryone wants the highest quality of life they can afford on their salary, no matter where they live. Many realize that the cost of living in a bustling, entertaining city like New York simply doesn’t afford a quality of life that makes the perks like entertainment and dining worth it. What’s the point of living in a city with all that entertainment if rent is so expensive you can’t afford to partake in any of it? Suburbs and smaller communities are often looked down on as being boring. However, the lower cost of living in such places does tend to afford a quality of life that simply isn’t attainable in a major city.<\/span><\/p>\nCredit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYou want to work a normal job with an average salary. More importantly, you want to have a home, a yard, two cars, or any of the other typical “American dream” elements of quality of life. You are almost assuredly going to need to move out of a city like New York or San Francisco to achieve it. Sure, you may lose some of the exclusive cultural elements like Broadway. However, you gain a lot more spending money to enjoy dining out, vacations, and more. For many, this tradeoff is starting to look more appealing as rents in major urban areas show no signs of slowing their growth. As Redditor \/u\/UAtraveler1k perfectly summarized, “<\/span> Why pay for a small space when I can get a larger space somewhere for the same price?”<\/span> \n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
City residents often leave for the quiet comforts of suburbia. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n6. Suburbia vs. Metro Cities<\/span><\/h2>\nMany see suburbia as a boring place where families go to become mainstream. However, others have always viewed suburbia as the ultimate goal. Everyone’s conception of the American Dream is different. However, the data is showing that fewer and fewer people are seeing expensive, small apartments in major cities. Many agree with sentiments like that of Redditor \/u\/nariusone who said, “<\/span>the trend is already moving to the suburbs. Recent events will just accelerate the trends. Who wants to deal with crime, homelessness, and angry people on a day-to-day basis.”<\/span><\/p>\nCredit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSuburbs tend to have many benefits, especially for families with children. These go beyond just the space and nice tree-lined drives. The US system of property tax being used to fund education means suburbs tend to have extremely well-funded schools. They offer the best possible education for the children who live there. Suburbs tend to be less polluted and more walkable than urban areas. That means kids can walk to school more easily and families can more easily get safe outdoor exercise. Suburbs tend to be, for better or worse, also very heavily policed and have low relative crime rates.<\/span> \n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Small community residents have much shorter commutes. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n5. Shorter Commutes<\/span><\/h2>\nAs Redditor \/u\/nariusone points out, “<\/span>the trick is to move to a suburb close enough (30 min drive?) so that you can get all the entertainment and shopping you want, but far enough that you can get away from the bad stuff.” This is the dream for those seeking shorter commutes. <\/span>While it, of course, requires buying a car, many find that moving to more affordable housing outside of the city limits results in a shorter and more pleasant commute than taking buses from their inner-city apartment, especially when you add in wait times for late buses, the unpleasantness of waiting outside in winter, and more. Commutes become even better for those who seek employment in smaller communities.<\/span><\/p>\nCredit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAgain, it may sound unreal to those living on the Eastern Seaboard or in majorly sprawling areas like Los Angeles. However, those of us living in medium-size communities often have commutes of 10 to 15 minutes for work. Often, getting “across town” is only a matter of several miles. Moreover, traffic is rarely enough to add much time to that drive. Of course, we have fewer amenities as a result of that diminished size. However, the short, simple commutes are an absolute treat. Why? Many people have to deal with mega-commutes of an hour or more in large cities. They are starting to gravitate towards those shorter small town commutes.<\/span><\/p>\nLack of privacy is a real concern for many renters in major cities. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Privacy<\/span><\/h2>\nEven if you live in a nice sound-proof old Brownstone, there still is no sense of privacy in an apartment complex, townhome, or duplex. You will eventually hear and see your neighbors, and they will see and hear you. For those who value privacy above all for any reason, inner-city life typically isn’t a great fit. Why? Because you are surrounded by people always. One factor that rural people often list as most prized about their location is the sense of absolute privacy. It comes from living on your own piece of land with a bit of space between you and others. For many city dwellers, that idea of privacy can be extremely compelling.<\/span><\/p>\nCredit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFor musicians, in particular, a bit of privacy to practice one’s instrument as loudly as they feel like is a compelling draw towards more isolated areas. No one appreciates hearing musical instrument practice in an apartment. Furthermore, no one is more aware of that fact than the musicians themselves. Artists also tend to enjoy the larger space. They can set up studios without any prying eyes. Families with small children are looking for more privacy to play outside without any stranger danger apprehension. Realistically, most people value at least some privacy and consider it as a factor when moving.<\/span><\/p>\nWide-open spaces have a strong appeal for many city residents. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n