When choosing a new place to live, it is important to take a little time to find out what will work best for you and your family. Sometimes, that can mean quick and easy access to stores, restaurants, and activities. Other times that may mean living at least 20 minutes from the nearest Walmart. The city can be fast-paced and present lots of challenges and stresses that the suburbs do not, however the suburbs may be too out of touch for the vision of your family. How do you determine which is best for you? Follow along as we discuss suburbs versus cities.

Public Transportation

If you happen to be one of the millions of Americans without a reliable mode of transportation, this could be a huge factor in your decision on where to live. From buses to Uber, the options for public transit in the cities are vast; however, it comes with its downsides, such as cost, amount of time spent getting from point A to point B, safety, and much more. For some of us, a long trip on the bus is no big deal when you’re talking about making ends meet for your family, while others couldn’t dream of riding the bus. Of course, having your car or mode of transportation will completely alleviate this issue and make city and suburban living acceptable.

Income Level

When choosing to live in the suburbs, you also choose to accept a lot of additional costs you may not have in the city, such as spending more money on gas to travel further, and vice versa; living in the town will present unique costs that you may not find in the suburbs such as parking permits, tolls, towing fees, and much more. Not to mention that it is a well-known fact that living in the suburbs costs more than living in the city, but the benefits sometimes outweigh the cost when discussing what is right for your family. The crime rate, traffic, and availability play a huge role in separating the two communities.

Community Involvement

The suburbs and the city both have a unique and rich community that can’t quite be duplicated in the other environment. Suburbs often have close-knit groups who sometimes know one another and participate in church, farmer’s markets, community nights, and more. Not to mention that people in the suburbs often work together as a team to enforce community watch programs to increase the security and safety of those living in the area. On the flip side, the city can offer many of the same things; however, given some of the security risks of living in a big city, many people will try to keep to themselves and work hard for their families. This leads to less of a ‘community’ feeling.

Other People

If dealing with other people daily isn’t exactly your cup of tea, then dealing with hundreds and hundreds of people daily may not be the best thing for you. The city is busy, with tons of people, and there is always a lot going on. Traffic oftentimes feels like something important is going on when, in fact, there is nothing. A trip to the store could mean long lines and a lot of waiting. However, this isn’t to say you won’t find these things in the suburbs also. However, in the suburbs, people are spread out a little more and have more options for places to obtain the things they need.

Future Plans

Where do you see your family in the next 5 years? This is always a very important question to ask yourself when deciding where to find your next home. Do your children attend a specific school? Would you like to be within walking distance of that school? That option can be found in both the city and the suburbs. Do you want to be part of a church that acts as a family on a long-term basis? Again, this can be found in both cities and suburbs. One of the biggest factors when thinking about your family’s future is jobs and availability. Do you see yourself at your current job long-term? Are you not living close enough to perform the job? Would being closer be better or worse for your family? These are all questions you should be asking yourself.

Contact us today to learn more about how Buckeye Northwest Realty can help you find your next dream home!