Rural Vs Urban Living
Rural Vs Urban Living
What is Rural Living like?
Rural living is about living with nature. The world is your oyster! You can run through the grass, eat berries off of bushes and even go camping whenever you feel like it! It's easy to live in the moment when there are so few people around. You might not have neighbours but that doesn't matter because you've got all the nature you'll ever need.
In a rural area, public transportation is not as readily available and so you will have to rely on a car or truck - especially one that can deal with long drives or one that can navigate rough terrain. It's common to own a 4x4 in rural areas. You might also be further away from your place of employment, depending on where you live, making the long commute an everyday life thing. The natural environment is a big plus if you love the quiet and nature.
Rural living is relaxing and peaceful but it can also feel quiet and lonely at times. The slower pace of life is something that some people enjoy, usually later in life, and they don't envy the large cities' noise and light. However, some rural communities can be very lively, it all depends because the rural lifestyle is not a monolith.
The cost of living in rural areas varies depending on how far you are from shopping centres or small towns, if you want to get certain items for groceries or otherwise, you need to be willing to spend the time and money to get the items you're looking for.
Rural properties also have a bigger chance of providing you with a big yard that isn't subject to an HOA. Even suburban homes can be subject to homogenization rules but the space between rural ones makes HOAs pointless.
The average price of a square foot in a rural area is far lower than that of a square foot in an urban setting. Basically, you save money and have far more space. It's all balanced by the time and cost of what rural communities mean by "just a short drive."
What is Urban Living like?
City living is very different from rural living. City dwellers tend to be okay with a small apartment because of the numerous trade-offs. In real estate, you often hear about how location is the most important thing - which is why city centres have outrageous prices when it comes to renting.
Non-metropolitan areas, compared to metropolitan areas, are less ethnically diverse and have a more limited job market. Grocery stores are usually within walking distance and have a wider selection of goods. Urban areas also have better public transportation systems with the major cities not even requiring a car to gain access to the best that urban life offers.
Finding a permanent residence in a large city can be a nightmare though, as a city home can be vastly more expensive. City life, depending on the neighbourhood, can also drastically change depending on the poverty rate of the area. Schools tend to have wide disparities based on location even within smaller cities.
There are, however, more job opportunities in both big towns and bigger cities. All the amenities available to country dwellers through hours worth of driving are available within just a few minutes for people in larger cities. It varies from person to person but the price difference between the cost of public transport in a city compared to the cost of fuel in rural areas can be a game-changer for some.
Public spaces like parks in a big city tend to be full of activity and other people, a liveliness that's not common to rural residents. City living may do away with natural wonders but life in big cities, even if it's not at the city centre, is fast pasted and bustling with change.
Why do people move from rural to urban living and vice versa?
Many people enjoy the country lifestyle which is why rural living has a higher population than urban living. But there are many people who move to cities and away from their hometowns based on career opportunities and problems with their environment.
Some of those who live in big cities may dream of leaving for some peace and quiet as city life can be overwhelming. However, the desire to be closer to family and friends may also motivate people to move back into rural areas.
Some of those who live in big cities dream of moving away for some peace and quiet as city life can be overwhelming. However, the desire to be closer to family and friends often drives them back into more rural settings.
Age is often, but not always, a factor as older people who want to start a family will feel more drawn to suburban and rural areas so that they can have more spacious homes. A city home might be great to gain access to the city spontaneously but the sacrifice made on square footage does not make it easy for raising children. Employed adults are found in both cities and rural areas but where they are in life may lead them to succumb to the allure of country life.
Would COVID affect trends?
According to the UN, more and more of the world's population is posed to more to cities. Population growth in the recent decades means that spaces more suited to accommodate a high density of people and that have more demand for jobs are going to draw in more people. Urban dwellers will become more and more common with rural counties growing more slowly.
Depending on the shape of the Canadian economy after the impact of work from home initiatives, this could alter the UN's prediction. There may even be a divestment from urban and suburban areas in favour of people preferring a rural setting.
If jobs become increasingly detached from physical locations, that could mean a reshaping of what urban and rural areas look like. Urban growth could slow and rural life could flourish.
Of course, that's only if employment is not tied to location in the long term and if people would even enjoy rural life, to begin with.
It's hard to predict exactly what life after COVID will look like in small towns, rural communities, and bigger cities but there is a chance that the migration to city centres slows down.
Cost of living would find a new equilibrium as people work remotely and have more disposable income because of the lower cost of housing in rural areas.
Differences between the two lifestyles.
Of course, there are differences between lifestyles that don't have to do with employment. Nightlife, for example, is more often associated with city life. Meanwhile, rural residents tend to enjoy things like shopping centres or at-home entertainment.
An urban area has more conveniences and offers people more choices when it comes to shopping (both for groceries and specialty goods) and is more conducive to spontaneity.
The rural lifestyle requires more planning as things are further apart than in metropolitan areas but the natural environment means that hikes and picnics are easier to plan. The slower pace of living also lets people relax more easily.
Cities, as their population grew, also became more cramped. City dwellers can be frustrated more easily because of the lack of space, meanwhile, people in rural areas can find themselves bored due to a lack of entertainment outside the home.
Urban centres are also more likely to have cultural amenities available in the form of museums, galleries, and theatres.
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