While not perfect, population density the number of residents per square mile tends to be a more accurate indicator of whether an area has the qualities we think of as either urban or suburban.
Think about a block of high-rise apartment buildings versus a cul-de-sacs with a handful of homes: The population density of the former will be greater because it houses more people per square mile. Consider: there are zip codes an hour from downtown New York City or downtown Chicago that are more densely populated than most of Portland, Oregon. Suburban areas originally developed as subsets of cities, but now suburban communities in America often exist independently of cities and are essentially a middle ground between rural and urban.
For the purpose of deciding which type of community might be the best fit for you, the following differences between suburbs and urban centers will hold true almost anywhere. Living in the suburbs of any metropolitan area will afford you more space than living in its more urban parts.
So even though you might get more space in downtown Portland than in Brooklyn, you can still expect to get more space in suburban Portland than in downtown Portland.
Job availability is higher in urban areas, meaning that suburban residents are more likely to have to commute. When factoring in mortgages, property taxes, and childcare, a joint study between Zillow and Care. On the other hand, if you enjoy proximity to other people and want to avoid the maintenance of a yard and vehicle, you might enjoy living in a city apartment. If cost and space considerations have you leaning toward living in the suburbs, the location might be enough to bring you back to the city.
Living in an urban area can offer the following benefits. Better public transit: Urban areas usually have better public transportation options. Many cities build their infrastructure to encourage their residents to travel by foot, bicycle, or bus, and in some cities you might not need a car at all. The suburbs, on the other hand, are typically created with cars in mind. Proximity to cultural activities: One of the main draws to cities for residents and visitors alike is the abundance of museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars.
No matter where you are, you can pretty much bet an urban area is going to be less densely populated than a nearby suburban area. Denser and more diverse populations can offer a lot of benefits, including the creation of the aforementioned cultural and social activities, to urban dwellers.
The decision to live in the city or the suburbs is personal, and will come down to a few key factors:. Your values. Therefore, while living in a big city you can get Ethiopian food delivered at 3 AM, it is difficult to do so from the suburbs. On the other hand, people living in the suburbs have access to the city institutions that are only a car or train ride away. In rural areas, the environment is mainly natural. As far as facilities go, rural areas either have the bare necessities or people must travel to the closest town for them.
As far as crowding is concerned, urban areas are the most crowded, with several families living in the same apartment building. A suburban area means numerous one-family units, whereas a rural area can also mean a secluded family farm at a great distance from the closest neighbor.
Life in urban areas can be stressful. Life in the suburbs is supposed to be peaceful, while life in the countryside can be both peaceful and stressful as working the land and raising animals are not easy jobs. Urban life offers access to more job and career opportunities, while people in the suburbs commute to their city jobs. People in rural areas, on the other hand, have little chance of local employment as there are very few institutions around.
They can either work in town or work their own land. The suburbs is seen as the best mid-way solution. It has the perks of both worlds: peace and quiet and a more natural environment, as well as access to jobs and other urban facilities.
For some, city life can be too extreme, too crowded, too noisy, and too polluted. On the other hand, country life can seem too monotonous, dull, or difficult for someone who is not accustomed to living off the land and having few outside resources. By: Editorial Staff Updated: Dec-6, Did this article help you? Yes No. Current rating: 9. Thank you! What was wrong? The facts are wrong. However, among those who know at least some of their neighbors, rural Americans are no more likely than their urban and suburban counterparts to say they interact with them on a regular basis.
Other forms of communication, such as exchanging emails or text messages or talking on the phone with neighbors, are less common: About one-in-five or fewer in urban, rural and suburban areas say this happens at least once a week. Americans are generally trusting of their neighbors, but those in suburban and rural areas are more so. There is little variation among those living in different types of communities in the share reporting they have social support, feel optimistic about their lives or feel lonely.
And the idea that life in the city feels more hectic than life in the country is not borne out by the data — only about one-in-ten urban, suburban and rural residents say they always or almost always feel they are too busy to enjoy their lives. The analysis of how urban, suburban and rural communities are changing along demographic lines Chapter 1 , based on data from the U. All references to party affiliation include those who lean toward that party: Republicans include those who identify as Republicans and independents who say they lean toward the Republican Party, and Democrats include those who identify as Democrats and independents who say they lean toward the Democratic Party.
References to Millennials include adults who are ages 22 to 37 in Generation Xers include those who are ages 38 to 53, Baby Boomers include those who are 54 to 72 and members of the Silent Generation include those ages 73 to References to whites, blacks and Asians include only those who are non-Hispanic and identify as only one race.
Hispanics are of any race. Nonwhites include blacks, Hispanics, other races and people who identify with more than one race. Fresh data delivered Saturday mornings. It organizes the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values. Even in a polarized era, the survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics. Pew Research Center now uses as the last birth year for Millennials in our work.
President Michael Dimock explains why. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research.
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