Reply to Is suburban living considered a failure?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's the dream for most.[/quote]

Actually no. According to Pew, 46% of American adults would like to like to live in the suburbs (up slightly from 42% pre-Covid). 19% prefer to live in an urban setting (down fro 23% pre-Covid) and the percent who prefer rural areas has stayed steady at about 35% over the same time.

I should also note that it's incorrect to frame condo living and suburban living in opposition to each other -- many suburban homes are condos or townhomes. The link is that people who want to live in detached SFHs may choose to move to the suburbs in order to do so because these homes tend to be more affordable and provide better access to good schools in the suburbs. However, people who love to the suburbs in order to buy SFHs may view it as a compromise, accepting what they might view as downsides of suburban life (more driving, less convenience, more limited access to cultural activities) in favor of the upside of having a detached SFH (more space, a yard, greater control). But likewise many urban condo dwellers may acknowledge the downside to living in a condo (shared walls, no private green space, condo fees and boards) but be willing to accept them because it's the only way for the to afford to live in an urban center that has other qualities they value (walkability, proximity to amenities, fewer yard and household maintenance responsibilities).

Most people are not wealthy and therefore generally have to make at least some concessions about their living situation. It winds up being a function of ranked priorities. If you asked the average suburbanite if they would like a shorter commute or to have a great restaurant or coffee shop walking distance from their house, any would say of course, but they wouldn't be willing to move to a dense city neighborhood to get those things. And it would be the same if you asked the average urban condo dweller if they would like a nice yard a to never have to hear their upstairs neighbors again but that doesn't mean they are on the verge of moving.

Which is why these debates are silly.  Different people value different things.  They also tend to shift their values over time depending on life circustances. This is normal and fine and not a problem. [/quote]

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