by Cheryl Abney

Created on: March 28, 2009   Last Updated: May 16, 2009

The question of whether it's better to live in the city or country depends on the person having to make the decision. There is no single correct answer. It's relevant to where you are in your life. Consider the different needs of a young person, family person, mid-lifer, or an elderly person in relation to the following lists.

Close proximity to the city provides:

1) Entertainment (movies, theater, restaurants, sports arenas, etc.).

2) Educational opportunities.

3) Gated communities, senior independent living facilities.

4) Shopping malls, parks.

5) Hospitals, doctors, care keepers.

6) Service providers' availability ( plumbers, electricians, etc.).

Country living provides:

1) Peaceful solitude.

2) Music of birds, chimes, breeze through the trees.

3) Parade of squirrels, foxes, Bobcats, Eagles, rabbits, deer.

4) Silence of boom boxes, neighbors partying, horns blowing, sirens sounding.

5) Waves and smiles from your neighbors.

6) Privacy.

Which list above was most inviting to you? If you're a young person you'd probably lean towards the city, unless you love animals and open spaces. Young dual-working families would probably choose the convenience of the city, unless your jobs were in small rural communities. Elders would find their increasing needs of aging more easily met in the city. Singles would likely lean toward city life also, because more people means more opportunity to find a life-partner. Midlifers who no longer plan their days around their children, now grown, have a wider choice based solely on interests; not on their age, schooling, entertainment, etc. Aside from the positives, each vicinity has its drawbacks to consider.

City living or suburbs have:

1) Greater crime rates.

2) Increased vehicular accidents.

3) Stress of lines and traffic delays.

4) Noise and air pollution.

5) Greater living costs in pursuing variety of entertainment.

6) Neighborhood rules and regulations.

Country living drawbacks include:

1) Forced solitude.

2) Distance from police and fire departments.

3) Time and distance to travel to nearest city.

4) Less code enforcement, property restriction.

5) Difficulty getting service providers.

6) Fewer internet connection options.

As a school counselor, I talk to students about choices. I may use a simplistic decision model to help them decide what is best for them. A decision model may also help you determine whether city or country living is best for you. Each category has six items so it's a fair comparison.

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