Pros and Cons of Living in a Rural Area

One of the most recent trends in the nation’s demographics is the mass movement to the cities and suburbs. Many people believe that these places have a lot to offer, leading to a mass exodus from rural towns and communities. While it certainly is true that cities and suburbs have a lot to offer residents, rural areas also have some major positives about them as well. What exactly are these great features, and how do they hold up versus the negatives? Here are the pros and cons of living in a rural area. 

Cost of Living

One of the biggest positives you’ll notice about living in a rural area is the reduced cost of living. Obviously, having to deal with lower costs is a huge advantage, as it allows you to save up more money and use it on other aspects of life. Things like housing are typically much cheaper in rural areas. For example, Madison houses for sale and L.A real estate are usually a lot pricier than housing in rural areas. However, housing isn’t the only thing that is cheaper in rural communities. Things like food and entertainment may also be cheaper as well. All of these savings can add up, allowing you to put more towards things like retirement or take vacations. 

Privacy

Another huge benefit of living in a rural area is the privacy that comes with it. When you live in a rural area, houses are typically spaced out more. Because of this, you’ll have more land to yourself and fewer neighbors to deal with. Living in extremely rural communities may lead to you owning several acres of land and only having a handful of neighbors. Obviously, in situations like these, you have much more privacy than you would if you lived in a city that was jam-packed with residents. Living in rural communities often comes with a lot more freedom and privacy, something that can be a major attraction for those that are more free-spirited. 

Restaurants and Stores

When it comes to the major cons of living in a rural area, the lack of variety in restaurants and stores is a major negative. When you live in the city, you have access to just about any store or restaurant imaginable. Just about every large company will be present in your city, and there will be plenty of local shops to fill in the gaps. However rural communities simply don’t have the population to support these businesses. These rural areas may have a few big stores in their area, but many will be absent and shopping options will be limited. In addition, many big restaurant chains likely won’t be in your town, and the area will lack the wide variety of food options that bigger cities have. If you’re someone who loves having lots of stores and restaurants to pick from, then living in a rural community might not be for you.

Economy

The lack of stores and other businesses in rural communities greatly hurts the local economy, oftentimes meaning that rural communities have much weaker economies than larger cities. You may have a hard time finding job opportunities in rural communities, and those that you do find will likely be concentrated in one particular industry. On the other hand, most cities have large businesses and corporations that call the area home, strengthening the local economy, and providing job opportunities to residents. Although the lack of large businesses in rural communities certainly doesn’t mean you won’t find a job in rural communities, it might mean that you’ll have to look a little harder.