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I voted small town, but I don't care about "danger." I simply don't want to breathe the same air as a million other people. I don't want to share a wall or floor or ceiling with anyone. I don't want to fight traffic to go to the store. I don't want to see rows of other houses when I step out my front door etc, etc.
City with services and very few dangers, which is not one of your choices (so I couldn't vote), but I have lived in such a city for over 30 years, and am now retired in it: Boston MA.
Having said that, I want to add that my first question would be what I could afford - obviously, I wouldn't seek more than that. The second question would be safety of my building and neighborhood (not necessarily of the entire city). The third question would be (if my finances were such that I could afford only a small town) the convenience of access to a large city for periodic visits.
I do wish people would distinguish between rural and small town. They usually are not the same thing. I live in a small town, I don't live rural.
Population of about 8,800. There are street lights, side walks, county court house, a downtown area for shopping, a city hall, schools including a JC, and a very good public library and public transportation. The city maintains roads, trash pickup, has a police and fire dept. There's a 100 room hospital as well in town.
I live in an urban area but in miniature. It's not rural, it's a small town and a small city since it truly is a city by definition.
The OP questions living rural or big city then goes on to say small town, so it isn't clear. As others have already pointed out, it doesn't give the option of smaller urban areas or big city. There's lots and lots in-between that is not rural, and the question just assumes that all small towns don't provide basic services.
Definition of a city:
An incorporated municipality in the United States with definite boundaries and legal powers set forth in a charter granted by the state
Last edited by marino760; 12-03-2023 at 08:59 AM..
Rural and low crime don’t always go together. Here in east TN, the more rural almost always more crime.
Based on some of my work contracts in rural areas, I concur with the opinion that many rural areas in the US tend to be quite criminal. But the alternative to cities that the OP offered were smaller towns, not necessarily rural areas. Smaller towns in Connecticut aren't known for being criminal :-).
I have both. Live I n a smaller town of about 10k that is across the Prairie from what I call “the circus”. The Circus being Coeur d’Alene/Hayden/Post Falls, with all the medical care I could possibly want as well as abundant shopping, (e.g., Costco). If I need anything more, Spokane, (the second largest city population wise in Washington), is about a 45-60 minute drive away.
Besides, this is Idaho! You never know who is packing, and many do. Crime is low. (Spokane is not quite as safe as North Idaho.)
We live in a medium sized town which unfortunately is getting bigger and bigger. I hate the traffic now, the noise and the people moving in complain about everything here. We are seriously contemplating moving to a more rural area with 2-5 acres.
I'm not poor but I have lived under both of the options listed in the poll -- rural and city. I live in the best of both worlds -- about 15 miles outside of a city in a semi-rural undeveloped area. I can do that because I am not poor.
Being poor, what types of needs would need to be met? I think that a city would meet most of the needs. The dangers of city life are often greatly overblown if you are sensible and not doing risky things or making yourself a target. Criminals are mostly opportunists. Violent crime is most often between people who are known to each other. Take care of your stuff, be aware of your surroundings, don't join a gang, be cautious selecting your friends and associates. City life might expose you to more contagious disease but there are more healthcare options. There are more opportunities for employment. My city has free transit so a poor person can be mobile -- going to work or shopping or for healthcare or other services. Cities are generally more walkable. Police presence is going to be greater in a city.
Cities seem to provide similar menus of services and experiences. Rural or small towns have a higher degree of variation with services and experiences.
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