City living vs. suburbs living (long)

Snowbird7 · November 2013

Hey, ladies. I was hoping to get your opinions about relocating. DH and I currently live in the teensy house I bought when I was single. Now that we have added LO, we're bursting at the seams and looking for a new house.

Our dilemma is choosing a neighborhood. We'd like to be within the city, but the houses are more expensive and much older (neither of us are very handy). There are shops, restaurants, and parks around, and we just like the feel of it. But we'd be stuck buying another small house. Our other option is moving to the suburbs, where the houses are less expensive and have better amenities (walk-in closets, big garages and back yards), but the traffic is a nightmare and we'd have to drive everywhere. (Plus, it's farther from our jobs.)

My gut feeling is that we'll stay in the city, and just put up with the lack of space and parking. I should add that the quality of schools is about the same for both options.

My question for those of you who have bought or rented homes in urban areas, did you choose city or suburbs? Now that you have a LO, do you still like your decision or do you regret it?

magdalina.h · November 2013

We bought a larger house that added an extra 5 minute commute to work on top of the 20 it used to take. We chose more space and yard so we won't burst at the seams. This is our forever house that will easily take us up to having grandkids come over.

AprilRaine · November 2013

We live in the suburbs, granted I don't think the traffic is THAT bad, DH does currently work about 45 minutes from home. The neighborhood we chose is very family oriented with an amazing park, family events, farmers markets, parades so I definitely wouldn't trade it for anything now.
While in my single days I did love downtown, I just can't really picture my boys riding their bikes down the street and the higher crime rates would make me a little nervous too.
But it's all up to your lifestyle too! We're kinda on the boring side and don't go out very often like I think I would if I lived downtown.

Michelle N · November 2013

We chose the suburbs, but both DH and I chose jobs in this neighbourhood so we wouldn't have to commute. I didn't like city living, but it's a personal preference. I like having a yard, and a bigger house than we could have afforded on the same budget in the city.

Snowbird7 · November 2013

Theusualmischief Yup, we're in Louisville. DH actually works in New Albany, so we've considered Indiana, but I get so nervous about relying on the bridges! It would drive me nuts to get stuck on them every time there's an accident or an event downtown. But you're right; the money will go much farther in real estate (and the walk-in closets look sooooo appealing).

Caz1221 · November 2013

We bought a small house in the city (Boston) a little over two years ago. We have enough space for LO and could make it work with 2 kids if necessary (we have 3 bedrooms), but it would be tight. We like having shorter commutes and being close to all the city amenities, but we always planned to move to the burbs sometime before LO starts kindergarten (so within the next 5 years). However, DH just got a new job that is out in the burbs, so we may be moving sooner than originally planned in order to improve his commute and get parking (since we will now need 2 cars and currently park on the street).

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

DH and I have this debate. We don't own yet, but this is one of the reasons why. We're in SoCal, so everything is expensive. I would rather buy a condo and be able to walk to parks, shops, grocery store, etc.

DH wants a large house that's better for entertaining, in one of those neighborhoods that is just houses.

I think it's a really personal decision. Good luck whatever you decide!

bluegirl0429 · November 2013

LJUTCMommy said:

DH and I have this debate. We don't own yet, but this is one of the reasons why. We're in SoCal, so everything is expensive. I would rather buy a condo and be able to walk to parks, shops, grocery store, etc.

DH wants a large house that's better for entertaining, in one of those neighborhoods that is just houses.

I think it's a really personal decision. Good luck whatever you decide!

Agreed. We live in California as well, where everything is expensive, so we currently rent. DH and I would love to live in the city but we have LO now and feel that a house in the suburbs is cheaper and better for us. Plus, schools are a huge factor where we live.

Weigh the pros and cons of each living situation and choose from there.

carrotcake06 · November 2013

We live in a tiny house in a big city

Unfortunately, we'll be moving before our oldest hits K for school quality reasons. We can't swing a house in the city + private school.

However, we'll be staying in an inner-ring suburb that's just as close to the city center as we are now, just across a river and in another county.

I'd never move to suburban sprawl (note that not all suburbs are sprawl).

V&G101808 · November 2013

It definitely depends on what you feel is more important... shorter commute, being in the center of it all, or a bigger home/yard/more bang for your buck.

I live in the suburbs but we have everything near by. We're not that close to downtown but I also don't have a need to be downtown. When needed, we can drive the 30 minutes to get to downtown and enjoy a new restaurant, etc.

Marvel1013 · November 2013

Downtown where I live is crazy. Waaaay too much traffic, tons of high rises and condos, and the houses are either rundown and expensive or brand new and expensive.. Even a 1 bedroom condo would be expensive, so there would be no chance of moving there. Not for me or H. I love where we live. Close to schools, shops, everything.

You said you bought a small house and are bursting at the seams.. Just curious as to why you would move out of a small house into another small house? I guess it just depends where you both would feel more comfortable and would like to raise your family. Also, if you plan on having more children you might want to consider space as an option. You wouldn't want to move to a small place in the city and then have another child and need to move to somewhere bigger

PB102012 · November 2013

We also chose the suburbs. We got a big lot with a house that has a field with cows just behind our fence line, we love it. Downtown is great, we love the restaurants and shops, but we would not have had a yard for LO to run around in when she gets older and that's important to us.

sparks4stp · November 2013

I live in Chicago and I keep trying to get farther and farther away. I think I'm closer to Wisconsin now than the city. I have everything I could ever need out here (a 5 min drive from my tiny town) and if I want to go to the city I can take the train (also 5 min away). I hate the hustle and bustle and concrete and lack of nature. I like wide open spaces, big yards for my dogs, and the close knit community I live in. Sure the traffic kinda sucks when commuting to work but I don't work in the city. Dh does and takes the train.
I've never been a fan of the city though. It's fun to visit occasionally but that's about it. I guess I'm biased haha

BlueJewelM · November 2013

V&G101808 said:
It definitely depends on what you feel is more important... shorter commute, being in the center of it all, or a bigger home/yard/more bang for your buck.

I live in the suburbs but we have everything near by. We're not that close to downtown but I also don't have a need to be downtown. When needed, we can drive the 30 minutes to get to downtown and enjoy a new restaurant, etc.

All this. I love the suburbs. I'm a suburban girl. I'm also a mostly SAHM so I find a lot other SAHMs to hang out with and friends for my littles.

I lived downtown with DH before kids. I loved it, but it's not where I personally would want to raise children. We may move back after our kids grow up.

MitsB707 · November 2013

We settled down in the suburbs, but relatively near public trans that could easily take us into the city. It is also an easy commute via train for dh.

thoughtfulmommy · November 2013

We moved just out of the city to the suburbs. It was affordable and we could get a larger newer house. We are very happy with the decision. We have everything we need, it's just not all walking distance.

We don't have a ton of *stuff* but I do appreciate the space, closets, extra rooms we have.

ktballz · November 2013

We rent right now because buying a house in our part of CA is kind of ridiculous. Our mortgage would be more per month than our rent currently is even if we put 25% down with an awesome interest rate. Even renting is becoming outrageous. I don't live in the largest city in our area but could never imagine living in the suburbs. I grew up in the suburbs. Where I live now we almost never go to chain stores or restaurants. We get to know the owners of restaurants we frequent and servers remember us at brunch. I also love being able to walk around my neighborhood and see tons of different people. I can't imagine not living in the city.

Snowbird7 · November 2013

KatieR2310 I should have explained better.

The house we live in now is a 1-bedroom, about 1,000 sq feet and not really a family-friendly house. It's all completely open, with practically no interior walls. LO has no door on his nursery (former office area) either. There's also a loft space upstairs with a half-wall overlooking the first floor, and it makes me nervous (for when LO is a toddler) to have a child with that potential danger. If we stayed in the city, we could look for a house that's more child-friendly, with separate rooms and doors and no loft space. It would be slightly bigger (say, 1,300 sq feet) than what we have now, but still small compared to the big suburbs houses.

ericamdorr · November 2013

We have lived I city, burbs and rural. We chose the burbs for our second house. After living in all it was the best choice, agreed schools are the same, but it has a much better quality if family life and socialization or children. My husband does have a longer commute but he said it is totally worth it. We are close enough to the city that it is still an option for activities and dining, but far enough that we have a clam and comfortable life style.

Marvel1013 · November 2013

@ayanahazel1 ahh that makes sense, something more kid friendly for sure. I guess it's just up to what you prefer!

WheeLinTheSky3 · November 2013

If you plan to stay there awhile, I would compare school districts. I would choose the area with the better schools. Its not as far off as you might think

I would also prioritize which things are more important to you. I live in the suburbs of DC which is infamous for traffic. MH works off hours to avoid the heavy traffic, maybe that is in option?

MagPie 1986 · November 2013

We moved from a tiny apt in the city to a house in the suburbs and, whereas I love our house, the schools and location, I miss our city life terribly. We had a dog, too, so we really needed a house and couldn't afford one in the city. There were other factors, also, that made a house in the suburbs a smart decision but we do miss it.

If you can swing it, I would totally opt for a smaller space in a better location. City dwellings hold their value more, too.

Lovehavinggirls · November 2013

We live in Staten Island so part of NYC but not as crazy as Manhattan. We just signed a contract on a house and had considered leaving NYC so we could get a bigger house / more yard but the benefits of staying here ended up winning. If this house didn't work out we would have thought more about it.
I would write a list of benefits of both and decide what right for your family. Also if you move and end up having more kids would a house in the city be too small?

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City living vs. suburbs living (long)

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