Many people dream of living in a luxurious apartment in a bustling city , while others prefer a quiet life, without being bothered by anything but nature . But life in a big city and isolated rural towns are not our only options. There is something “in between” that is quieter than the city, but more developed than the rural countryside. These are the suburban areas that we are going to explain in more detail, discovering what their main characteristics are.
Suburban areas: what are they and what are their characteristics
Suburban areas are often characterized as quiet areas full of families with young children. But the truth is that we not only find families in these types of neighborhoods or areas and they are not all peaceful and quiet peripheral areas.
Definition of suburban: What exactly is a suburban area?
A suburban area is a group of properties, primarily residential , that are not densely packed, but located in close proximity to an urban area. Also known as “suburbs,” these areas are often outside the larger metropolitan areas, but can be spread out even further.
The suburbs are not urban, but they do not yet have any of the defining characteristics of a rural area such as agriculture or open spaces.
As we mentioned, suburban areas portrayed in popular culture are often shown with families with multiple children and not with single people or young couples. However, this image is really a misconception.
Especially with recent events leading to remote work environments, many young, single professionals are working from home. This has made living in a quieter area in a spacious house more attractive , since there is plenty of space to be able to have a good office inside the home, separated from the rest of the rooms and live and work in a way more comfortable to how you can get to do in the city.
Furthermore, as housing prices in urban areas skyrocket, young people are unable to buy a flat or are unwilling to pay rents that have skyrocketed to “sky high” prices. As a result, they are moving from the city to more suburban areas.
What is the difference between a suburban neighborhood and an urban one?
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish what is a suburban neighborhood from an urban or rural area. In fact, depending on the definition you choose, the lines can be blurred.
But in general we can say that suburban areas or neighborhoods are at a reasonable distance from an urban area. While they are not as densely populated as urban neighborhoods, they do have a fairly large population , although it is more dispersed in areas of single-family homes , rather than stacked apartment buildings.
These areas are mainly residential areas, although they may also have shops or the odd business. Housing is more affordable than in the main city centers and you will find larger houses with their own private gardens or patios, rather than smaller apartments or flats.
There are not as many amenities, as many shops or large shopping centers. However, some grocery stores and usually some additional restaurants and stores can be found to meet the needs of residents although these may be somewhat out of the way.
Urban neighborhoods are instead in the middle of all the action . They are in the busy areas that cities occupy, so they are organized mainly in apartment buildings or apartments.
The urban centers of cities are filled with office buildings and commercial businesses. They also have many restaurants, shops, and entertainment options within walking distance.
But being in the center of it all comes at a price: the cost of living is higher overall, and everything from rent to what you buy costs more. Urban areas provide easy access to a wide public transport network, which is almost necessary if we want to save the expense of driving around the city.
