Toying between escaping to the countryside and investing wholeheartedly in corporate city life? You’re not alone.
Young people are fleeing low-opportunity rural areas in favour of the suburbs, while a drive for connection is encouraging retirees to seek urban housing. Yet that peaceful countryside lifestyle still holds appeal.
It’s the ultimate debate and worth settling once and for all. Should you choose the city or the countryside? Here’s where you should live in England.
Cost of living
Price is always going to be a major consideration. As a whole, cities are more expensive yet provide better salaries and career prospects. In contrast, countryside living has cheaper property and living costs, just without the same job opportunities.
Of course, with the influence of hybrid and remote working, well-connected and semi-rural areas are becoming increasingly desirable.
Lifestyle & pace of life
The lifestyle variation is a key difference between the two. If you thrive on a fast-paced atmosphere with a non-stop calendar of restaurant dates and cultural events, city life is best. The countryside still offers community, just at a slower pace and with a more close-knit nature. When weighing up relocation, consider honest rather than glamorised accounts of moving to the countryside.
Transport & connectivity
Connection is a frequent swaying factor. Lack of transport can prompt retirees to sell remote cottages, while a rural train station might persuade inner-city residents to go hybrid and escape to the countryside.
Generally speaking, the city lifestyle comes with seamless public transport. Catch buses, trains, and underground systems at the click of a finger. That comes with sacrifices, though, like traffic congestion and high fares. Countryside residents rely heavily on cars, often facing limited public transport options. But their surroundings are more scenic, and they experience less traffic.
Health & well-being
Whether you’re weighing up new build homes in the city or countryside, health and well-being should be a major consideration. Air quality is better in the countryside than in polluted cities. However, urban areas have quicker access to hospitals and healthcare facilities, like wellness centres and gyms.
The countryside is optimal for outdoor activities, like hiking, which can coincide with a healthier lifestyle. It’s worth considering your own personal health and well-being preferences. Do you prefer woodland walks or 7:30 am workouts at a gym?
Work & career opportunities
Ultimately, work and career opportunities will sway most UK residents. Countryside dwellers frequently face difficulties in career progression, a big reason behind the exodus of youth from rural areas. The city industries might be competitive, but the growth and networking potential are substantial.
The countryside is notoriously poor for career prospects. But don’t rule it out too quickly; the increase in remote working is facilitating more rural living. There’s the option of skill-based jobs, too.
It’s a tough call, but it falls down to your lifestyle and career preferences; would you pick the city or the countryside?
