Are you over the hustle, bustle, and cost of city living? What draws us somewhere at one point in our lives can easily change over time. As many people age, the siren call of extra space that living in the countryside can offer begins to get stronger and stronger. For even those who never thought they’d consider living in rural areas, this can be a surprising change of interest, but one that makes sense nonetheless.
There are tons of benefits of living in the country, from lower costs of living to an abundance of space and fresh air. If you’ve never considered country home living or the country lifestyle before, it might be hard to know much about the best rural towns in the U.S. But rest assured, they are out there — and they are slowly being discovered. Smaller places like St. Augustine, Florida and Sitka, Alaska are already known for their small town charm and accessible costs of living.
Stay ahead of the curve of those moving from the city to the country and take a look at the benefits of living in the country. Take a look at these five major benefits of country living. Once you’re sold on the idea, you can stay in front of the countryside living trend and start looking for your new home today!
1. Cleaner air
When it comes to the health benefits of living in the country, the impact of clean air can’t be overstated. Without the pollution that comes from major highways and general city congestion, the air in the country is less polluted and cleaner. In general, the more rural you get, the better air quality you enjoy according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chances are the increase in trees and grasses as opposed to paved streets and cement sidewalks that cover most cities are what we have to thank for that. When you enjoy cleaner air, you enjoy less impaired breathing, better lung function, increased heart health, and more.
2. Lower cost of living
One of the central advantages of living in the countryside means a lower cost of living. Not only are goods and services generally cheaper in more rural areas, the cost of buying or renting a home is often much lower as well. In general, you can get more space in the form of land and a home for your dollar than you can in more urban locations.
One study that compared the cost of living in rural areas of Pennsylvania to urban ones found that those who opt for country living paid less for everything from groceries to transportation and even health costs. Perhaps not surprisingly, one of the biggest disparities was among housing costs. In the rural areas, residents paid roughly 12.7 percent less on housing costs compared to their urban counterparts.
3. Increased access to nature
Even cities like New York with its sprawling Central Park and places like Minneapolis and St. Paul that are world-renowned for their parks just can’t compete with the easy and natural access to nature that comes with country living. One of the best benefits of living in the country is the increased access to nature — because it’s practically all around you no matter where you are. In a city you have to craft time away to enjoy the solitude that life in the country offers every day.
4. Less noise pollution
From cars and sirens to the chatter and parties of loud neighbors, city living comes with a lot of noise. While the hum of city life can make some people feel less isolated, it can bother others and even keep them up at night. When you’re living in the countryside, it’ll be the sound of crickets that lull you to sleep and bird chirps that wake you up in the morning.
These days, noise pollution is invading even the most protected natural areas. Living somewhere where noise is at a minimum is becoming an increasingly rare opportunity that you can only find in a home on the range where the buffalo (rather than cars) roam.
5. Less violent crime
Of course, there is crime everywhere. Living in the country isn’t going to remove your risk of falling victim to crime, but it will likely reduce it. Violent, person-on-person crimes like assault, robbery, and theft tend to be lower in more rural areas. First, fewer people mean fewer people to commit crimes and fewer opportunities to commit crimes against other people. The numbers speak for themselves. There tends to be a higher concentration of police officers per capita in more rural areas which makes some people feel safer.
Sold on country living? Then get started with your next home search today. There are plenty of amazing small and rural towns to pursue. From Taos, New Mexico and Sedona, Arizona to Grand Marais, Minnesota and Woodstock, Vermont, the options for the best of countryside living are practically endless. Happy (new) house hunting!
