Thinking about trading the city for the country? Here are some things you'll discover
One of the first things everyone remarks upon when they move from city lights to the country sights is the cost of housing.
An 800-square-foot apartment in Washington D.C. costs $1,800. Same apartment in a small town: $400. But most go for the two- or three-bedroom. That's going to cost $650.
What's less obvious is the impact of the ambiance. There will be less noise. But will that be comforting? Victoria Gazeley, writing in Modern Homesteading, says she could hardly sleep at first with no one around. Every noise made her jump. Every storm made a tree limb come down.
There will be less bustle. People in small towns still hurry to get to work on time. But there won't be a traffic jam. You'll drive everywhere. Your car and insurance are going to eat up some of the savings in housing.
Remember, the chances are also good you won't be able to order a curry. Forget a deli but you will find a Subway. You will find gyms and coffee shops. The smaller the town, the less likely you'll find a bookstore, many of which have been shut down by online retailers. But there will be a well-funded library.
The farther away from the city, the more conservative opinions urbanites will find. A 2017 Washington Post survey found that rural people are much more skeptical of government. Rural people also believe their values are very different from city dwellers.
On the whole, there will be less crime, but crime nonetheless. There will be cleaner air all the time, but watch out if you want to buy near a dairy farm.
