Suburbs vs. Country

[metroguy]

as someone in a city ---wanting to move the suburbs.. it's too late for us.. our kids are in a very good school in the city. there's nothing in the burbs that can match it--so we're stuck.

[HouseofWool]

I grew up in a rural setting. I cannot imagine going back and to it. I love being in an established neighborhood, I'm 15 minutes, by bike, from almost any place I to go. (Except work, that is 40 minutes by bike.)

[houseelf]

I'm in an older first ring suburb with a small, walkable town, and excellent schools. It's three square miles and I love it. I walk into the coffee shop or bakery or library and I usually know someone if only by their face. Downtown is ten minutes away. This is a community with a deep sense of belonging with two community gardens. There are little parades in our walkable streets, organic playdates in the neighborhood, mom and pop store fronts, and over half the district walks to school.

I will tell you that although this is ALWAYS on everyone's short list when they come here from out of state to look at neighborhoods classified as "good neighborhoods with good schools", people often gasp when they see the 'hood on the other side of the tracks. My house can be triangulated between the country club, the convent, and a meth house that blew up 3 blocks from my house. There have been shootings in broad day light within five minutes drive from my house. Some people would rather commute in from an exurb 30 minutes outside of the city to avoid this. It's not for everyone, but it is for me. I only knew that by living here though. Sometimes you don't know until you try.