neighbors enjoying food at neighborhood block party

How Do You Know It’s Time to Move to the Suburbs?

If you live in Washington D.C. or any major urban area in the United States, for that matter, there may come an inevitable time when you’re wondering if it’s time to move to the suburbs.

For a lot of people, this might be when you have kids, and especially when you’re thinking about school for your kids. 

To go back to the example of D.C., maybe you’re looking at communities like the Atrium at Metrowest in Fairfax. 

If you’re in New York City, you might think about the Hudson Valley or New Jersey. 

Every big city has suburbs, but is a move right for you? How do you know whether it’s time to think about it?

row of houses in suburban neighborhood

What Are the Pros and Cons of Life in the Suburbs?

The upsides of suburban living include the fact that the school systems are often better and the crime rates may be lower than in a big city. It’s quieter and calmer to live in the suburbs compared to a city, and there is less noise pollution as well as general pollution. 

It can be less expensive to live in the suburbs. 

There are cons, however. First, the commute can be tough depending on where you work. There are people who are driving an hour each more to reach their jobs from the suburbs, meaning less time to spend with your family or doing the things you enjoy. 

While you may be able to afford a more spacious home in the suburbs versus the city, you’ll also have to pay for furniture and other expensive items, and you might have to add things like lawn care into your budget or your schedule.

Public transportation also tends to be limited in the suburbs, so you might have to buy a car if you don’t already have one. 

When you live in the city, there are more job opportunities and there are more cultural opportunities. 

Some people find that the city is very stressful, and the environment is one that feels constantly on the go, so it can take a toll on you mentally and physically, whereas suburban life is more relaxed, and things go at a slower pace. 

Signs You Might Be Ready for the Suburbs

The following are things that could indicate you’re ready to move to the suburbs. 

  • You’re simply spending more time outside of the city. If you’re going away every weekend to somewhere quieter and more tranquil, or you’re regularly heading to the suburbs for whatever reason, this lifestyle might be calling to you. A lot of the perks of city living are the many things to do in your free time, but if you’re no longer compelled to do those things, you might think about a move. 
  • Maybe you feel happier and more relaxed when you’re not in the city. For example, during that time when you’re in the suburbs or spending time outside of the city, are you feeling like you’re in a better headspace?
  • If you have young kids and you live in a big city, you might already be feeling the pressure of trying to find the right school. New York City is notoriously known for a hectic school scramble, even for preschools. The best schools often have rigorous admissions processes and long wait lists. If you’re not interested in this, you can move to the suburbs and not have to deal with it. You can research the public school districts and find a home in one that seems well-suited to your family’s needs, and that’s it. Your kids can jump right into public school.
  • Maybe you’re no longer maximizing the city lifestyle. For example, when you first came to the city, you might have been out and about enjoying all the amenities and perks, but now maybe those things have lost some of their allure for you. There’s no reason to pay a premium to live in a city when you’re not enjoying the cultural activities, entertainment, restaurants, and all the things that make the lifestyle unique. If you’re spending more time at home than you once did, it could indicate a suburban move is right for you. 
  • A good reason to leave the city for the suburbs is if you’re craving more space and perhaps outdoor space. Maybe you want to sit in your own backyard or have in-home amenities like a separate workspace. You might want space for your kids and pets to run around without having to go to a public park. 
  • A sign that you’re ready for a move might be that you can afford it. Maybe you’ve been saving for a down payment for a while, and you finally feel like you could be comfortable buying a home rather than continuing to be a renter. 

The pandemic changed a lot of people’s mindsets about how they wanted to live. During lockdowns, they were confined to small apartments with no outdoor access, and that led them to want to have more freedom which can come from a suburban lifestyle. 

The pandemic led people who maybe never seen themselves outside of the city to think about what it could be like to leave, and if you haven’t left yet, but you’ve been thinking about it, you aren’t alone. 

Of course, city living isn’t going anywhere any time soon, so it’s a very personal decision. 

Whether or not the suburbs are right for you really does depend on your family’s needs and preferences and what you want out of life. It’s easy for suburban living to get boring compared to the city, but that slower pace can be better for you mentally, whereas it could easily drive other people crazy. 

There’s not a single right answer or point in time where everyone can say a move to the suburbs is right for them, but if you feel that tug to get out of the city, it’s something worth exploring.

For a lot of people, the ideal situation is to stay close enough to the city to take advantage of what it has to offer while getting the best out of suburban living as well.