6 Reasons to Leave the Big City — And Where to Live Instead
For those paying a premium for downtown living, easy access to all the perks of city life — restaurants, nightlife, museums, sports — justifies handing over a massive rent check every month. However, with the cost of living soaring in most places and a large population of young professionals working from home, many people question whether it’s worth it anymore.
Some people are big-city purists and love the hustle and bustle of major metropolises — even with the hefty price tag. But inflation has prompted many others to rethink their living situations and consider joining the big city exodus. A survey by Ipsos found that 42% of people have either moved or thought about moving since March 2020, and rural areas, small and mid-size cities were their top choices.
Here at Livability, we take finding your best place to live seriously. We analyze thousands of data points to curate an annual ranking of the Top 100 Best Places to Live, where you can survive and thrive. We believe affordability is one of the biggest benefits of living in a smaller city. Our cities may be smaller, but what you can accomplish in them is BIG.
Thinking about making a move yourself? We don’t blame you. Here are six reasons you might want to leave big city life behind (some recommendations on where to live instead!).
In This Article
1. You want more affordable living.
Remote work has become our new normal. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 22 million people work from home full-time. That means 1 in 5 workers in the United States work remotely either on a fully remote or hybrid schedule. Because employees are no longer tethered to a physical office, there is more freedom than ever in deciding which markets will allow you to best stretch your dollar.
Multiple factors contribute to the cost of living, from how much it costs to park your car to your lunch tab. But since housing likely has the most significant impact on your budget, let’s check out what it would cost to buy a home in a big city versus purchasing in a smaller, more affordable city.
First-time homebuyers, on average, put down eight percent on a home, according to the National Association of Realtors. So, here’s how much you’d have to save for a down payment in major metros versus more affordable cities that still have big-city amenities:
Average down payment on a median-priced home in San Francisco: $86,831 down on $1,447,191
Average down payment on a median-priced home in New York City: $54,560 down on $682,000
vs.
Average down payment on a median-priced home in Pueblo, CO: $22,000 on $275,000
Average down payment on a median-priced home in Pittsburgh, PA: $19,566 down on $244,455
Located in southern Colorado, Pueblo is one of the most affordable places to live in the state. Home prices are below the state and national averages, giving buyers a bang for their buck. Lot sizes are spacious; hiking, biking and kayaking adventures can fill your weekends, and there’s even an Instagram-worthy outdoor neon alley with vintage signs.
Pittsburgh is one of Livability’s best places to live because of the affordable entry point. Known as the “City of Bridges,” the city is integral to Pennsylvania’s burgeoning tech scene. This city is also known for its creativity and inventions, as showcased at the Warhol Museum, various craft breweries and Inventionland, an immersive work environment with sets like a shipwrecked pirate ship and cupcake kitchen.
Fun fact: Both Pueblo and Pittsburgh are known as steel cities. Even better? Both cities have reinvented themselves as hip places to live.
2. You want more space.
In some smaller cities, it’s not only easier to afford a home with more space, but the great outdoors — mountains, rivers, forests — are pretty much an extension of residents’ backyard. So, if being cooped up at home isn’t your thing, start zeroing in on communities that prize their geographical assets and want them to be easily accessible to residents.
Known as the ‘Magic Valley,’ Southern Idaho offers a hat trick for outdoor enthusiasts. The area is surrounded by waterfalls, mountains and rivers. The area’s distinctive geography is a result of volcanoes and the United States’ largest private irrigation project. A fun way to cool down during the summer is to just add water — whether it’s a kayaking or whitewater rafting excursion on the Snake River, bird-watching and hiking along Auger Falls Park or fishing at Hagerman Wildlife Management Area. In nearby Boise, there are nearly 200 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails close to downtown.
Outside Magazine has lauded Chattanooga as its best town ever. High praise, but well-deserved when you realize this Tennessee city has all of the great outdoor amenities you’d wish for, like a 13-mile Riverwalk that runs parallel to the Tennessee River and the Tennessee River Gorge, known as “Tennessee’s Grand Canyon.” But some unexpected adventures are beckoning in the Greater Chattanooga region, too. Residents have access to plenty of spots for rock climbing, cave exploration and even river snorkeling.
3. You want friendly neighbors and a tight-knit community.
Friendly neighbors and a tight-knit community create a sense of belonging and make all of the difference when it comes to loving where you live. Sharing produce from your garden, saying hello on an afternoon stroll and knowing someone is looking out for you are a few ways that connections can make a place truly feel like home.
So where are communities especially tight-knit?
Turn your attention to Tampa. The sunny city completed Water Street Tampa, a massive, $3 billion redevelopment project connecting the city’s waterfront to downtown. But it also brings residents together in a new way thanks to apartment buildings with amenities like rooftop gardens and fitness centers. Plus, a 2.5-mile Riverwalk allows for social distancing and access to public parks.
Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are known for a welcoming and friendly vibe. New to town? Check out a program that offers new residents a “wingman” to help them connect and make new friends. Cedar Rapids has made a name for itself as a place that celebrates international culture. The city is home to a large population of people who have descended from immigrants from today’s Czech and Slovak Republics and is home to America’s first mosque, the Mother Mosque of America. McGrath Amphitheatre and Veterans Memorial Stadium bring residents together for festivals and concerts.
In nearby Iowa City, residents bond over cheering on the Hawkeyes and embrace a culture of creativity and collaboration. The economy is diverse — showcased in the mix of startup and Fortune 500 companies that make the area thrive.
4. You’re over traffic jams.
Commuters waste an average of 54 hours a year (an entire weekend!) stuck in traffic, according to the Urban Mobility Report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. The time spent in traffic is highest in major metropolises:
- San Francisco-Oakland (103 hours a year)
- Washington, D.C. (102 hours a year)
- New York-Newark (92 hours a year)
- Boston (80 hours a year)
- Seattle (78 hours a year)
- Atlanta (77 hours a year)
- Houston (75 hours a year).
Wish you had more time in your day? Eliminate your commute and move to a city where traffic jams are nonexistent.
According to a study from a car insurance comparison website, Iowa has the safest drivers in the nation. On average, commuters only spend 15 minutes on their way to and from work in Ames, which is 10 minutes less than the national average. You know what that means? More time for happy hours at a brewery or a post-work ride along the miles of bike trails in Ames. Keep your eyes peeled for public art; Ames has a cool Neighborhood Sculpture Program.
We all know Los Angeles and San Francisco are both notorious for bad traffic. But it’s possible to live in California without messing with standstill traffic. Fresno, located in central California, has an average commute time of 22.3 minutes. When you want to slip away on the weekends, the Sierra Nevada mountains are an easy two-hour drive, and the coast is three hours away. Oh, but one road you’ll want to take your time on in Fresno: The Fresno County Blossom Trail, which typically blossoms from mid-February to mid-March, and the citrus blossoms perfume the air. Heaven.
5. You’re looking for a strong job market.
Thinking about reinventing your career? Urban job markets can be cutthroat, and you might be feeling some scarcity within your current industry. However, in some small and mid-sized cities throughout the United States, you can still find strong job markets where collaboration and creativity thrive.
In Murfreesboro, TN, about 30 miles southeast of Nashville, the job market grew by 10 percent between 2017 and 2022. Many current job openings are in manufacturing and construction, but Murfreesboro is in the midst of a tech boom, too.
Want more ideas for solid economies with plenty of job opportunities? Take a look at this list of the most diversified economies in the United States. Madison, WI tops the list with advanced manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, information technology and life sciences among the key industries. Plus, it’s on an isthmus between lakes Monona and Mendota, has some stunning architecture like the Monona Terrace convention center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and a college town’s fun, youthful vibe.
6. You want to go back to school.
Whether you are thinking about going back to school to explore a new career path or simply love the energy of college towns, there are mid-sized towns with resilient economies that make fantastic places to live.
On the West Coast, Corvallis, OR, has a lesser-known tech scene thanks to several software startups, a strong engineering program at Oregon State University, and Hewlett Packard’s presence.
Or, on the East Coast, Rochester, NY, is a college town with several key industries that continue to thrive, including photonics, optics and biotech.
And in between is Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan and a creative city with a botanical garden, museums, beer gardens and great restaurants including Zingerman’s Deli, a beloved icon.