Moving to a Small Town – Is it a Good Idea?

You’re Going the Full Monty by Moving to a Small Town!

“Oh, what a marvelous idea!” some will say, while others will say, “You’ve gone bananas, old boy.” That’s because, like most things in life, there are pros and cons to moving to the countryside – or “the boonies,” as some folks fondly call it.

We used to think that the people attracted to the prospect of moving to a small town were mainly seniors seeking peace and quiet. However, it’s difficult to generalize because we’ve met many seniors who prefer to stick close to the hustle and bustle of the city. They don’t mind the noise and pollution of urban life, as it makes them feel alive and young-at-heart.

So, we’ve come to the conclusion that you don’t have to be a certain age or have a specific temperament to be a small-town lover. The reason could be purely circumstantial (like a job assignment) or a desire to shift from a supermarket diet to a strictly organic or home-grown one.

A multitude of reasons explains why people decide to move, and it’s a subject of demographic interest to sociologists and statisticians. Let’s take a look at the advantages:

Moving to a Small Town: Pros

People who move to the countryside are usually looking for something specific and have clear reasons for making the shift from city to village. Certainly, there are many advantages, and many of them are worth considering:

• Better environment for their children – No one will dispute that children need to be exposed to a good value system with the least amount of negative distractions while growing up. You want them to be self-sufficient, with village values deeply ingrained in them.
• Bigger space – While location is real estate’s mantra, some people don’t prioritize location because they need a bigger house and want to get the most bang for their buck. If that means moving to a small town, they’ll do it without thinking twice. A family of four could enjoy the added space – larger living areas, children not having to share rooms, and possibly even a barn or stable. House and land are a dream come true for families who believe that bigger is better but don’t want to pay city prices.
• Cleaner air, healthier lifestyles – In a big city, you’re forced to coexist with big industry. This means higher levels of pollution and fewer green spaces. In small towns, this isn’t an issue. Industries don’t typically build in small towns because they need immediate access to facilities and resources. Additionally, healthier values tend to prevail, with greater access to home-grown or organic food. Foods are less likely to be processed, and you can enjoy farm-grown fruits and vegetables untouched by manufacturing methods.
• Lower incidence of crime – This is still the general impression, although we’ve seen instances of crime even in the most peaceful and quiet towns. However, street crime is less prevalent, and since there are fewer public spaces like subways, malls, and bars, the likelihood of crime is reduced.

Moving to a Small Town: Cons

If city life runs through your veins, you may find it hard to adjust to small-town living. Some people welcome the change and stay forever, while others say, “The peace and quiet got to me after a while.” If you’ve spent your whole life in urban centers, you may want to think twice – or even three times – before making the move. There may be strong motivation to make this radical change, but whatever your reason, it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages carefully.

• “What happened to my Internet connection?” – If your job relies on constant internet access, research, or online work, be sure to check the internet service in your new small town. It’s not enough to have an internet provider; you’ll need one that’s reliable. In the city, when the internet connection falters, it’s frustrating, but imagine the chaos if you have inconsistent coverage in a rural area. If your livelihood depends on being online, make sure you won’t have to deal with intermittent service.
• Limited facilities – This is another crucial factor to consider. All humans rely on essential services: if you fall ill or have a health emergency, you want at least a few medical centers nearby; if you enjoy reading, you want libraries with a decent collection; and if you like to have fun, you want entertainment options. In a small town, these facilities might be lacking. If you’re a social butterfly, enjoy entertainment, or need quick access to services, make sure to count how many theaters, concert halls, bars, and universities exist in your town. If the population is under 20,000, the government might not provide these services as generously, preferring to allocate resources to more populated areas.
• Town gossip – Due to the lack of activities in small towns, gossip can run rampant. There’s the “everybody knows everybody” phenomenon. You can’t escape being the center of attention, especially if you’re new in town. People will want to know who you are, what you’re doing there, and if you have a big barn. If you’re a social butterfly, you’ll enjoy the attention, but if you’re the type who kept to yourself in the city, you might find the constant attention overwhelming. Expect knocks on your door with offers of homemade cookies and visits that will eat up your time!
• When disaster strikes – While moving to a small town may offer peace of mind and tranquility, consider this: if a hurricane, earthquake, or major snowstorm hits, how soon before help arrives? Does the town have emergency centers for evacuation? In the city, you’re usually back in business within a day after a major snowstorm, but in a small town, that efficiency might not be the same. You might have to wait much longer for help.
• “I miss the kids” – You will miss the kids, especially when they turn 18 and yearn for city life. They’ll likely want to attend one of the country’s best universities, which means they’ll move away. When you moved to the small town, you brought the whole family with you, thinking the idyllic lifestyle would last forever. However, as they grow older, they will slip away from your grip, whether you like it or not.

Moving to a small town might bring the splendor of grass, the songs of birds – tweet-tweet – and the peaceful murmurs of a stream. But before you call the movers, give it some serious thought.

What’s it going to be? Funky town or sleepy town?