Why do new parents feel the need to move to the suburbs when they have children? (boys, accidents)
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I'm really curious about this.
What’s wrong with raising their kids in the city? Is it really so bad to raise children in an urban environment?
What can they really do in the ‘burbs that they can’t do in a city?
What can they really do in the ‘burbs that they can’t do in a city?
Attend a safe school without paying for private school. Live in an area where there are more children, which translates into more neighborhood friend options.
Go outside with less parental supervision. Ride bicycles in the streets right outside their houses. Build forts in the woods, etc. etc. etc.
Parking without having to deal with permits or running out of space or "assigned" spaces that might or might not be taken by the neighbor's bratty kid when you get home from work.
Private driveways that aren't shared by three other families in the building, so when it's street-sweeping week, it doesn't matter that you have to pull your car in.
The likelihood that you have your own washing machine and dryer, and don't have to bring your stuff to the laundromat or a laundry room shared by every other tenant in the building.
A yard with actual trees growing in it.
Less traffic, fewer sirens, less honking, fewer car accidents, fewer strangers loitering on the corner.
Greater chance that you'll recognize every single face from the neighborhood when you see them in the supermarket.
Real actual supermarkets that are kept clean and don't smell like the homeless guy down the block.
No homeless guys down the block.
Fewer crack houses.
I'd argue that there's probably the same proportion of crime in the burbs as in the cities, but there's less violent crime, and fewer car thefts. Thieves don't normally take the bus out into the suburbs just to steal a car, and people who live in the burbs already own a car and don't need to steal one.
I've actually debated the pros and cons of this, since I plan on moving soon, and I guess I'm more of a city person. Generally speaking, I find suburbs boring. The houses tend to look the same, with the same little spindly trees, and the people blend in. I do love the idea of a yard, a nice school, and a safe neighborhood, but I just can't see myself in a suburb. Just not me. I like the idea of a city where everything you need is no more than a couple blocks away, where there's people to see and things to do. As long as I could find a reasonably safe place with decent schools, give me a city any day.
My closest city is Chicago. No way we could afford a single family home in a nice neighborhood there. Even if we could afford it, the yard would be the size of a postage stamp. We would most likely have to live in a condo with no yard, no thanks. And there is no way in he!! I would send my kids to Chicago public schools, which means shelling out the cash for private school. And don't even get me started on how much it costs just to have a designated place to park your car in the city. I lived in the city when I was young and single and it was great. Now that I have kids, the suburbs are the place for me.
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