{"id":7027,"date":"2025-08-29T14:30:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T21:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/?p=7027"},"modified":"2025-08-13T14:37:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T21:37:29","slug":"suburb-vs-city-pros-and-cons-for-modern-homebuyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/suburb-vs-city-pros-and-cons-for-modern-homebuyers","title":{"rendered":"Suburb vs City: Pros and Cons for Modern Homebuyers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The age-old tug-of-war between suburban serenity and urban buzz still shapes the choices of today\u2019s homebuyers. Dreaming of quiet streets, roomy backyards, and neighborhoods where kids ride their bikes till dusk? Or are you drawn to the culture, convenience, and fast-paced rhythm of city life? For many, it\u2019s a hard call to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Both have strong selling points – and definite drawbacks. As remote work<\/a> reshapes priorities and housing costs continue to push boundaries, many buyers understandably find themselves at a crossroads. Let\u2019s unpack the pros and cons of each:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Why the Suburbs Still Win Hearts<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"A<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/a>More Space for Less Money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nationally, the median existing\u2011home price in 2023 was $389,800<\/a> (a record high). While there isn\u2019t a single, authoritative suburban\u2011vs\u2011city median, prices in many large coastal principal cities certainly tend to skew higher, and buyers frequently find larger homes and yards at lower price-points in surrounding suburbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state you pick can swing the math even more: shop the cheapest states to buy a home<\/a> and you find that a typical home in West\u202fVirginia runs about\u202f$170,000<\/a>, and Mississippi sits just under $200,000<\/a> – both far below the national median. At the opposite extreme, Hawaii\u2019s average home tops\u202f$830,000<\/a>, with California near\u202f$786,000<\/a> and Massachusetts around\u202f$662,000<\/a>. Simply crossing a state line can add (or subtract) hundreds of thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Bigger Lots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For new single\u2011family homes sold in 2023, the median lot size was in the region of 8,400 sq ft<\/a> (0.19 acres), and 65% of new homes<\/a> sat on less than 9,000 sq ft lots. Lot sizes are typically smaller in dense urban cores and larger in suburbs and exurbs; custom homes, meanwhile, skew much larger (median 1 acre in 2023<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Family-Friendly Perks & Stronger Schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many buyers target suburbs for school options, parks, and kid\u2011centric amenities. Of course, school quality varies widely, so it\u2019s best to use local sources, such as state report cards and ratings resources like GreatSchools<\/a>, when comparing districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Lower Crime, Quieter Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, violent victimization in urban areas was approximately 33.4 per 1,000 residents, compared to 23.9 per 1,000 in suburban areas – about 40% higher in cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, by 2023, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported the rate of violent victimization in urban areas was 29.6 per 1,000 persons aged 12 or older<\/a>, a rate not statistically different from 2022, but nevertheless on the rise. Suburban and rural areas, meanwhile, showed no notable change from their 2022 rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, property victimization in urban areas rose from 176.1 per 1,000 households in 2022 to 192.3 per 1,000 in 2023<\/a>, while suburban and rural rates remained statistically stable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Remote Work Makes It Easier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among workers whose jobs can be done remotely, 35% worked fully from home<\/a> in 2023, with many others opting for a hybrid schedule – reducing the penalty of a longer commute a few days a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Downsides to Suburban Living<\/h3>\n\n\n\n