More Than Ever, Americans Prefer the Suburbs. NewsWire

NewsWire: 1/11/22

• Americans’ growing preference for the suburbs over the city persists, nearly two years into the pandemic. The share wanting to live in the suburbs has ticked up since 2018, while the share preferring cities has ticked down. (Pew Research Center)
• NH: According to a recent Pew poll, Americans’ preference for suburban living continues to grow. In 2018, 42% of adults preferred suburbia over city and rural communities. In 2021, that share rose +4 percentage points to 46%. 
• Conversely, Americans’ preference for city living continues to fall. In 2018, 23% of adults preferred the city. In 2021, that share dropped -4 percentage points to 19%. Fully 43% of urban dwellers want to move. That's a +6 percentage point rise from 3 years ago. 

• We have been covering this new preference for suburban living since the mid-2010s, and we have pointed out that the shift has been exceptionally preannounced among Millennials. While the net flow of those in their early 20s is still toward large cities, the net flow of older Millennials has shifted to the suburbs. (See "More Americans Want to Head for the Hills.") 
• So why are Americans turning so negative towards city life? Here are a few possibilities:
• Covid-19: In general, infection risk rises in crowded urban settings. This is especially a risk for older adults. (See “Seniors Push Up Demand for Single-Family Homes.”)
• Rising Violence: Over the last two years, urban areas have experienced a rise in violent crimes. Perhaps some people see the city as increasingly dangerous. (See "FBI Releases Official 2020 Crime Report.") 
• Lack of Community: Economists like Jan K. Brueckner have long argued that social interactions are stronger in less dense areas and that people are less likely to know their neighbors in the city. We know that Millennials desire strong communities, and the anonymity of urban life could be a turn-off. 
• Cost of Living: The rising cost of living in most urban areas (especially the cost of housing) is making city life less affordable for many young people. (See “Millennials Ditching Big Cities for the Suburbs.”)
• Of course, these Pew numbers don’t mean everyone will leave their city homes. Having a preference and physically moving are two different things. But with the increase of telework, it has never been easier to live where you want and still keep your corporate job.