In recent years, more people have left bustling cities for quieter, more affordable areas in an effort to secure a home without breaking the bank. To see if the move is really worth it, we asked those in the BuzzFeed Community who’ve made the leap to share the highs and lows of trading city life for life in the boonies. Here’s what they had to say:
1.
“I moved from a big coastal tourism town to a small town closer to the mountains. Housing prices had more than tripled in just a few years where I lived, so we moved here to be able to afford a home and to be closer to family about two months ago. The town is lovely, and I love our house, and there are other great things about where I live now, but I definitely miss my old town. I miss my friends and the beach and all the concerts and parties and events. I also miss the fact that my old town was the only blue county in a very red state, and we’ve had a hard time finding like-minded people where we live now. I was friends with everyone where I used to live, but now I meet or work with people whose views just don’t align with mine. It’s a weird and lonely feeling.”
2.
“My partner and I moved from renting in the LA area to owning in a California mountain town. It felt like we made a great move when COVID hit and home prices went up, though things have been flat or slightly down since. I love being a homeowner and being surrounded by nature. I love having a guest bedroom that friends can come stay in. The crime rate is similar to that in bigger cities, though, and economic opportunities are limited. I’ve heard it’s hard to live here if you’re single and looking to date.”
3.
“Moved from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to eastern Tennessee. Should have done this decades ago!”
—glitterycaptain49
4.
“I left a beautiful coastal city where I lived for 13 years, priced out by gentrification. I moved inland in 2012 and bought a house that, according to Zillow, has tripled in value. The home was an ‘as-is’ short sale, and we poured all of our savings into it to make it livable. Out here, every block looks the same — nothing within walking distance, no place to go out and meet people, no culture, and people aren’t very welcoming. I wish I had never come out here. I wish I had stayed in the city and bought a small condo.”
5.
“I left my beloved home in Brooklyn. Moved to bum-fuck and couldn’t be happier. The cost of living is half of what I was used to. The peace and quiet are worth it alone.”
—brooklynbrawler
6.
“We moved to a smallish college town in central Missouri, away from the Kansas City metro. For the most part, it’s really made everything better. Our property taxes are way less, we got way more house for the money, and the smaller schools are better for our kids. We have everything we need in town still, but sometimes we make a day of ‘going to town.’ There are some specialty items we can’t get here, but we didn’t move so far away that we can’t still get them. The other downside is if we don’t feel like cooking, we don’t have as many options for restaurants. The traffic is all two-lane highways here. Driving back in the city gives me anxiety now, lol.”
7.
“Actually, I do not see much difference. The cost of living is less, but the local jobs also pay less. If I wanted to commute to the city for those higher wages, I would lose money in gas and vehicle maintenance, plus time for the commute. I also have to drive twice a month or more to the city to shop at any store that isn’t Walmart or Dollar General. We have the basic fast food — McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Subway and Sonic — and a BBQ and chicken place. But if you want ethnic food, you either stock up at a specialty grocery in the city or eat in the city on one of those trips. Plus, you have to coordinate with your family when everyone has time to make the run to the city, which is an hour and a half each way if you don’t get caught in rush hour. You can’t just order stuff to be delivered same day, and when you do order from Amazon or online, you’re lucky if the delivery person can find your house.”
8.
“The area where I’ve lived in the inland Northwest since 2013 has nearly doubled in size in the last five years. The houses and condos being built are too expensive for locals and are aimed at transplants from California and Arizona. Traffic is a nightmare, and the interstate is adding two new lanes in each direction. Crime is up — every week on Nextdoor, people post about thefts and vandalism, and the police post pictures of shoplifters, hoping someone will identify them.”
—msminn
9.
“I moved from downtown in a major West Coast city to rural Vermont, and I’ve never been happier. I never would have pictured it for myself, but the pieces just all fell into place the right way. Our life is definitely different, but it’s so much better. We don’t have a ton of options for shopping. I do miss easy access to an amazing diversity of foods, but it’s very much worth it. Our community is tight but welcoming. We have built a beautiful network of friends I could’ve never imagined. I see friends multiple days a week and never feel lonely like I did in the city. We’re outside every day because we can be, and it’s wonderful. We make less, but we shop less, eat out less, and spend a lot of time on low-cost things like gardening, hiking, and bonfires with friends. The biggest difficulty is being far from family and far from an airport. It turns any travel, even short trips, into a real schlep.”
10.
“You have to deal with wildlife. Our neighbor’s cows and goats are always getting out. People drop off dogs and cats. Skunks, armadillos, and snakes decide to make homes in your yard. Mice and spiders invade when the hay gets mowed. I had dreams of having a big garden, canning, and being off-grid. Yeah, no — it is much harder than it looks on social media. My thumb is so not green, and neither are any of the plants I tried growing. They all died. I killed plants that, according to the internet, are foolproof.”
11.
“I own my home outright. The area is beautiful! The cost of living is going up, and my wages have increased somewhat. I had to stop working for the state to afford to live in the state I live in, which is sad. Drug use is rampant in the area, but crime is still lower than in the Houston area.”
—blueorca234
So, what do you think? Convinced to make the move yourself? Alternatively, if you have already made the move, let us know how it’s going for you in the comments below!