Moving to a new city
Should I live in the city or the suburbs when I move somewhere new?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Choose the suburbs if you want more space for the money, a house or yard, or particular schools, and do not mind driving. Choose the city if you want a short or car-free commute and more going on nearby. Compare the full monthly cost, including transportation, not just the rent.
The trade-offs are fairly consistent across most US metro areas.
- Space: suburbs usually offer more square feet per dollar, and many more single-family houses for rent.
- Transportation: many suburbs need a car for daily life. Add a car payment, insurance, fuel and time to the rent.
- Social life: newcomers often find it easier to meet people in denser neighborhoods when they know nobody yet.
- Rules: rental houses in suburbs may sit in homeowner associations with rules on parking, pets and yards. Ask for them before you sign.
- Searching: suburban rentals are often posted in local town groups rather than big city groups.
Many people split the decision by renting in the city for the first year, learning the area, and moving out once they know which suburb suits them. Others do the opposite if they have kids starting school.
If you are looking at suburbs, search the smaller local groups as well as the city ones. Housing Rocket runs community town groups for a number of Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, where neighbors post rooms, houses and local recommendations.
Want the whole picture? Read How to Find Housing Before You Move to a New City.