Living Near Work vs. in a Quieter Neighborhood

Little to no commute is great, but so is relaxing in quiet on a Sunday afternoon. Commuting to work can eat up your day, not to mention how much earlier you need to wake up to get there. 

Sleeping in and still getting to work on time sounds ideal, but if it comes with sounds of a busy street instead of birds chirping, is it worth it? Depends on who you ask, but each option has its own perks and it comes down to what’s more important to you. 

What you love might be a nightmare for your friend, so choosing between a busy city or a quiet suburban neighborhood is all about your priorities. 

This decision won’t just change your day-to-day but entire way of life, so make sure to think it through. 

Pros and Cons of Living Near Work

The most obvious benefit is, of course, not taking forever to get to work. This will have an amazing impact on your work-life balance because with long commutes, you feel like you’re at work almost the entire day. 

The shorter the commute, the more free time you have, and you’re also more productive because there’s no stress and fatigue from hours you’ve spent in traffic. 

But apart from work, there are other benefits, like easy access to amenities and restaurants, shopping centers, gyms… All of this is much closer if you're living in the city. But it’s not all sunshine and daisies. If you’re living closer to a business district, you’ll pay more for rent, utilities, even groceries. 

If you're thinking of buying a property, get ready for higher prices, although that can also be an advantage if you want to invest in real estate. 

Pros and Cons of Living in a Quieter Neighborhood

Less noise and traffic equals better well-being, so it’s no wonder so many people choose to live away from the cities. 

Suburban and rural areas have fresher, cleaner air and a sense of tranquility you won’t find in the city. As far as the types of houses and apartments you can get, you’ll usually get more bang for your buck because the living spaces are bigger, with larger backyards and private outdoor spaces. 

This extra space can greatly improve your quality of life because you’ll never feel cramped and you’ll have more privacy. Real estate is cheaper, property taxes are lower, as well as living expenses in general. 

But… There’s always a but. You’ll need more time to get to and from work, and as far as services, entertainment, and amenities go, you’ll be pretty limited. 

How to Choose Between the Two

It’s a big decision and you don’t want to make a mistake, so how do you choose? You like waking up 30 minutes before work starts, but you also like the fresh air and the quiet of the suburbs. 

We can’t decide for you, but we can give you factors to consider, so let’s go over them.

1. Lifestyle Needs and Preferences

How big is your family, what are your hobbies, and how close do you want your neighbors to be? If you have a family, a quiet space in the suburbs will give you more space and it’s usually safer. 

As far as amenities go, it doesn’t compare to what you’ll find in the city, but you can expect schools and parks. But if your social life is active and you like events, then you’re out of luck in the suburbs. 

There is a feeling of belonging there that’s almost impossible to have in the city but your social life most likely won’t be that great.

2. Work and Mobility

In today’s modern world, remote work and flexible working hours are quite common; so, if your work can be done from the house, the job is not a consideration/deciding factor.

If, on the other hand, you have ambitions or the job requires a lot from you, it’s probably best to settle in a metropolitan area because you’ll (likely) have more opportunities for networking, and the distance to work will be easier to cover than in a suburban area. 

People living in large cities often spend 1+ hours (one way) just to get to work. Everyday. This isn’t an issue if you live close by.

3. Finances

Money is a huge deal, so think about how much you can afford. Property prices, taxes, and living expenses differ from neighborhood to neighborhood, and those that are away from the city are usually cheaper. 

Budget isn’t a very exciting thing to think about, but if you can’t decide where to live, your budget might do that for you. 

If you buy (or already own) a property in the city, you can expect to make a profit when you decide to sell it.

If you’re wondering about how much, the best thing to do is to contact home buyers that operate in the area where the property is. So, for example, for Dallas, just google something like “we buy houses Houston TX”, and you’ll get a dozen options to choose from. If you live elsewhere, you can still use the same tactic, just change the name of the city/town accordingly. 

Conclusion

The good thing is that whatever choice you make has its positive sides, so there’s something to look forward to either way. The bad news is, if you make the wrong choice, it will cause you a lot of stress. 

Your job probably stresses you out already, and if your home isn’t a place you love to come back to, you’re in for some hard times.