Small towns have been the backdrop for American culture and values, and they have held a special place in our collective imagination as places of safety, stability, and comfort. But is small-town life really all it’s cracked up to be? Here are the perks and drawbacks of living in small towns so you can decide for yourself if it’s right for you.
1. Diane Loves Her Tasty Freeze
“Hooking up with Diane at the Tasty Freeze is a huge small-town perk,” jokes an observer. Though I see the romance in this scenario, I think he is joking. Diane, it’s just you, me, and this big slurp — the world is ours!
2. How Small Do You Mean?
“Where my dad retired, it’s an hour or more drive to a supermarket and three to four hours to a Costco,” warns another poster with knowledge. “Pretty long drive to get to a pub; certainly, I wouldn’t be walking.” In a small English town, you are rarely more than 30 minutes from a convenience store; America does things differently.
3. Ready To Work?
“When there is bad weather, be sure to have your own snow plow or a kind neighbor,” advises the next commenter. “Have a chainsaw, have a gun for wild varmints with rabies, and have a generator.” The good old American small town is not for the faint-hearted.
4. That’s No Small Town!
When the original poster reveals he wishes for a population of roughly 10,000 people, he fails to realize that, in American terms, this is a small city. “10,000 would be the largest city within 100 miles of me,” jokes a rural resident. “Do you want rural or just a smaller community outside a major city?”
5. A Closed Community
“Small life is a lot harder when you don’t know anyone,” explains another small-towner. “The charm usually comes from being close-knit. Though that comes with downsides, too.” I know a friend who lives in a small village; he says everybody knows each other and is suspicious of all outsiders.
6. Come to Rhode Island, Guy
Rhode Island might be worth checking out for you in New England,” suggests a Rhode Islander. “Lots of small towns around here, and it never takes too long to reach a destination, no matter where you want to be.” It all depends on where your small town is located.
7. Your Living Standards Will Drop
“People tend to be self-sufficient, and building a huge house means you have to maintain and clean all of that,” someone warns. “You won’t be able to hire a nanny or cleaning service. The plumber or electrician may be several days or weeks out if you have a problem.” This gentleman may want to reconsider his goals for rural living. The mortgage rates in America are unkind to many.
8. Expensive Groceries
“Groceries are also more expensive here,” argues a rural resident. “The staples cost considerably more than in the city.” Of course, when food needs to travel further, it incurs more mileage costs. You must be prepared to spend more or improvise with your dietary requirements.
9. Arizona Magic
Someone who moved to rural Arizona promotes the finer points of open country living. “I grew up in a town of about 7,000 in Arizona,” explains the observer. “It’s quiet at night, closer to beautiful nature, and you can actually see the stars.”
10. Pennsylvanian Positives
I live in a rural town of 300 in Pennsylvania — I can be at a Walmart in ten minutes, gas in five minutes, and a big city in 60,” shares a small-town lover. “Houses run between $50,000 to $100,000. The people are generally friendly and helpful.” These reasons are why more and more families seek semi-rural living.
11. Rural Ohio for the Win
As a person from Ohio with a nice little plot of land in a rural area, it’s awesome,” notes an Ohio native. “I truly do enjoy it. Is it a bit more work than living in the city? Yes. In my opinion, the rewards and freedom you enjoy make it totally worth it.”
12. The Ups and Downs of Oklahoma
“Even where I live in Oklahoma City, you can have a nice, rural patch of land within city limits,” says an Oklahoma resident, though there is one caveat. “Small towns here, though, can range from really nice and quaint to falling apart with tons of substance abuse problems.”
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