When deciding where to live and/or start your family, there are a lot of different choices that you have at your disposal. Some people opt to buy a home and live in the hustle and bustle of a large city, while others choose a simpler existence in a small town or rural community.
While being in a big city is often more convenient and can provide easier access to many different amenities, don’t overlook the benefits of living in a small town. This article will take a look at a couple of the biggest benefits of moving to (and living in) a rural community.
A Strong Sense of Community
While you might have some connection with your neighbors in a big city, it is unlikely you will have the type of connection that people in a rural community do. If you are in a small area with the same small amount of people for months or years, you begin to develop a bond.
Not only will you be friends with more people, but you will also inherently have more trust in those around you than you would if you lived in a big city. In small communities, people will come together to help their neighbors and are normally quite supportive of one another. People are often happier in smaller towns, as well.
A Lower Cost of Living
Living in a big city can be quite expensive. Driving or taking public transit definitely costs more in a big city, and land/homes are much more expensive in the city. As a result, you will likely spend less money each month in bills, as transportation and shelter will often be more affordable in rural communities.
However, not everything is cheaper in small towns. Oftentimes, groceries will actually be more expensive as stores can set prices higher due to the low amount of competition compared to a big city, where shoppers have dozens of options so stores need to be competitive.
You Might Qualify for a USDA Home Loan
So while homes and land are often cheaper in rural communities, they can still be relatively expensive and the down payment especially can be thousands of dollars. This can be a lot for most people, especially if your income is quite low.
Thankfully, there are things like the USDA loan. These home loans are insured by the United States Department of Agriculture and have the goal of helping home buyers to purchase homes in rural areas. These loans can offer up to 100% financing on your home, which means you might not even need to provide a down payment at all!
Your Stress Levels Will Likely Be Lower
While this isn’t the case with everyone or every small town, generally, stress levels will be lower in a rural community. This is often because there is lower traffic, less people, less congestion and just less “background noise” taking place.
It is often much more laid back and slow-paced, which can wonders for your mood and anxiety levels. Many would argue that your quality of life increases dramatically when you have less stress, and living in a small town is certainly going to be a help in that department for most people.