Either rural or city: where I have control over my surroundings: miles between nighbors or concrete walls. The burbs are a challenge because there is no control. Barking dogs, reving motors and crowing roosters: worst of both worlds. Many burbs don't have a corner store either so no walkability. I lived alone: middle of no where. With hubby: city. Right now, dogs and roosters and cars... oh my!

Rural. Love the quiet. If we have the need of the noise, then we visit, otherwise we dwell in the quiet. For me personally, i visited NYC once !!!. I have no wish of returning. It may sound silly...but i felt closed in...too many tall buildings. That convinced me for sure...open space is for me!

I Love quiet, nature, trees, etc. I live in the suburbs now because of my husband's job, but I want to move when he retires. I could never live in a big city, I can barely stand to visit one.

i've lived in the countryside & small towns for 15 yrs now, but now i'm planning to move back to a biiiig city :) the kids are big now, not needing the great big open anymore & i'm the kind of person who cannot sleep when it's quiet, i need the sound of traffic & people .

@Ddrucker

If you live in rural Maine, in general, you have to drive to get anywhere. You can't even walk your dog, as the only roads are highways with no sidewalk. Often, you can't even walk in the woods, as the quad bikes have them in the summer and the snowmobiles in the winter. There's rarely zoning, so you have zero control over what your neighbor does with his property. The only control you have is the edges of your property, and if your property is large, can you really be sure those "no hunting" signs are going to keep the hunters out?

Yes, there are plenty of American suburbs with inadequate sidewalks and no provision for bikes, but not as uniformly as there is in rural areas.

Ultimately, the question is not whether whose conception of rural versus suburbs is right, but that urban, suburban and rural area can be well-designed or badly-desiged.

@Sigrid, while I agree that areas can be well designed (i.e. including walkable areas, coexisting with neighbours, etc.) the ultimate question now is whether or not we have a sustainable lifestyle. Does the yearly carbon footprint of people in that lifestyle exceed a level that the planet can support? Does living in a rural or suburban setting by burning a great deal of gasoline and heating oil ultimately lead to further depletion of resources like clean air and water, degradation of the atmosphere and hastening of climate change, or does can it offer some quality of life without all of those negatives. We've now reached the point where it isn't just enough to just design well; we now have to consider how our decisions (or lack of them) have an effect on the future.

One can make a conscious effort to invest in and use electricity created by renewable resources, decide to eat more locally-produced foods, avoid burning fossil fuels for heat or commuting when possible, but it's really hard (and shouldn't have to be). That, to me, is what the rural vs, suburban vs. urban debate is about now. If any of version of these lifestyles has a significantly worse effect on the climate, we need to seriously rethink it, and if it is ultimately not sustainable in any design, stop promoting a fantasy that it is.

That's why I made the comment about overly idealizing rural life. I noticed that the polling is running about 75% rural vs. 25% urban (and suburban, which I'd unfortunately have to call 'fake rural' isn't even mentioned). The decision is currently an aesthetic or social one. Yes, there is peace and quiet, but what about the day when we can't grow much on farms any more because the weather is too unpredictable, with constant droughts followed by floods? What about not being able to afford to fill your car with gas because transportation networks of petroleum have begun to break down? These things may not happen in 5 years, but perhaps in 10 or 15. That's not that far off. James Howard Kunstler has a book called 'The Long Emergency', that describes how the US got where it is with fossil fuels and where it is heading, which is effectively a collapse. Alarmist? Perhaps, but so far, everything I've heard from Nature to the UN's latest report bears it out pretty well.

Jeez, does everything have to become politicized?! I can can dig a well, grow my own food, raise chickens and beef cattle, and shoot a deer off my front porch to eat. My preferring a country setting in no way makes me feel guilty about driving to town. I'll listen to whippoorwills and owls at night and you can listen to sirens and gun shots. You live where you want and I'll do the same, sans preaching, please!

I agree, Blunan. The question was, I believe, which do you prefer......not which is more suitable for the sustainability of the planet. I could go on....but this is not the forum for that.

@ddrucker
Since large trucks are very efficiently packed and supermarkets are often closer than farmers' markets, it's not clear that eating local saves on greenhouse gases. The Economist looked at this question a few years ago and concluded that eating local is often not the lowest-carbon choice.

We need a policy of making sure road has a place for bikes and walkers, which would do a great deal to improve suburban, not to mention rural life.

And frankly, if the world is going to come to a halt due to lack of fossil fuels, the safest place is out in the country, where you can raise your own food and cut your own wood. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in a city when garbage collection and grocery store deliveries ceased for lack of fuel.

@Sigrid I do most of my shopping at the Farmer's Market on Granville Island, which is within walking distance and open year round. (Admittedly, this is not the case for most urban denizens).

I am not trying to politicize this issue, nor shame anyone who prefers the country, but characterizing the city as a place of sirens and gun shots is just as much a fantasy (and shows a surprising level of ignorance) as the bucolic paradise where noisy tractors and hunting rifles can be found in great abundance. Americans were sold on the idea that cities are evil and the country is the answer long ago, and I doubt I could say anything to dismiss this fallacy. See Kunstler's Ted talk on this if it is at all of interest. I'm tired of being the Cassandra here.

I live in a city of 10-15 million people, so I don't think my view of city life is a fantasy. Give me a suburb any day. Like tomorrow. I'll hire the moving van!!! I'll pack!!!

Mind you, dd, that you did open up your conversation by insulting all Americans that choose to live in 'fake country' as being 'brainwashed'.

I love the country, for living, but I like working in the city. To me, the commute is worth it. Also, housing is much more economical in less populated areas.

I grew up in the country surrounded by people that would do anything for each other in the community of 1,000 people. Just south of Kansas City by about 45 minutes. We had thousands of untouched acres around us full of deer and small wildlife. The city was where we would go to watch a movie but outside of that we had such a great area around us there was nothing you couldn't do. I had two ponds on my property and I would fish all day or go play around on the land on a 4 wheeler or just walk through the woods and enjoy it. Yes there will always be floods and droughts but people have survived and flourished with the land through those situations for thousands of years. I mean people walk through the deserts of this world every day and people walk through the rain forests as well. People that are very adaptable to their surroundings and live out in the country have a role to be more of a care taker to the land. I know this is so stereotypical American here but that link to the commercial of Paul Harvey talking about farmers really hit home for me having come from generations of farmers and men and women that looked after their land in an effort to make sure their great grandchildren had a place as wonderful as the one they started with.

@Circle Goods Reclaimed: can't add nothing to that but a :)

This will be the ceiling and flooring for a grain bin that is connected to our home and will become the master suite on top and the living room on the bottom. For our country home:)

The best of both world--a small college town in Ohio, Small enough to know to have deer walking downtown, big enough to have really great restaurants, and close enough to the bigger cities.

A small city near an urban center works best for me. More personal. No traffic jams or congestion. Easy to ride my bike. Room for a shop. A short drive to the big city (Portland OR) or airport (PDX to LAX) for big city activities.

Country, although rural doesn't get it's share of govt services here.

Just moved from a house in the country (country not suburbs). I really miss the wildlife; bear, deer, coyotes, hawks, eagles, all the little critters, and the sounds they make. My idea of a traffic jam is more than one car at the stop sign, if there is a sign. Don't need government services, homeowners associations, parking meters, seeing the neighbor's house, and all the annoyances of living in congestion.

Vivo en San José de Maipo. Un pequeño pueblo rural en la Cordillera de los Andes en Santiago de Chile. Mucha gente viene a pasar el día a este lugar, y no están dadas las condiciones básicas, como ruta para bicicletas y retiro de basura los fines de semana.
Tenemos un hermoso río, uno de los más grandes del país, que abastece de agua potable al 70% de la población de la capital , que está a punto de desaparecer en manos de una hidroeléctrica. A pesar de todo, no cambio mi pedazo en la cordillera por nada.
Escucho pájaros, vacas, caballos. Veo las montañas nevadas. Hay buenas escuelas y nuestro hospital es muy pobre, pero tiene una de las mejores atenciones del país..

Suena hermoso alli, delmaipo. Bienvenido a houzz, y por favor envíenos una imagen si usted puede.

I need both. I'm a third generation San Franciscan who loves the country as much as I love the City. We live and work in the City and have a modest house in Sonoma County, where we relax on the weekends. Truly the best of both worlds for us, not everybody.

delmaipo- un lugar idilico. Ojala que no pierdar su rio.

I have the best of both worlds. We live in a remote neighbourhood 20 minutes outside of a small town. We have all the conveniences, mail, garbage, electricity, cable of town living with silence, animals, natural beauty. In town we have medium sized and Mom & Pop stores and very little crime. People don't lock their doors and they leave the keys in the cars and the people are very friendly and happy. But if you take a ferry boat ride, you have the big city and all its big box stores, homeless people, drug addicts, traffic, crime and smog you like.

Yep, those big cities are for visiting only. Not our cup of tea 24/7

I'll take a little of both, please.

I've lived most of my life in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) but moved 3 hours north to cottage country just over 5 years ago. I love the north. It really is God's country. However there are trade offs. Unemployment is higher and having wildlife outside the door such as wolves, fishers and bears causes me some concern. But I do have deeded access to several local beaches (3 are a 5-7 minute walk) and I've met some wonderful people. Summer months are second to none but the winter really can give you cabin fever.

I live in Lausanne, Switzerland, and am very lucky to live in the city, we have all we need on hand and are still in a quiet haven :-)

I cannot stand the city. I hate even going there to buy something and would prefer to buy online than have to enter the city limits of anything over 20,000 people. Even the little 2,200-resident town I live in now is bigger than I'd like. I want seclusion in the woods/mountains. I shudder just thinking about having to go to the city.

Rural, on the water with a major city within an hour. Here is one of our sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay.

I live in the burbs -- but rural literally starts at my back property line. I hate it. I hate living in a small town. People are unfriendly and unwelcoming. I hate the small town politics. I hate the lack of diversity in...everything. I cannot wait to move. And the scenery? Looking at at flat fields is not my idea of scenery.

I have never lived in the City ..never have never will

I would love to live in a loft in a "happening city".

Denver, CO has the best of both worlds: a vibrant, energetic city life with the quiet serenity of the mountains just a drive away!

I love the convenience of a city but looking out into rolling hills and trees, almost nothing can get better.

Nice, but cold winds in Winter.

After decades of living in large cities, I find I like rural living better. Much to my surprise. However, it is sometimes tedious to make a 43 mi. round trip to go grocery shopping, the doctor, dentist, a restaurant, etc. I have to factor in the cost of gas every time I consider going "into town". Is it worth it? And in the winter do I want to risk my car on all the icy country roads to get to town?

I often think the ideal would be living a couple or so miles on the outskirts of a small city. Trees, space between individual homes, opposed to cookie cutter subdivisions, yet not too far from the local 'miracle mile'. Yep, the "fake country" sounds really good to me!

I'm grateful so many people prefer living in cities. If we all wanted to live rural or semi-rural, there would be very little of it left.

It's also bemusing to read comments knocking the suburbs. It's been my observation that the 'burb's often turn into small towns and cities themselves, or become incorporated into the original city. In large metro areas, sections and neighborhoods started out originally as suburbs. :P

That happened to the city in which I live, IIucy. Three small cities were combined into one. I guess I need to clarify. I think country living is lovely, and would not mind it, except for one thing...allergies. I am allergic to just about every tree out there. We live in a suburban neighborhood, and it is lovely. But I feel so sick most of the time, that I wish I could talk my husband into buying a condo in the city. I would still like some charm though, like in the attached photos. Lots of little shops and restaurants in this area, but very quiet at night.

Susan, such a good looking pics. Looks like small villages. And so serene. I really really like quiet and your pics spellls quiet to a tee

While driving away aimously we happened upon "Falls Village" in CT USA and i immediately luv it. It was so quiet and laid back. I immediately felt "a great place to live in"....lots of foilage

Urban on the edge of rural if that makes sense? Newton or Cambridge near Boston for instance.

Could somebody confirm that a one story is cheaper to build than a two story, i.e., given the high cost of land and los of space to a garden space. Building contractors usually cost per square meter regardless of whether some of this is upstairs or downstairs.

Israel, We built a house over 20 years ago. At the time, we were told that a two story is cheaper to build, because the money is in the foundation, and you get more square footage for your money. Not sure if that still holds true or not.

However, a one story is supposed to be of more value if you ever want to sell.

I grew up living in small neighborhoods then after i got married my husband and I built a house in the country. After living here for over 20 years with only one visible neighbor I wouldn’t want to go back and as for living in a big city, I don’t think I could do it.

Urban! I'm a big city girl through and through! Berlin, New York, London, Buenos Aires...I love the opportunities and the atmosphere of big cities

I do prefer medium sized cities, such as Vancouver. It is nice to have the choice of different museums, theaters, and restaurants, but also be able to bike everywhere, and be out of the city in no time. Good public transit is important to me, and living right next to the ocean is what I have always dreamed of!

Was raised in the city but always spent time in the country every chance I had. The fresh air, feeling closer/in touch with nature became a vital need. Will be able to enjoy it full time as I am retiring this June to our secondary residence now full time home in the beautiful Laurentian region in Quebec. Can't n wait to being able to tend to my vegetable garden and flower beds. I am also reading up on raising chickens. Although village rules don't currently allow it there is a petition going around to change same...Looking forward to doing everything on foot and not having to fight traffic; hallelujah!

My childhood was spent on a farm. It was a perfect childhood and I learned to work hard and enjoy the great outdoors. My career took me to many large metropolitan areas. I learned that I'm a city gal at heart but the man who stole that heart preferred the quiet of the country. I've learned to love it but I do take several trips to my favorite cities often.