More and more millennials are choosing to say goodbye to city life and flock to rural America. Preferring a slower pace of living will give them a more satisfying life. Millennials are starting to choose their health over anything else. Here are 18 reasons why millennials are flocking to rural America.
Seeking a Slower Pace of Life
City life is much more hectic compared to smaller towns. For example, Allen & Son writes, “The routine in big cities can be energy-consuming and tiring.” Rural environments are a great way to reduce stress, offering millennials a lifestyle they value with less hustle and bustle.
Escaping High Living Costs
Bigger cities are known for their higher living costs and extortionate rent prices. Small towns can offer lower rental prices, making properties more affordable. It means millennials can either lower their expenses or live in a bigger home that’s a better value for money. Rural living will give young families some sense of financial relief.
They Can Work Remotely
Since the pandemic, more and more companies are allowing their employees to work remotely. This gives millennials the chance to move anywhere they please, with AnyPlace writing, “Many remote workers need to lower their living costs, especially in the early days. Moving out to the countryside can allow you to do this.”
Personal and Inner Peace
Rural America gives millennials the chance to relax and rejuvenate, while a city means they may never get the chance to just be at peace. Rural areas have much less chaos, and a tranquil setting can really help to calm a person. This desire for mental well-being has caused many millennials to flock to rural America.
Lower Crime Rates
Oregon Explorer writes, “Most research concludes that crime is less frequent in rural areas, and it is often speculated that greater informal controls in rural areas protect against high crime rates.” Cities are known for having higher crime rates, and if you’re a young family, moving to a more rural area will protect you against this.
Sustainable Living
Some millennials may want to live closer to nature and in less polluted areas. Rural America offers a more sustainable approach to living where people can even live off their own land, for example, by farming or growing produce in their gardens or greenhouses.
Emerging Job Opportunities
There have been energy booms in rural areas, which has created more job opportunities. Younger people have started moving to rural areas as there’s a higher chance of employment with less competition. It’s these shifts in agriculture and renewable energy that have helped create these new job opportunities.
Authentic Connections
Millennials value community and meaningful interactions, and they’re more likely to find this in rural areas. This isn’t just a connection with people, but also with their environment. For example, See Change writes, “Living in a rural area puts you in tune with the seasons, the wildlife, and the little intricacies of the natural world that often go unnoticed in suburban neighborhoods.”
Addressing Mental Health Needs
City life can cause many mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Rural settings provide a much calmer experience, and this can be very beneficial for mental health. Millennials are starting to choose their mental well-being over the fast-paced city life and learn what’s best for their health.
Fleeing Overpopulation in Cities
Population Media Center writes, “High population densities in urban areas strain infrastructure leading to overcrowded cities, inadequate housing, and overwhelmed healthcare and educational systems.” Millennials are looking to escape overpopulation and instead live in a comfortable and quiet small town.
Affordable Family Life
If a millennial has their own small family to take care of, then it’s more affordable to do so in a small town. There are lower childcare and education costs in rural areas. Also, small towns are family-friendly, which makes them more attractive to new parents.
Prioritizing Health and Wellness
Rural areas have cleaner air and a healthier environment. Living in the countryside also gives a person the chance to be outdoors more and take part in outdoor activities such as hiking. Millennials are conscious of their health, and rural areas give them all the health benefits that they’ve been wanting.
Reconnecting with Nature
There’s barely any nature in cities, especially if they don’t have any parks. Nature is also known to have many mental health benefits. For example, Mental Health writes, “Nature is an important need for many and vital in keeping us emotionally, psychologically and physically healthy.” Living in a rural area can mean access to beautiful landscapes that will never get old.
Simplicity
Rural life means a simpler and less materialistic way of living, something drastically different from living in a city. Small towns offer a break from consumerism, and this has drawn millennials to the simpler way of living. Rural life doesn’t focus on fashion trends or flashy cars; instead, a person can just be themselves.
Changing Career Aspirations
Remote work opportunities are changing careers. It means a person can still have a high-flying city job while working from their dining room table in a small town. Millennials are also exploring the options that come with being self-employed. Living rurally doesn’t put a stop to either of these career paths anymore.
Cultural and Artistic Opportunities
SDU writes, “Arts and culture have a positive impact on both society and its citizens in various ways. This is also true for rural areas.” Small towns are starting to become hubs for arts and culture. Millennials have become attracted to this, and it’s caused them to flock to smaller areas.
Response to the Pandemic
COVID-19 really changed the way a person sees an urban area. Instead, there’s now a desire for a larger amount of space, and this has driven millennials to more rural areas. The pandemic really helped in accelerating the trend of rural living, with more and more people moving away from busy cities.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities
There are so many more opportunities for millennials looking to go self-employed in rural areas. They can open small businesses, such as coffee shops or restaurants, and face less competition. There’s also a lower cost for start-ups, making it more affordable. With rural towns being more closely knit, they’re also more likely to support the business.
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