Id you plan in having kids - is it better to buy a smaller house in the city? Or a medium sized house in a small town?

[21Cowboy21]

Assuming you are in your 30's - 40's and your kids are 5years old - 18years old range - which would you prefer? I love coty life as a single male in my 20s - but getting concerned that may change once kids are introduced and I no longer carr about dating pool size if I already have a girlfriend/wife living eith me anyway - assume that to be the case.

City has more convenience but significantly worse properties for the same price. Small town has less convenience but majority better house/property and neighborhoods for the same price.

I grew up in a small town and moved to the city for university/work. I am mid 20's. I kind of feel like I want to move back to a small town again where everything feels significantly more abundant and freeing and raise my kids there.

[OfMiceandMen]

I grew up in the country and lived in the country all my life. I like the city for the night life and work, but I still loved growing up in the country.

I live about 10-15 minutes from a few decent sized towns and 50 mins or so to a major city.

My daughter grew up sailing, fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving on Georgian Bay. We have a pair of four wheelers, she started driving when she was 10. All her friends from the city/town always wanted to come out to our house. We would have BBQ's and we had several tire tubes for going down the lazy river all afternoon. Or we would build snow quinzhees in the winter, the kids would sleep in them and we would have bonfires on the bay once it froze over near the beach.

The schools were great and they got her into college where she currently is. So I like the country near the city and would do it over in a heartbeat.

[Guy13]

I have never lived anywhere where 40 minutes was not considered part of the City even though classified as suburbs. Those areas starter homes (1100sqft 3/2) are 250,000-300,000. Unless one can see the town or city planning department vision then you could be buying properties next to the City dump with grass planted over it and made into a town park for kids to play, dogs walk, and picnic. Doesn’t that sound lovely.

[Alessa13]

I would do whatever I can find a job nearby doing, as I follow the work and do what I can. Maybe some day if I get a WFH job then I can move anywhere, I would go with a medium or small sized town.

Right now though I am not ready for that, while I do like the country I also love city life. At the same time I am no where near ready to settle down.

[DizzyDesii]

I personally would live in an apartment or studio while the kid is a toddler but i’d hope to build a house in my early 30s. I dont want to live in a house that was preowned. I want to build my own and make sure its spacious for the kids

[SnowedIn]

One isn't better than the others.

There's a triangulation between your job (and how much you earn and the quality of life you provide for the child) and schools, and places to play, as well as safety.

As a parent, figure out how best to balance the pros and cons in each place but, again, one isn't better than the others.

[singlemombizz]

For me it's city life pretty much, I don't have a big place at all, with 4 kids and a baby, it's tiny. However I am in a upper middle class neighborhood with fine schools and low crime. The boys, the girls all keep active with school activities and sports and it's nice to have things close. If you're going to do city life, you have to do your homework to see where the best cities to raise a family is, they will not be cheap. I can't speak for the smaller towns.

[Makeushiver]

It depends on where you prefer. There are many rules of thumb used when buying a new, esp 1st home but none really on personal preference. Many people. who like urban lifestyle will have kids who are in great elementary schools but middle & ha. Often get them to burbs

[Sevenpointfive]

well good luck with whatever happens. i personally think women marry for money. so i'd base my decision on that and see how she reacts.

[exitseven]

I bought a house in a small town with a big back yard. It had a good school system and good sports programs.

[Jamie05rhs]

Raising children? You should definitely try to be as far away from the city as possible.