We thought a small town outside the suburbs would be perfect for our family — but ended up in a walkable city instead
A family shares their experience of choosing a walkable urban neighborhood over a semi-rural exurb. They found that city living provided a stronger sense of community and reduced their dependence on cars compared to isolated suburban developments.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing trend in lifestyle preferences where families are prioritizing walkability and social connectivity over traditional suburban space.
We didn't plan on moving to a city, but we're so glad we did. John Serbell When my family decided to move to the St. Louis area, we thought we'd choose a semi-rural exurb. Instead, we landed on a home in a walkable part of the city , which turned out to be the best choice. There's tons of nature here, we don't feel dependent on cars, and we've built a great community. More and more families are choosing to move to semi-rural communities and developments outside the suburbs, according to 2025 Census data . My family almost did, too. In 2019, we bought an off-grid house on 40 acres in northern New Mexico. Then, in 2021, our son was born, and after a traumatic postpartum experience, we decided to move back to the St. Louis area, where my wife is from.
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