Back in the 1970s and 80s, suburban living was the butt of everyone’s jokes, from stand-up comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and TV shows like King of the Hill. But today, a combination of escalating house prices, changing priorities and flexible working patterns are making the suburbs an attractive option for American millennials.
The changing face of the suburbs
While urban living means living in the city and rural homes are out in the countryside, the suburbs lie between the two. In the second half of the 20th century, the suburbs grew naturally as bedroom communities for city commuters. But by the 1990s, people associated suburban living with time-consuming commutes on congested roads and communities with limited or substandard facilities. In other words, they were perceived as boring and inconvenient places to live. This lead to what became known as the youthification of America’s cities around the turn of the millennium. It was a period of urban regeneration, with modern high rise condos along with night clubs, bars and coffee shops replacing run-down commercial areas.
However, the past decade has seen a transformation of the suburbs across the USA. The youths of the millennium are now approaching middle age. They have growing families and different priorities, favoring spacious homes and green spaces over night life and entertainment. As a result, millennials are abandoning the cities for the suburbs en masse.
Hybrid working opens up options
Data from Pew Research shows that almost half of Americans who have a job that can be performed remotely follow a hybrid working schedule. This has had a transformative impact on our approach to commuting to the office.
Even those who need to drive into the city each day can do so more easily as there are fewer cars competing for the same piece of road. And for those who can pursue a hybrid work pattern, it means they might only need to drive in and out of the city once or twice per week during the rush hour.
Likewise, those who commute by public transport can do so in far greater comfort now in an age when far fewer office jobs require employees to be at their desks from nine till five.
Reshaping the suburbs for the millennial generation
The “youthification” of urban areas 20 years ago was driven by those born into the millennial generation. This same generation is now at the forefront of suburban life in the 2020s. After all, it is one thing wanting a larger but affordable home away from the noise, traffic, and crime of big cities. But millennials still have a need for amenities beyond the basics of schools and grocery stores. These might include gyms and health clubs, sporting facilities, cafes and even co-working spaces for remote workers.
Over the past decade, researchers at Harvard University have observed an increase in the quantity and quality of amenities in the suburban areas that have seen the biggest increase in millennial residents. What is not clear from the data is whether the amenities attracted the millennials or the millennials prompted the development of more and better amenities. But ultimately, it creates a virtuous circle that benefits both families and suburban economies.
More pros than cons to suburban living
Ultimately, living in the suburbs retains all the benefits that it has always had. Cheaper housing, more space and a safer, cleaner environment in which to raise a family. But today, most of the negatives, such as long commutes and a lack of amenities are becoming a thing of the past. It looks like the comedians will have to find something new to laugh about.
Photo by Myburgh Roux