Can’t Afford a Home in the City? Consider the Suburbs

If you're a city dweller and have found yourself frustrated with the local real estate market, relocating to the suburbs might seem like an attractive possibility

Maybe you're reaching a different stage of your life — such as growing your family or approaching retirement — and you're dreaming of a backyard garden or a more laid-back pace.

Perhaps a permanent transition to remote work has allowed for more flexibility and opened up new ZIP code options for you. Or maybe you might simply want more square footage for your homebuying dollar.

Whatever your motivation, suburbs can offer a more affordable, and surprisingly appealing, alternative to the city.

Life changes lead to changes of address

About 28.2 million Americans moved in 2022, the most recent year data is available, according to the 2023 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement from the U.S. Census Bureau. Roughly 41% of moves were motivated by housing reasons, including wanting to transition from renting to homeownership, wanting a better property and pursuing more affordable housing. Over a quarter of movers did so for family-related reasons, including marriage and a desire to establish an independent household.

If you're one of the many people considering a move out of the city to get more space for your budget, you can narrow your search and start getting a realistic picture of what you can afford by comparing the median price per square foot of homes in your desired area. For example, data from Realtor.com shows that the median home listing price per square foot was $402 in Center City Philadelphia, while it was $266 just a few miles away in the suburb of Collingswood, New Jersey. For some families, that kind of price difference could add another bedroom within their budget, or space for a dedicated home office.

Leaving a city doesn't have to mean leaving amenities

If you're hesitant to move out of the city because of lifestyle trade-offs, you may be surprised by the availability of appealing options in the suburbs. A 2024 study from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies found that between 2011 and 2021, as a large number of millennials moved to the suburbs, suburban amenities increased. You might be surprised how easy it is to find a good oat milk latte, an independent bookstore or a Barre studio.

Many suburbs have developed more walkable downtowns in recent years, mixing homes with commercial spaces like restaurants and shops. If it's important to you to continue to get around easily without a car, consider making a list of areas that you’re targeting and look up their Walk Score.

If you prioritize a great restaurant scene or school district, local "best-of" lists can give you greater insight into your potential options. If you're concerned with the diversity or commitment to equity in a community, then you'll want to look at local news sources and try to meet some people in organizations that connect to your interests.

How to move out of the city

Moving out of the city may feel daunting, but having a plan can help ensure that you find a better value for your money without fully compromising your lifestyle or sense of identity.

• Know the areas you’d like to research. Most moves are local, with many home buyers choosing to stay relatively close to family and jobs; 82% of moves were within the same county or state in 2019, the most recent year available in the Current Population Survey. If you don't want to go very far, you can determine a radius that you’re comfortable with. If you’re looking to move farther away, consider your priorities. Would you prefer warmer weather? More accessibility to nature? Thinking through your must-haves can help narrow your options.

• Determine what you want to keep about city living. If there are elements of city life that you don't want to lose, narrow your search to an area that provides the features you want, such as nightlife, walkability and diversity.

• Decide what you can afford. Suburban homeownership can come with its own unique range of new costs, such as buying and maintaining a car, property taxes and HOA fees, to name a few. When calculating your budget for your new home, make sure that you account for your new monthly expenses outside of the mortgage itself.

• Consider how much space you'll need. If you plan on growing your family, this is an important factor in deciding how many bedrooms you should look for. If your job has transitioned permanently to remote work, think about your needs long-term. Will you need your own private office space? Do you have kids who will need dedicated play space away from other areas of the home?

• Find a real estate agent in your desired area. Once you've narrowed down your options, real estate agents can be great resources for learning more about a place. Come with a list of questions, and be clear about your needs and what you want out of your new residence.

You can also learn more about your target neighborhoods by visiting and seeing what they have to offer. Local event calendars will let you know about upcoming occasions like restaurant weeks, farmers markets, carnivals and other happenings that can give you a better sense of what it feels like to be part of the community.