A new study looking at neighborhood satisfaction finds that people living in the suburbs are less satisfied than urban dwellers.
The authors suggest that loneliness and isolation are to blame.
"The problem isn't really suburbia itself; it's isolation, which can affect anyone. (Fess up, city dwellers. Do you really even know who lives next door?)
During the same period, we began to see the outside world as hostile and our homes as a haven, partly because we couldn't understand our new neighbors with different backgrounds, says Parks. As a result, even city dwellers retreated into their homes and focused on their intimate relationships.
And why does this make us unsatisfied? "Humans are social beings who need friends," says Parks. The better our friend network, the more satisfied we are with all aspects of our lives-including our neighborhoods, says Parks."
FULL STORY: Welcome to Disturbia, USA
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While suburbs are changing, that doesn't mean they are declining, according to recently published research.
The Changing Demographics of Denver's Suburbs
The Colorado Demographer's Office is projecting big changes for the demographics of the suburban counties and cities surrounding Denver—even as overall growth for the region is expected to slow.
Americans Are Moving, but Staying Close to Home
Despite fears of a mass exodus, most cities are seeing only modest population losses, with the majority of movers staying in the same metro area.
The Complexities of the '15-Minute City'
What does a '15-minute city' truly mean–and how achievable is it in the U.S.?
Does Highway Removal Make Cities Healthier?
Highway removal can improve the air quality and health of the immediate environment, but displacement and gentrification threaten to exclude former residents from the benefits.
Tree Equity Score: The U.S. Needs 522 Million More Urban Trees
As climate change intensifies the urban heat island effect, poorer neighborhoods bear the brunt of tree canopy inequity.
National Development Council (NDC)
Solomon Cordwell Buenz
County of Sonoma
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Salinas
Village of Park Forest
Mid Valley Partners
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
