Where People Choose to Live—Simple and Also Not-So-Simple

Richard Florida shares insight into a new report by the Centre for Cities [pdf], which takes a detailed look at the question of why people choose to live where they do. The question, of course, is easy to speculate on and far-too easy to over-generalize, but few questions offer such fundamental insights into society.

According to Florida, the study "uses comprehensive survey data from urban areas across Great Britain to examine what urbanites and suburbanites value the most (and like the least) about the neighborhoods they live in, including key factors like housing costs, proximity to jobs, transit, amenities, open space, and quality of both built and natural environments."

The results fall somewhat in line with what one might expect: "More than a quarter (28 percent) of respondents cited housing costs and proximity to friends as key factors in the neighborhoods where they live, followed by the size and type of available housing (22 percent), and proximity to their workplace or their partner’s workplace (21 percent)."

Interestingly, the study also reveals major variations in why people choose to move at different points in their lives. Florida takes a closer look at the data for each stage of life (e.g., young people, young parents, and empty nesters), and how respondents in those groups tend to look at the neighborhoods they call home. Those age groups, as examined by the study, also reveal insights into common preferences between urban, suburban, and rural communities.