Essay #3 - Compare and Contrast

Kori Patterson

Sharon Aiken

English 1101

October 21, 2009

Living in the Country vs. Living in the City

Many people in today’s society have a difficult time choosing where they want to call home and make a living. The two main choices are either the city or the country. That’s pretty simple right? Well, it may be harder than it seems. Each setting has its own advantages, as well as disadvantages. This is a big decision that affects all aspects of a person’s everyday life and every detail should be considered.

One of the biggest considerations the people have to take when choosing whether they want to live in the city or the country is what they do for work. They must compare the two environments to see which one would better benefit them. For example, a farmer should not buy a house in downtown Chicago. Just like a fashion designer wouldn’t purchase land in Wyoming. Neither of those decisions would make any sense. The farmer would want to find land in the country so that he would have efficient space to grow crops where as the fashion designer would want to live in the city so that she could promote her business on a higher degree. Another aspect that people need to consider is what condition of health they are in. The city is full of pollution due to the amount of factories as well as the large number of transportation vehicles. Out in the country the air is much cleaner so this would be a wiser choice for someone who might have a respiratory problem. However, the only disadvantage to this is that a hospital may be farther away than it would in the city.

Privacy is also a huge factor that many people must consider. If a person enjoys many close neighbors then the city would be the better choice. However, for those people that enjoy having a significant buffer between themselves and their neighbors, they would be better suited for the country. This also ties in with the age aspect. Out in the country a lot of maintenance is required to keep up the yard. Mowing the grass is essential during the warmer months and if there are trees then you have to pick up those pesky limbs. Not to mention in the winter, shoveling snow is required just to get out of your driveway. This would be a hard task for an older person. Therefore, they would most likely be happier and less stressed in the city where little maintenance is required. However, because the city has to take care of things like that, there are more restrictions for what people can do. Not to mention more taxes. Out in the country people are free to do whatever they please on their property and the taxes are not nearly as high.

All of these factors must be looked at before moving to your desired location. Job, age, health, and privacy preferences are just a few of the things that should be considered. The city is full of pollution, has little space, and a lot of regulations. However, the city provides maintenance and there is little traveling distance to get places. The country has fresh air, a lot of privacy, and more freedom but that comes with a lot to maintain. In the end, it all comes down to personal preference.