Suburbs vs. Cities: Here’s the Cost Difference in 18 Major Metro Areas

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Family sitting outside on the steps of a new construction white siding farmhouse in the suburbs.

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The suburbs get a lot of heat from city dwellers.

Using the largest metro areas, 18 cities were identified and selected tocompare the cost in their suburbs.

Using the largest metro areas, 16 cities were identified and selected.

For each city, three suburbs were selected, representing nearby suburbs with connections to the major city.

Using this data the percentage of the population ages 65 and over can be calculated.

The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for September 2024.

Using the average mortgage and expenditure costs the total cost of living can be calculated.

The difference in total cost of living can be calculated from the suburbs to the major city.

All data was collected on and is up to date as of Oct. 15, 2024.

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