Friday, May 15, 2020

Pandemic makes more people long for the rural life

File under silver linings: according to a new Harris poll, the covid-19 pandemic has made many Americans want to leave the cities for (literally) greener pastures.

Three in eight Americans surveyed (37 percent) said the pandemic makes them want to live in a rural area more than 21 miles away from a major city or a suburb within 10 miles of a major city (35%).

Older Americans are more likely than younger ones to have such a wish, with 44% of Baby Boomers saying they want to move to the country, compared to 34% of Millennials and 31% of Gen Xers.

Overall, 28% of urban residents surveyed and 25% of suburban residents said the pandemic makes them want to live in a rural area.

The urge to flee the cities during the pandemic isn't new; some small towns, fearing the spread of the virus, have asked people with summer homes to stay away.

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