Why do American hate the us cities?

44 comments

1. Not that this is exclusive to America but people tend to dislike areas they aren’t used to, haven’t lived in, and is vastly different from what they have lived in.

   I wouldn’t say most people hate cities, who haven’t lived in them, they just rather stay living in the areas they have known.

2. I mean, millions and millions of Americans live in cities, so not everyone hates it.

   They just tend to be much more crowded and much more expensive and have much less space for living.

   Not wanting to live in a city is a personal preference.

3. Some do and some don’t.

   I lived in NYC for years but always preferred the suburbs. I feel like it’s the best of all worlds here. I’m within commuting distance of the city so that I can do everything someone living in Manhattan can do but have a big home and good size property. I hated the traffic and general congestion of the city.

4. I love cities and never want to not live in one again

5. We do?

6. I’m not sure what you mean. There’s a very popular component of certain political rhetoric that “inner city” whomever are to blame for whatever. But I wouldn’t say “Americans” hate cities. Like many other countries 90% of the population is clustered into metropolitan areas.

   I think what you’re seeing is a form of dog whistle. The people who are the loudest about “hating cities” are using it as a synonym for….. other things.

   America is like 50 countries in a trench coat. It varies wildly by what area you’re in.

   There’s also the idea of the nuclear family as it relates to the suburb. That may be another component of this question.

   I think what you’re really asking is why do Americans seem to reject living in communal clusters, and why are rural and metropolitan areas so vastly different politically? Both answers are so steeped in history, violence and racism that I can’t really go into much more detail without getting my comment deleted.

   Also I live in the Philly area, and some other cities like to talk shit because of sports. So fuck Dallas and fuck Boston.

7. Curious where this is coming from? Is it because so many live in suburbs or what.

8. Over half of Americans live in urban areas, so I’m pretty sure we don’t generally hate cities.

   Of course, different people have different living preferences, which is totally fine. Plenty of people would absolutely hate living in a city, which is totally their prerogative (as is the opposite, people who would hate living in a rural area). But if your question is why Americans in general hate cities, I think that you’re operating under some misconceptions.

9. I mean clearly a lot of people like it. It’s just not for everyone’s lifestyle. People hate on cities, suburbs, and rural areas all the time and mostly equally in my experience.

10. I do not hate my city. I hate the crime, and I hate how I feel uncomfortable as 1.) a woman and 2.) a mother.

    It’s easier sometimes to just avoid certain parts, especially at night.

11. “People” don’t hate the cities–millions of people obviously like living in a city, because they live there.

    As far as why other people might hate a city, that would be the same reasons anyone would hate a city–lack of nature, lack of privacy, high costs, noise/air quality, statistically higher risk of crime.

12. What people specifically? Otherwise this is a uselessly broad generalization.

13. Uhhhhh millions of people chose to live in US cities and love them.

    Even people that don’t live in cities love them and visit them frequently.

    I go and visit Boston and Chicago frequently and Portland, ME all the time. I don’t hate them at all.

14. I only hate the ones that have two syllable names, with each syllable containing the same vowel.

    Boston and Dallas, I’m looking at you. (evil eye)

15. I hate living on top of everyone. I want my own space, not an apartment sharing walls. I get more for my money out here in the burbs. It’s quiet. Typically safer. I’m not a city person. A couple days for a visit is enough for me.

16. This is about as backwards a reddit opinion as I’ve ever seen. Usually the demographics here expound about the superiority of living in cities over suburban/exurban/smalltown/rural life.

17. Expensive, inconvenient, loud, dirty. Only in New York could you spend $2500/month for 60 square feet then walk outside and have some homeless guy pissing on your bike

18. Ah yes, yet another inaccurate generalization asking why Americans Think This Thing™️

19. 1 in every 12 Americans lives in the NYC Metro alone, so clearly Americans do not hate cities.

    That said, a lot of Americans leave cities when they’re ready to have children. American schools are funded by property taxes – and there are fewer homeowners in cities (as compared to renters). Therefore, schools have less resources than their suburban counterparts. If you want your child to have a guaranteed good education – you either move to the suburbs or pay for a private school.
    In places like NYC or Boston – there are “test schools” which require an entrance exam. These systems, although somewhat controversial, encourage many families to stay in the area.

    Other factors include cost of living, noise, pollution, traffic, crime, etc.

    Personally, I love living in a city and I don’t see that changing.

20. Lots of Americans prefer city living. Some people just don’t like crowds very much and prefer to have more space. I’ve found that my preference is to be on the outskirts of a city. Close enough to be able to tap into the infrastructure when I want or attend major events in the city proper, but be able to live my day-to-day more spaced out from people.

21. It depends on who you ask.

    Some people do not like cities due to loudness (car dependency lol), lack of space, and other things.

22. Rural is better and no I cannot be convinced otherwise.

23. People who “brag” about having a large house with multiple acres that they only paid $2 for are usually city haters. They seem to forget that the reason why it is so inexpensive is because few people what to live there.

24. Some people just don’t like cities. Just like some people don’t like the suburbs rural areas. It comes down to preference, that’s all.

25. One of my least favorite things about this sub is when someone asks a question that is at least rooted in something real, but everyone responds as if it’s an alien concept.

    There is a small portion of Americans who have an outsized voice both online and in our politics that detest cities; there’s also an arguably smaller portion of the population who feels the same way about rural areas.

    The reason is that cities tend to vote for Democrats; combine that with people feeling as if those cities have outsized influence on a state/the nation’s politics, and that results in resentment. I wouldn’t say it’s a majority of Americans who don’t live in cities who feel like this, but it’s a pretty common thing in American politics to run “against the city”, even if the city in question is only 300 or 400 thousand people.

26. Whatever country you’re from OP, I guarantee that there are people who hate cities there too.

27. Can you re-word your question so we know more about what exactly you’re asking?

    Like others said, millions of Americans choose to live in cities.

28. Also keep in mind, housing costs outside of dense areas are about 30% – 50% lower.

    We still have a lot of low demand land that has much more reduced living costs.

29. There are trade offs wherever you live and each area gets knocked here.

    Cities are crowded, noisy, and have more crime. Suburbs are bland, car centric, and lack character. Rural areas have nothing to do and you have to drive a half hour to get groceries or go out to eat. It just depends on your lifestyle preferences.

30. We do? I must have overlooked that survey. The millions of people who love their city must have been forgotten also.

    Did the person conducting this research forget to leave his house before publishing his results.

31. City, suburb, or rural is a matter of personal preference. Different sized communities have slightly different needs. Policies that make sense in a city setting sometimes are detrimental in a rural setting. The conflict tends to arise when people push for statewide or national policies that favor cities and threaten rural lifestyles.

    I prefer living outside of a city but close enough to have a reasonable commute.

32. Americans ain’t a homogeneous bunch, and there are plenty who love living in the major cities.

    Me; I loved living in Los Angeles, until I got older and decided I wanted a more quiet life.

33. Most US cities suck. They are generally flat, boring, car-centric, culture-less and suburban. They might be decent places to live if you’re raising a family but if you’re a young professional or a tourist the majority of US cities are just boring and lame. There are good cities that are pretty, cultured, and exciting, but they’re the exception.

34. we don’t hate the city

35. A lot of people who don’t live in cities only know the negative aspects of them, and that opinion gets (understandably) re-enforced by people who leave cities to get away from those negative aspects

36. Who does what now?

    The only city I hate I Cincinnati.

    They know what they did.

37. I get sick of hearing so much about New York and California. Nothing against people who live there, though.

38. Many of us have been conditioned to believe we need a single family home in a place where we can only get around by car.

39. Lots of us love to whine, especially on Twitter

40. According to who?

41. I don’t understand the question.

42. I live in a major city; I don’t hate American cities.

43. Some people are just decided that the city represents things they don’t like. (I wouldn’t go so far as to say “prejudiced”, but I’ve heard the “you couldn’t pay me to live in *New York”* bit go longer than it needed to. It goes close, with some people.)

    Personally, I’ve lived in very small towns, and I’ve lived in a really big city, and so long as people are happy with where they are (overall), I’m good.

44. They don’t. Many Americans live in large cities and love large cities.

    People in rural areas and exurbs hate large cities. So do some people in suburbs.

    Many Americans love living in the city because there is significantly more to do in a city.

    Myself included.