Are the Suburbs an Oppressive Alternative to City Living?

In a previous article, I explored the complex and often contentious history of American suburbs. Now, I shift focus to the political and social criticisms of America’s sprawling, car-dependent suburban landscape. A final piece will address the financial outlook for suburbs and assess their future viability for both the nation and investors.

The idea that suburbs were designed to boost car sales is largely inaccurate. In reality, the widespread use of automobiles fueled suburban development. That being said, corporate giants like Levittown and government initiatives such as the interstate highway system and urban renewal also played significant roles in shaping America’s suburban sprawl.

Even if the forces driving suburban growth were not malicious, that doesn’t necessarily mean that today’s suburbs are sustainable, desirable, or promising for long-term investment. These are the issues we’ll explore next.

Are Suburbs Truly “Soulless”?

One of the most frequent criticisms of the suburbs is that they lack character. As Alex Balashov wrote for Quartz, “They’re designed for cars, not people.” He argues that this car-centric design negatively impacts our daily lives and social relationships, even limiting children’s ability to explore the world around them. Instead of spontaneous play in public spaces, children rely on prearranged playdates, often confined to home life and technology.

This perception has become so ingrained that the stereotypical cookie-cutter suburb appears regularly in popular culture, from The Stepford Wives to Pleasantville. While there is some truth to this critique, it’s often exaggerated. Social isolation may have been exacerbated by suburbanization, but it wasn’t a primary cause.

Robert Putnam’s influential book Bowling Alone delves into the decline of social capital in the U.S., documenting factors like shrinking friend circles, reduced community involvement, and falling church attendance. Interestingly, this decline in social capital began long before suburban growth surged after World War II. Levittown started selling homes in 1947, the interstate highway system kicked off in 1956, yet social capital had already begun to wane.

The criticism that suburbs are inherently isolating overlooks the fact that many suburban residents, including families with children, enjoy a sense of community. For example, I’ve observed children playing on my street regularly, a far cry from the isolation some claim defines suburban life. Suburban living, with its backyards and family-friendly environment, continues to draw families away from urban areas. Research shows that birth rates in large cities are declining twice as fast as in rural areas, indicating that cities may not be as accommodating to family life as suburbs.

The Decline of Community: A Broader Perspective

While it’s easy to blame the suburbs for the decline in community life, other factors—such as the drop in religious participation and the steady decline in marriage rates—are more significant. For instance, the percentage of people who consider themselves “religiously unaffiliated” has risen sharply, from 16% in 2007 to 26% by 2019. Meanwhile, fewer people are getting married, and even fewer attend church regularly, both of which historically contributed to strong community ties.

The rise of technology also plays a major role in this decline. Many Americans have fewer close friends today than they did 30 years ago, and loneliness has become a pressing social issue. The internet and social media, in particular, have been linked to increasing unhappiness and a decline in real-life social interactions.

Suburban Retail and the “Soul-Crushing” Critique

While I don’t find suburban residential areas soulless, the commercial zones can be another story. Endless rows of strip malls, gas stations, and big-box stores lack the vibrancy of urban centers. These spaces often feel generic and uninspired, making this a valid critique of suburban life.

One way to combat this is by introducing more mixed-use zoning in suburban commercial areas, a point made by Jane Jacobs in The Death and Life of Great American Cities. By allowing residential and commercial spaces to coexist, suburbs could foster more dynamic environments with greater foot traffic and a stronger sense of community.

Car Dependency in Suburbs

It’s almost impossible to live in a suburb without a car, and this dependency is a core part of the suburban experience. Urban advocates frequently point to European cities as examples of how effective public transportation can reduce car reliance. However, the vast size and lower population density of the U.S. make suburban sprawl more practical, and building up public transit systems comparable to Europe’s would be both costly and difficult.

While American suburbs do offer parks and open spaces, they aren’t walkable, and public transit options are often poor. In recent years, public transit ridership has declined, even as spending on it has increased. This is a significant challenge for the future of suburban living.

Crime and Suburbanization

Some argue that suburbanization has contributed to rising crime in metropolitan areas. As people and capital fled to the suburbs, cities were left with declining populations and economies, potentially fostering conditions that lead to crime. This has led to a cycle where urban crime pushes people to the suburbs, which further contributes to urban decline.

Breaking this cycle requires investment in urban schools and infrastructure, as well as policing reforms. The controversial “broken windows” theory, which argues that addressing small crimes can prevent larger ones, has been debated extensively but still holds some merit.

Final Thoughts

While suburban living comes with its downsides—such as car dependence and uninspired commercial areas—the critiques often miss the broader picture. Suburbs continue to attract families with their affordability, safety, and space. Issues such as declining social capital and increasing isolation are not unique to suburbs, and they seem more linked to broader cultural changes, including technological shifts, than to the layout of suburban neighborhoods.

Ultimately, the sustainability of the suburban model remains a crucial question, particularly from an economic perspective. This is the subject I’ll turn to in the final part of this series.

In the previous post: “Is Now a Better Time to Invest in Real Estate Debt or Equity?“