Difference Between City and Suburb

Main Difference – City vs Suburb 

A city is a large highly populated area which serves as a hub of banking, finance, innovation, and markets in the area. Since the city is a very crowded and busy place, many people prefer to live outside of the city though they have to come to the city every day. A suburb is an outlying district of a city which serves as a residential area. Since suburbs are only a short distance away from the city, people can commute from the suburb to the city. The main difference between city and suburb is that suburb is less densely populated than the city.

What is a City

City is a large town which is highly populated. The city is often a very crowded and busy place. Most of the important offices and buildings of the area are usually situated in the city. It is a hub of trade, banking, finance, innovation, and markets. Cities also have a sophisticated system of transport, sanitation, utilities, land usage, and housing.

Living in a city can give you a lot of advantages like accessibility to first-class hospitals, educational institutes, shops, banks, and other business institutes as well as developed infrastructure facilities like electricity, water, and telecommunication, facilities. However, life in the city can sometimes feel restricted and crowded. A family with children can often find it difficult to live in the city, as houses in the city are usually very restricted and do not have open space.  Noise, pollution, and crime are other negative aspects of city life.

Main Difference - City vs  Suburb

What is a Suburb

A suburb is an outlying district of a city. This term is especially used for a residential area. In general, suburbs have lower population density than the city. Since suburbs are within a commuting distance from cities, many people, especially families choose to live in suburbs. Suburbs are quieter and less crowded than cities.

Suburbs were first introduced on a large scale in the 19th and 20th centuries as an effect of improved rail and road transport, which made commuting easy.

Difference Between City and Suburb

Difference Between City and Suburb 

Definition

City is a large, densely populated area.

Suburb is an outlying district of a city, especially a residential area.

Population

City is a densely populated area.

Suburb is less densely populated than a city.

Function

City is the center of administration, commerce, innovation, banking, etc.

Suburb is a residential area.

Qualites

City is crowded, noisy and busy.

Suburb is less crowded and quieter.

Population

Cities have a multiethnic, mixed population.

Suburbs may not have a mixed population.Difference Between City and Suburb - infographic

Image Courtesy:

“California Suburbs” by Jeff Turner (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Kansas City” by Leprecub at en.wikipedia (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.