What is the Difference Between Exurb and Suburb

The main difference between exurb and suburb is their location. Suburbs are located just outside the city, but exurbs are located further away from the city and suburbs.

Living in the city is often expensive and exhausting, especially to those who do not like noise and traffic. Living outside the city has many advantages; houses in exurbs and suburbs are more affordable and has more space than urban housing. That is why many families prefer to live in exurbs and suburbs. However, before buying a house, you should know the difference between exurb and suburb so that you can decide which option suits you the most.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is an Exurb 
    – Definition, Features, Pros and Cons
2. What is a Suburb
     – Definition, Features, Pros and Cons
3. What is the Difference Between Exurb and Suburb
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

City, Exurb, Suburb

What is an Exurb

An exurb is an area outside the usually denser inner suburban area of a metropolitan. In other words, exurbs are located further away from the city and suburbs. These areas generally have an economic and commuting connection to the major metro area. Exurbs are usually a mix of rural development (ex: farmland and open space) and suburban-style development (ex: houses on lots).

According to the Brookings Institute (an American research institute), in order to call an area an exurban area, it must meet three criteria:

• Economic connection to a large metropolis.
• Low housing density
• Population growth exceeding the average for its metropolitan area.

Figure 1: Exurban development (left side) blends into suburban development (right side) in Loudoun County, Virginia

Furthermore, exurbs are ideal for those who prefer complete privacy and isolation. There are very few neighbours, industries, less crime and pollution. However, there are some disadvantages to exurbs as well. These areas might be too far away from the city, and you might not get the chance to enjoy the conveniences of the city (ex: entertainment, malls, restaurants, top-notch health care and education, etc.) Some exurbs may also have no municipal services, such as sewer, water, and garbage pickup. Since buildings are more spread out in an exurban area, you may require a vehicle to move from point A to point B. 

What is a Suburb

A suburb is a residential area on the edge of a large town or city. The main advantage of living in a suburb is having full access to everything in the city due to its close proximity. Best medical facilities, restaurants, entertainment, good schools, etc. are all within a reachable distance. You can easily commute to the city using public transportation.

Figure 2: Suburbs

Another main advantage of suburb housing is that it is more affordable than urban housing. There is also less noise, traffic and pollution compared to the city. 

Difference Between Exurb and Suburb

Definition

An exurb is an area outside the usually denser inner suburban area of a metropolitan area, while a suburb is a residential area on the edge of a large town or city.

Location

Suburbs are located just outside the city, while exurbs are located further away from the city and suburbs.

Facilities

Those living in exurbs may not have the same facilities (for example, good schools, hospitals, restaurants, malls, etc.) as those living in the city. But, those living in the suburbs have access to all facilities available in the city.

Houses

While houses in exurbs are located farther away from each other, houses in suburbs are located close to each other.

Space

Houses in exurbs can have more space and bigger gardens due to the availability of land, while houses in suburbs have smaller lots.

Municipal Services

Some exurbs may not have municipal services such as water and garbage collection, whereas all suburbs have these municipal services.

Conclusion

Before buying a house, you should know the difference between exurb and suburb so that you can decide which option suits you the most. The main difference between exurbs and suburbs is their location. Suburbs are located just outside the city while exurbs are located further away from the city and suburbs.

Reference:

1. “Exurb.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Feb. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “High Angle Shot of Suburban Neighborhood” By David McBee (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Massies Corner to Mount Airy” By Open StreetMap Foundation – (ODbL) via Commons Wikimedia