Although most cities have parks and other green spaces, the green area available in rural areas is much larger. Countryside dwellers are often closer to forested areas, where they can walk and observe wildlife. Generally, people living out of the city also have space for larger gardens where they can grow their own vegetables and flowers.
Traffic and a high number of factories are the main causes of air pollution in cities. In addition to having fewer cars and factories per square mile, rural areas generally offer cleaner air to their residents because of their larger forested areas. When making their own food through a process called photosynthesis, plants consume carbon dioxide and liberate oxygen, thus purifying the air.
When living in smaller communities, people tend to know their neighbors and have a better community life. According to the "Daily Mail," 70 percent of Britons living in rural areas used to live in cities and moved to the countryside expecting a better quality of life. People living in the countryside tend to talk more to their neighbors, use local shops and make friends locally.
Crime rates in cities are much higher in comparison to rural areas. According to Forbes, Detroit has one of the higher crime rates in the United States, in a proportion of 1,220 violent crimes per 100,000 people, as of 2008. Less populated rural areas are also less likely to have large socially marginalized areas and see the formation of gangs, which are often involved in murders, robberies, rapes and other crimes.