Mental Health

Country Folks Happier Than City Dwellers, Survey

By Christine Hsu | Update Date: Oct 15, 2013 04:51 PM EDT

Country people are happier than city people, according to a new survey.

A new UK survey revealed that people living in rural areas are more optimistic about the future and happier about their lives than those living in cities and towns.

The 2013 poll revealed that people in both rural and urban areas felt more optimistic about health, education and the environment. However, the improvement was significantly more pronounced among people who lived in the country.

People living in urban areas were also more worried about crime than those in the countryside. The survey revealed that the improvement in perceived quality of life was three times higher in rural areas than in cities.

"The recession made life in the countryside very tough for many people, so it's great news to see concerns about the cost of living easing," researcher Tim Price, a rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, told Daily Mail.

"Over the last two years we have seen firms struggle to stay afloat. We think that many have only managed to survive thanks to innovative management combined with measures such as freezing fuel duty and support for small and medium-sized enterprises," he added.

"However, for young people the lack of rural jobs paying a living wage and high transport and housing costs continue to make it hard for them to live in the countryside, and we urge the Government to support this group to prevent country homes being affordable only for second homeowners and city commuters," Price said.

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