Two million Americans fled big cities like Las Vegas between 2020 and 2022 to live in rural areas for a better lifestyle with lower costs. With as few as 20% of the US population living in the countryside, you can benefit from lower housing costs and better satisfaction.
A survey on life in rural America found that 73% of participants rated their quality of life as excellent or good, and 90% felt very secure from crime. This stat is a massive contrast to Las Vegas’s crime rate, which is 90% higher than other towns in Nevada, ranking 9th as the city with the biggest homicide problem. Keeping these factors in mind, it’s no wonder you’d want to leave an intimidating city in favor of a calmer place to call home. If you’re moving to a rural area from Las Vegas, here are a few things to remember.
Hire professional movers
Nevada is one of the top ten states busiest for movers, with around 9,330 Nevadans moving to Florida. You can use the help of these professional movers in hectic cities like Las Vegas to ensure a smooth relocation, especially if you’re driving long distances. Suppose you’re moving from Las Vegas to a small town near Dallas. That is more than 1,200 miles to get to the city alone.
Imagine how difficult it would be to drive such long hours after packing and loading your things yourself. To alleviate the burden of this lengthy relocation, you can hire help from long distance movers in Las Vegas to streamline your moving process. Trusted moving companies like Coleman, which are BBB-accredited, let you rest easy knowing your valuable items are safe. You can share the responsibilities with friendly moving crews and safely track everything through online shipment tracking. Coleman’s moving company also offers a free quote so that you can plan your budget accordingly.
Map out your path
Big cities like Las Vegas are easier to navigate because of their well-defined road networks and advanced GPS systems. A 2022 study on the Urban-Rural divide found that city folks are worse navigators because they are used to a specific layout. On the other hand, people living in rural areas live in a complex environment with unorganized routes and longer distances, leading them to memorize directions better.
If you’ve spent most of your life growing up in cities like Las Vegas, you will need extra help to navigate rural areas. Scope out the roads and keep a printout of your directions so you don’t wind up on a bumpy dirt track your moving truck can only travel on if you want to damage every item. A physical map will also help you navigate areas with bad cell reception. Rural areas have fewer road signs or well-defined intersections, so you should pay attention to any changes in the road. Look for landmarks mentioned in your directions or those you identified during your research to ensure you stay on the right path.
Sort out your job
If you still need to get a job in the area you’re moving to, it’s never too late to start looking before you move. Whether securing a new position in the local community or exploring remote work options, a stable income is necessary to ensure you adjust to rural life smoothly.
However, be prepared for lower income as most jobs in Las Vegas pay between $41,800 and $75,370, whereas you earn a lot less in rural areas. It would be best to sort out your job beforehand to manage your career growth in rural areas. Getting a local job can also help you integrate into the close-knit community of small towns, which can help you build connections with your neighbors and feel more connected.
Choose a home you love
The housing expenses are 10% higher than the national average in Las Vegas, so many people go to rural areas where housing is significantly cheaper, along with other fees. Whether moving closer to relatives or just trying to cut costs, you can use this opportunity to purchase your dream home. If you can’t travel in person to scope potential houses, you can take a virtual tour and search for a home you love online. However, consider setting up a temporary living situation while seeing potential homes in person to ensure you’re investing in the right place.
Visit your destination
Ideally, you should be able to visit the town you’re moving to so you can scope out the best real estate, plan your lifestyle, and get a rundown of your life once you move. However, this plan is not always possible with long-distance moves with high traveling fees. If you can’t afford a trip from Las Vegas to Texas, you can travel there online instead.
Suppose you’re considering moving to small towns near Dallas. In that case, you can search for them through local real estate, blogs, yelp reviews, or social media accounts. Utilize these resources to find out about fun activities, find job opportunities, and get a feel of the place you’re about to move to. If you would like to see how the area looks, you can even get a Google Maps satellite view tour.
Examine internet access
Rural areas won’t have the high-speed internet access you’re used to getting. Compared to densely populated cities like Las Vegas, rural areas don’t offer as many potential customers because of their scarce population. Due to this reason, only some internet providers are willing to invest in providing internet access in these areas.
So, if your job depends on a stable internet connection, you should search for rural areas with high internet speeds like Madisonville, LA (101.7Mbps) or Winchester, CA (85.9Mbps). To ensure your internet runs smoothly once you arrive at your new home, contact the best rural internet providers to set up a stable connection.
Conclusion
A new move brings new experiences and adventures, especially a drastic relocation from a bustling city like Las Vegas to a quaint neighborhood in a rural area. You might need an adjustment period. However, you can ensure a smooth transition with the proper preparation. A change of pace will be a welcome relief from the city’s bustling activities. Use this change as an opportunity to slow down and embrace the unique aspects of rural life. Prepare to trade the bright lights for starlit skies and enrich your life in ways you never imagined.