The image Americans have of the nation's cities has improved in the 1990s, but big cities still have a long way to go to be seen as attractive places to live.

Fannie Mae, the nation's largest home-mortgage lender, commissioned the polling firms of Peter D. Hart of Washington, D.C., and Robert Teeter of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to probe American attitudes toward cities. The 1997 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey concludes that the image Americans have of cities appears to be on the rebound, based on comparisons with a 1991 NBC/Newsweek poll conducted by Hart. Early in the 1990s, Americans were far more likely to see cities as the source of many social problems. But today, they are almost evenly split between those who view cities positively and those who view cities negatively.

In 1997, 36 percent of adults think of cities as centers of business, culture, and progress, up from 30 percent in 1991. In contrast, the share who think of cities as centers of poverty, crime, and other social problems is down, from 42 percent in 1991 to 38 percent in 1997. The remaining 26 percent of 1997 respondents agree with both statements, neither one, aren't sure, or say that "it depends."

"While negative images of cities are still prevalent, progress is being made," says James A. Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of Fannie Mae in Washington, D.C. "There is greater recognition of cities as centers of culture and entertainment, as well as opportunity. Yet while crime rates in cities are down and homeownership rates up, the perception of improvement in city life has not yet taken hold. This indicates just how much work those of us who care about cities have to do to change attitudes about them."

Wouldn't Want to Live There

Large cities, overall, are not viewed as desirable places to live. Given a choice, fewer than one in ten Americans say they would prefer to live in a large city. About one in four would choose a small-to-medium-sized city; a similar share would pick a suburb or small town if they had their druthers. For about one in five, rural life is the ideal. Furthermore, six in ten adults would not even consider buying a home in the major city closest to where they live now, or any other major city. But a majority would consider any other place of residence.

While city life will never be for everyone, some adults love them. Young adults aged 18 to 24 have the most positive view of cities. Slightly more than half of young adults (53 percent) think of cities as centers of business, culture, and progress, and only one-fourth consider cities to be centers of poverty, crime, and other social problems. Other groups likely to think of cities as centers of progress are never-married people under age 40 (48 percent); people who grew up in suburbs (46 percent); and current city homeowners and adults considering buying a home in a large city (45 percent each).

Renters with children and other dependents are most likely to think of cities as centers of poverty, crime, and other social problems, at 55 percent. Others who hold this negative city perspective include married renters (49 percent) and African Americans (48 percent). Adults who either live in small towns or rural areas or would prefer to do so are also likely to take a dim view of cities, as do those with household incomes below $35,000 a year, at 47 percent each.

The Good, the Bad, and the Hectic

The Fannie Mae study asked respondents to volunteer their impressions of the advantages and disadvantages of city life. Thirty-five percent spontaneously cited cultural events and night life as pluses. Twenty-nine percent mentioned convenience, and 18 percent mentioned shopping. Fifteen percent think jobs and job opportunities are more plentiful in the city, while 5 percent think medical facilities are better. Three percent say city schools are preferable.

On the down side, 51 percent say crime is a big detractor from city living, followed by traffic, congestion, and crowds, at 41 percent. Nine percent think it costs too much to live in cities, while 8 percent say the pace of city life is too hectic. Seven percent consider pollution and environmental concerns a negative of city life.

Those who live in cities reinforce the impressions held by the general public. Almost half (48 percent) of all city dwellers say they live in the city primarily because it is where their job is. Fifteen percent say they choose city life for its convenience, while 14 percent say they like the pace of city life. Thirteen percent live in the city because it is familiar to them, while 10 percent cite better schools for themselves or their children. Six percent say an abundance of cultural events draws them to city residence.

Although people see crime as cities' biggest detracting characteristic, fear of crime isn't the leading reason why people don't live in cities. Nearly one-fourth of those who don't live in cities simply don't like the pace of city life. In a similar vein, 17 percent say city traffic, congestion, and crowding bothers them. Another 17 percent list crime and safety concerns. Nine percent say their jobs are the reason they're not in cities, and 8 percent say familiarity or family ties keep them rooted outside cities. Six percent say they don't live in cities because it's too expensive; the same share cite environmental concerns. Just 4 percent say they avoid city life to avoid city schools.

The researchers surveyed a representative sample of 1,652 adults nationwide by telephone in April 1997, including 231 current city residents who did not grow up in a large city and 240 adults who had moved out of cities. The sample was weighted to reflect a 35/65 percent split between renters and homeowners. The margin of error is less than 3 percent. For more information about the Fannie Mae study, call (202) 752-6707.

Reprinted from American Demographics magazine with permission. (C)1997 Cowles Business Media, Ithaca, New York.

Published: January 21, 1998

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