Small Towns: Perfect Vacation Spot or Final Destination?

By Tessa Norenius

The grass is always greener when surrounded by a white picket fence. Current audiences are hooked on media depicting the everyday lives of individuals, except with the quaint backdrops of small towns. 

Now, small towns are charming— I myself am a fan of a good day trip to Port Hope. They’re pretty, quiet, and have an inviting lifestyle. But why are urban teens fascinated with small towns, despite job instability, small economies, and monoculturalism? The appeal seems to lie in quiet and community oriented values of small towns that 21st century cities lack. 

 In the 2000s, media aesthetics were built around urban vitality. Today, there seems to be widespread desire for small towns. Small towns offer life at a slower, simpler pace. Residents of small towns depicted in film and television seem to live in a utopia with an abundance of time to meander about and enjoy life. The idealized small towner’s biggest concern isn’t affordability or safety, but the various festivals and events that reflect the culture of their town. Television shows such as Warner Brothers’ Gilmore Girls, show main characters attending dance marathons and festivals of living art knowing the worst things they could encounter are bad grades and breakups. The possibility of leading a slow, low risk lifestyle, no matter how unrealistic, mesmerises audiences of slice-of-life television. 

However, many people treat small town life as a momentary escape rather than a permanent home. One of the most enticing aspects of small towns is the sense of community: everyone knows everything about everyone. In a small town, everyone plays a role, demonstrating their importance in the town. It is a communal environment where individuals have the chance to connect with others and give back to the neighbourhood. In small towns and suburbs, there is peace that comes with isolation. While it draws some people in, many who have left small towns felt stifled by the constant surveillance of their fellow townspeople and opted instead for the anonymity of the city, precisely what causes city folk to emigrate.

Humans are fickle, constantly changing our minds when we gain new perspectives. It is not uncommon to see the unfamiliar aspects of the world through rose-coloured glasses. The possible suffocation of urban life has its inhabitants longing for the escape of seclusion: irresistibly charming small-town life.