Australians are rethinking inner city living

"We found that major cities remain strong drawcards, but people are less willing to live in inner-city areas and are more likely to choose lower-density housing when they can. Workers are being pushed towards the peripheries due to rising living and transport costs, overcrowding, pollution and health concerns. At the same time, greater access to online platforms for work, education and e-commerce has reduced the need to live close to the CBD."

"The study sought to test whether the long-standing benefits of urban agglomeration are now being outweighed by rising costs, particularly following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia's population has become increasingly concentrated in major capital cities over recent decades and many regional centers have experienced population decline."

"Small, inland towns are likely to become less attractive to residents, with ongoing losses in population, employment and resources. However, the picture is more mixed for larger regional cities, where those that are coastal or located close to major metropolitan areas are becoming increasingly attractive to residents who are seeking more space while maintaining access to employment and services."

Post-COVID Australia shows a significant shift in residential preferences away from central business districts toward lower-density housing. Research from Adelaide University surveyed 2,970 households to examine population distribution trends across capital cities, regional centers, and rural areas. Workers are being pushed to urban peripheries due to rising living and transport costs, overcrowding, pollution, and health concerns. Expanded access to online platforms for work, education, and e-commerce has reduced the necessity of living near CBDs. While major cities remain attractive overall, small inland towns face continued population decline. Larger regional cities, particularly coastal ones or those near major metropolitan areas, are becoming increasingly appealing to residents seeking more space while maintaining employment and service access.

Read at Phys