When I was a kid, we lived first in a suburb and then in a rural area. I’ve had very little experience spending time in large cities, and while I like to visit them (we’re a train ride from NYC and can also take a day trip to Boston or Providence), I prefer to live in smaller towns. I like the space, the calmer atmosphere, and the easy access to wooded areas for hiking and exploring. Not that cities can’t also have that, but it seems easier to manage out here!
Unlike large cities, we don’t have “bad” areas where crime can be a problem. It’s hard to get lost, even for me! There are no one-way streets, no parking issues, and everywhere I need to go on a regular basis is within a 20 minute drive. Traffic is only a problem if I have to jump on the interstate, which I think @JilltheTooth can relate to because I think she also lives in Connecticut. :)
Right now I’d say we live in the ideal area for us. Beaches, woods, ponds and lakes, cute downtown area, good schools, and close enough to major cities to also enjoy what they have to offer from time to time. I could never go back to living in the midwest!