Swedes seek a life between the countryside and the city

For a long time, major cities have been seen as natural centres of opportunity, innovation and economic growth. At the same time, many people in Sweden continue to move from metropolitan regions to non-metropolitan areas in search of different ways to organise work, family life and everyday wellbeing.

Sarper Neyse, a doctoral student at Umeå University, has examined the interaction between people and regions in Sweden’s non-metropolitan areas. These places are often overshadowed by Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, despite the fact that a large share of Sweden’s population actually lives there.

Using survey and register data, he has studied why people leave large cities, how they experience life after moving and which factors influence whether they stay long term.

Findings that challenge common assumptions

The findings suggest that many people who leave large cities do not experience the trade-off between career opportunities and quality of life that is often assumed. Several respondents reported improvements in their living environment, reduced stress and more time with family. At the same time, many also experienced positive changes in their working lives.

“The findings challenge the common assumption that people must choose between career opportunities and quality of life,” says Sarper Neyse.

His research also shows that many people do not move to isolated rural areas. Instead, they tend to choose accessible areas outside major cities that still maintain strong connections to larger labour markets.

“This suggests that counterurban migration is less about completely leaving urban systems behind and more about repositioning oneself within them,” says Sarper Neyse.

He describes this development as an attempt to create a more sustainable everyday life where work, family life and leisure are easier to combine.

Cities continue to attract people

Large cities continue to attract young people, investments and specialised labour markets. At the same time, a growing body of research points to increasing stress, housing pressure and mental health issues linked to the fast pace of urban life. More remote rural areas, on the other hand, often struggle to attract and retain younger populations due to more limited job opportunities.

“These in-between areas could perhaps be described as a geographical form of the Swedish concept of ‘lagom’ – a balance between accessibility and opportunities on the one hand, and wellbeing and continuity in everyday life on the other,” says Sarper Neyse.

Another finding is that long-term settlement matters more than temporary relocation. People tend to remain longer when job opportunities, accessibility, family circumstances and social integration reinforce each other over time.

“Families with children, individuals with stronger labour market attachment and people who become socially integrated in their destination regions are more likely to stay long term,” he says.

Sarper Neyse also raises a broader question about the human need for social context and manageability in everyday life.

“Perhaps this tension reflects something deeply human: our constant search for environments where social relationships, work, family life and daily routines feel manageable and meaningful,” he says.

He believes that the human need for overview and social belonging may also influence where we choose to live. Humans evolved in relatively small and socially cohesive groups, and even in modern societies our ability to maintain relationships, routines and a sense of belonging remains limited by time, attention and the organisation of everyday life.