Urbanites lack sense of community but rural dwellers take it for granted

One in five urban dwellers believe there is a greater sense of community in the countryside than in the city, according to a new study from insurer NFU Mutual.

But the rural population could be taking this for granted as having a sense of community is viewed as more important to urban dwellers than to rural residents. Almost a fifth of urbanites perceive community as very important compared to just one in ten (11%) rural dwellers.

But where does this community come from?

For a fifth of rural people, local neighbours provide a significant source of community feeling (compared to just 14% of urbanites). People in rural communities are also more likely to feel that they know their neighbours than their urban counterparts, with a third of the rural population valuing this link.

Rural inhabitants also use hobbies and interest groups and the religious community to build up their social network meaning that they are also more likely to take part in social community events. However this could be down to there being fewer community events available in towns and cities.

However there is a marked difference when it comes to urbanites seeking a network. Living in the city encourages people to build a community around their workplace, an important source of community for 12%. Almost a quarter of urbanites also rely on friends and family and even social networking sites (8%).

Sylvia Newham from NFU Mutual said, "It is clear that no matter where you live, everyone is searching for a sense of belonging. City dwellers are clearly very envious of the perceived tight-knit community of the rural population but maybe it is being taken for granted by those who live in it. Sadly a sense of community is missed more by those who do not have it then is valued by those who do."

For more information, visit nfumutual.co.uk