Housing in the burbs is definitely cheaper per square foot and there are always places to rent. I think the issue with the study is that urban areas are often

Housing in the burbs is definitely cheaper per square foot and there are always places to rent. I think the issue with the study is that urban areas are often made up of rich/poor and a thinner middle class. The burbs are solidly middle class. I think the larger numbers of poor neighbourhoods in the city drag down the cities averages.