exurbs
Beyond the suburbs
Exurbs are the prosperous communities beyond a city's suburbs—farther from urban centers but still within commuting range.
Where suburbs border cities directly, exurbs lie past them, typically characterized by larger lots, newer developments, and residents who accept longer commutes for more space and lower density: Housing prices in the exurbs have skyrocketed as remote work becomes common.
Outermost edge or margin
- peripheryBoundary or outer region
- outskirtsOuter parts of town
- hinterlandRemote area beyond settlements
- greenbeltProtected open space around urban areas
Amount of land owned
- cul-de-sacStreet closed at end
- estatesLarge property holdings
- McMansionsOstentatious mass-produced houses
- backyardsOutdoor spaces behind houses
real-estate · family-friendly · privacy · low-density · semi-rural
One who travels regularly
- drive-timePeak commuting period
- park-and-rideParking for public transit
- carpoolShared commute arrangement
- highwayMajor road for travel
interstate · tollway · expressway · gasoline · traffic · congestion · route · distance
Portions of a whole
- buildersThose who construct things
- greenfieldWithout prior constraints
- rezoningChanging land-use designation
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
Intermediate socioeconomic group
- white-collarOffice work designation
- familiesRelated people living together
- homeownersProperty-possessing residents
- transplantsSurgical tissue transfers
retirees · professionals · migration · newcomers · child-rearing · homogeneity · wealth
fringe
Outermost edge or margin
- peripheryBoundary or outer region
- outskirtsOuter parts of town
- hinterlandRemote area beyond settlements
greenbelt · sprawl · unincorporated · townships · decentralization
acreage
Amount of land owned
- cul-de-sacStreet closed at end
- estatesLarge property holdings
- McMansionsOstentatious mass-produced houses
backyards · real-estate · family-friendly · privacy · low-density · semi-rural
commuter
One who travels regularly
- drive-timePeak commuting period
- park-and-rideParking for public transit
- carpoolShared commute arrangement
highway · interstate · tollway · expressway · gasoline · traffic · congestion · route · distance · telecommuting
subdivisions
Portions of a whole
- buildersThose who construct things
- greenfieldWithout prior constraints
- rezoningChanging land-use designation
middle-class
Intermediate socioeconomic group
- white-collarOffice work designation
- familiesRelated people living together
- homeownersProperty-possessing residents
transplants · retirees · professionals · migration · newcomers · child-rearing · homogeneity · wealth
- real estatehouse, home, apartment, property, sale
- outskirtsoutskirts, periphery, outskirt, fringe, environs
- suburbiasuburbia, burbs, subdivision, subdivisions, cul-de-sac
- suburban sprawlsprawl, subdivisions, tract housing, housing developments, bedroom communities
- suburban termsbedroom community, dormitory town, satellite city, subdivision, cul-de-sac
- urban geographysatellite towns, commuter towns, bedroom communities, conurbations
exurbsinner city
Dense central metropolitan zone
urban core · city center · downtown · inner ring · city proper
exurbsurban areas
Developed, populated regions
cities · high-density housing · walkable neighborhoods · transit-oriented development · high-rises