The Fading Distinction Between City and Suburb

Most of us who are sometimes labeled "urbanists" believe the new age of the city is squarely upon us. Cities and urban neighborhoods once counted for dead are adding people, in some cases faster than the suburbs; at the same time, we're seeing shortages of affordable housing in some of America's largest and most vibrant cities. This is what Alan Eherenhalt dubs "the Great Inversion"—a reversal of fortunes in which cities grow as suburbs decline.

But a recent study indicates that the traditional suburban lifestyle continues to be widespread. The study, by Markus Moos of the University of Waterloo and Pablo Mendez of Carleton University, found that key features of suburban life not only remain commonplace in the suburbs but are often continued by high-income people even after they move to cities.