“Close to everything and everyone” or “away from the crowds”? City and countryside in the residential preferences of young Catalans

Abstract

This article analyses the preferences of young people regarding their residential environment based on the 2022 Catalan Youth Survey. The results show that the notions of «city» and «countryside» remain in the collective perception despite spatial transformations that tend to dilute them. Data also shows an evident desire to change environments: 4 out of 10 young city dwellers would like to move to the countryside, while 1 in 4 rural youths would like to move to the city. The profiles of those seeking these changes suggest contrasting motivations: a desire to leave the city is often driven by aspirations to escape precarious living conditions, whereas moving to the city is typically linked to educational or professional projects. Finally, the reasons cited highlight the enduring presence of a number of stereotypes shaping perceptions of urban and rural life.