Republicans prefer to live in areas in which houses are larger, farther apart % who say they would prefer to live in a community where the houses are
Nearly two-thirds of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (65%) say they would prefer to live in a community where houses are larger and farther apart, but schools, stores and restaurants are several miles away.
By contrast, a majority of Democrats and Democratic leaners (58%) would rather live in a community in which houses are smaller and closer to each other, but schools, stores and restaurants are in walking distance.
The ideological differences in community preferences are stark, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in September among 9,895 U.S. adults. Conservative Republicans are about twice as likely as liberal Democrats to prefer a community where the houses are larger and more widely spaced (71% vs. 35%). These overall patterns of opinion are little changed from 2017.
A majority of rural residents (69%) say they would rather live in a community with larger houses that are farther apart, while 60% of urban residents prefer communities with small houses. People who live in suburbs are more evenly divided.
Republicans prefer to live in areas in  | which houses are larger, farther apart  | % who say they would prefer to live in a community  | where the houses are  | Smaller and  | Larger and  | closer to each other  | farther apart  | Total  | 47  | 53  | Urban  | 60  | 40  | Suburban  | 48  | 51  | Rural  | 30  | 69  | Rep/Lean Rep  | 34  | 65  | Conserv  | 29  | 71  | Mod/Lib  | 41  | 58  | Dem/Lean Dem  | 58  | 42  | Liberal  | 65  | 35  | Mod/Cons  | 52  | 48  | Note: No answer responses not shown.  | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Sept. 3-15, 2019  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 