Say you live in the suburbs. You decide to rent a co-working space. That much you know. You’re unsure if you should rent one close to your home, or in a larger city. How do you choose which is best?

What if you live in a city, and have seen co-working spaces for rent in the suburbs. Are there benefits to leaving the city to work in a shared office?

The best way to decide which to choose is to look at the advantages of each location, and weigh it against any negatives.

What are the positives and negatives to both? That depends on your needs and what you’re looking for, but we’ve come up with some ideas to get you started.

Suburban vs. urban

When one thinks of a co-working space, one might think of funky desks in cramped city offices where tech dudes drink gallons of coffee while coding their next great app.

That may happen in places, but as the numbers of co-working spaces grow, but it’s unfair to think they’re all like that.

According to a study by the magazine Deskmag, the number of co-working spaces worldwide is expected to increase by 22 percent in 2017. With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why.

As the co-working industry grows, so does the need for them in non-urban areas. Co-working spaces aren’t just for the city dwellers as they’ve expanded right into the suburbs.

Close to home

If you’re deciding on a suburban co-working space versus an urban, one major factor is location.

People in suburbia like the option to work close to their homes, without the long commute that a city co-working space may demand.

If you live in the city, this can be a major downside for you. Who wants to spend the time and money on a commute out of the city, if you don’t have to? In the end, the time and money spent can be more than what you’d save on cheaper suburban rent.

If space is an issue

Sometimes a co-working space in a city can only offer you a desk, and a few conference rooms. Also, the offices may be dark, and not offer any view other than the brick wall of a neighboring building.

In the suburbs, office spaces can be much bigger, offering lots of space, and maybe even a place to work outdoors. Chances are, the windows will be bigger, and offer better views too.

Those in the city may be jealous of the space an urban office can offer, because city co-working spaces may be cramped full of renters.

Both spaces can offer plenty of room for remote workers, but more space isn’t always a good thing.

Because suburban co-working spaces are still a relatively new option, there tends to be a lot of open desks, with less talent or people with whom to collaborate.

Diversity

While suburban co-working spaces are ideal for those that need space for a satellite office or a mobile team, they may also be more diverse regarding industry, age, and gender than their urban counterparts.

Many women in the workforce like to work near their homes and families and those are often in the suburbs. In addition to their homes, they can be close to their kids’ schools and activities.

Those who work in co-working spaces in the city tend to be more focused on tech. People from all backgrounds, not just engineering are loving their co-working space in the suburbs.

There are always exceptions to the rule, however. If diversity in industry and gender is important to you, be sure to check out who else is renting the space before you do.

Local flavor

Those who live and work in the suburbs put their money back into their local industry. By eating out for lunch, shopping nearby, and enjoying the local flavor. Of course, once can say this for city dwellers with co-working spaces nearby. Either way, if you work near where you live, you’re sure to be putting money back into your community.

So, which is better? Urban or suburban co-working spaces? Ultimately, that is up to you, your needs, and your company needs. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about what 580 Executive Center can offer you.