Did you know that according to census data, the percent of Americans who live in urban areas increased from 79% to 80.7% during the ’00 decade? This might not seem like a huge increase, but considering the fact that rural areas saw a corresponding decline, it shows that more and more people are choosing to either move to a large city, or continue their city living lifestyle.

It’s not particularly difficult to see why, either. City living in a loft or other comfortable apartment affords high-paying career opportunities, access to delicious foods, and the chance to experience a multitude of world-class cultural events. For example, those who choose to make Philly lofts their home can get a delicious cheesesteak whenever they want, as well as check out all of the historic sights.

There’s a recent study that help show why people choose city living over country living by illustrating the ways that city residents perceive their surroundings in such a way that encourages them to stay.

The University of Western Australia’s Sarah Foster led the first study that investigated the way neighborhood density influences perceptions of crime. Over the course of a five-year period, researchers collected data from almost 1,200 people that had resided in their homes for about three years. They used the surveys to measure fear of crime and perceived risk of crime, while data focusing on walkability, density, and commercial development was collected from the public records.

The team found that city living participants who lived in a more dense or more developed neighborhood actually reported a larger perceived risk of crime, but also a diminished fear of it. Basically, having more people on all sides made residents more likely to believe that they could be victims, but less likely to fear it. Since high crime tends to be a major downside of city living, this lack of fear can help to make it a much more pleasurable experience.

You don’t have to have a luxury living style to enjoy a life in the city. As data indicates, more and more people aren’t only moving there, but staying there, too, which proves that fact. If you have any questions about city living, feel free to ask in the comments.