Not all country towns are full of hicks that ride their tractors to the mail box, have livestock wandering through their homes and who are completely cut off from technology (unless you’re trying to connect to NBN, then that’s another story).

The country is becoming the new city but with a much better lifestyle on offer.

Compare house prices in Sydney or Melbourne to those in Wagga and you’ll see you get a lot more bang for your buck in regional Australia.

The argument is often made that the wages aren’t as good in the country but the only reason to have those exorbitant pay packets in the city is to keep up with the cost of rent and public transport. 

City slickers look down their noses at those who live in the country, like our lifestyles are unfathomable because we’re not surrounded by a bustling metropolis and skyscraper buildings.

But ask anyone who lives in Wagga or one of its outlying country towns, especially those who have moved from the city, and they’ll say they will take this life over a city one any day.

Commute times to work are almost non-existent with a drive to work taking a maximum of 10 minutes, 15 if there’s traffic. 

And because of said shorter travel time, you won’t spend as much time or money at the bowser filling up.

You're more likely to own your home, which has become something of a pipe dream or fairytale for those in their 20s or 30s in a metropolitan area.

Regional areas offer a sense of community that will simply not find in the city.

And we have the perks of being minutes away from picturesque country surroundings or being in another town in the time it takes to travel between two suburbs in Sydney.

It’s a better environment to make friends, for your children to grow up in and to forge business relationships.

Wagga is already ticking a lot of boxes that rate us highly as a regional centre, with defence force bases, a daily newspaper, affordable housing and an indoor sport centre.

The city’s leaders are working on strategies to encourage industries to come to Wagga to provide more job opportunities.

What else do you think Wagga needs to attract people from the city? 

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