People of all backgrounds dream of moving to the big city seeking fortune. Life in a vibrant metropolis certainly can be a romantic and exciting experience. One thing is for sure: urban life is not the same as rural living, and not all changes are desirable to city-bound individuals and families.

The unprecedented population loss in small rural areas and the “back to the city” movement of the early 2010s has tapered off and has even started to reverse, but urban areas continue to grow much faster than non-urban areas in the United States.

Compared with migration trends of the mid-20th century, we are moving less. In 1948, the year data collection began, 13.6% of U.S. residents moved within their county, and 6.4% moved to another county or state. In 2016, only 6.9% of Americans moved within their county, and 3.9% moved outside their county.

At the same time, the U.S. population has become more concentrated in urban areas, while the populations of rural areas, with few exceptions, have declined in recent decades.

Though Americans are moving less, those moving from a more rural environment to a major U.S. city should expect significant changes to lifestyle and culture.

24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of changes a typical person might expect moving to a major city.

Click here to read about how life will change when you move to a big city.