A long-term study of nearly 20,000 Australians called the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics Survey, released its annual results yesterday and found people who live in a town with less than 1000 people are the most satisfied with life, followed by those who live in bigger regional towns. 

Cargo General Store owner Cath Brand, who has lived in Cargo all her life, said it did not surprise her people in smaller communities were happier.

“I think it’s because it’s a smaller community, everyone sticks together, everyone bands together,” Mrs Brand said.

“There’s less traffic, less crime. I have friends who live in cities and they have to lock up all their stuff otherwise it’ll get stolen.”

Fourth-generation Clergate orchardist and captain of the March/Clergate Rural Fire Service brigade John Kjoller said he would never give up the country lifestyle to live in a city, unless health problems forced him to do so.

“I couldn’t stand living in a city... there’s too many people, too much stress,” Mr Kjoller said.

“I think people like to get away from the city and the stress associated with it. When you live on the land, you can be your own boss, and if you don’t want to do something that day, you can put it off until the next day.”

John Clemens, who along with partner Monica Donnelly took over the Forest Reefs Tavern in March, has lived in small towns throughout the Central West all his life and recently moved from Orange to the village.

Mr Clemens said he had noticed a trend of people moving from cities and larger towns to villages because they realised the benefits.

“There’s blocks of land going on sale all the time, and people are really keen to get out of the big city for a bit of a tree change,” Mr Clemens said.

alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au