We always lived within driving distance of a city. But never in them. I lived in the burbs for a while. Easier commute but, like you said, crime was more than I could handle. I'm country born and raised but I loved San Diego county! Lol.
Don't think crime doesn't occur in rural communities. My principal was shot to death in a town of less than 200 one sunny day. The town I live in now has 5,000 souls minus a few that had their skulls hammered in, some shot, overdosed, shoved out of moving cars and so on. It seems like cities have more crime but per capita rural areas definitely compete.