A city may be differentiated from a rural settlement by considering its

A city can be differentiated from a rural settlement by considering its population size and age structure, as well as its population and functions. In general, cities have much larger populations than rural settlements and are characterized by a diverse age structure with a significant number of young and middle-aged people. Additionally, cities typically have more specialized functions, such as commerce, industry, and services, while rural settlements tend to be focused on agriculture and natural resource extraction. While road networks and industrial estates may also differ between cities and rural settlements, they are not the defining characteristics that set the two apart.