The paper presents the approach to the analysis of spatial relationships between the town and surrounding rural areas. The main objective was to compare the competitiveness and living conditions of the areas located in the surroundings of towns with different number of inhabitants and situated in various regions of Slovakia and Poland. Competitiveness of a given area is understood as the ability to attract young and well-educated inhabitants. In turn the outfit of houses with the basic facilities of technical and communication infrastructure decides the living conditions.