Civ 7 Guide: When to Convert a Town to a City in Civ 7 | Civilization 7
Image Credits: Firaxis Games, Civilization 7 (Civ 7)
In Civ 7, towns and cities serve different roles. Towns generate gold and food, while cities focus on science, culture, and production. Knowing when to convert a town into a city is important for keeping your empire balanced and strong.
Key Differences Between Towns and Cities
Towns: Generate gold and food, but can’t build science or culture buildings.
Cities: Can build science, culture, and production buildings, but require more management.
The ideal ratio is often 1 city for every 1 town to balance growth, economy, and research.
When to Convert a Town to a City
1. When You Need More Science or Culture
Cities unlock key research and cultural progress.
If your empire is falling behind in technology or policies, converting a town into a city helps.
2. When the Town Has High Production Potential
Cities need good production to build districts, wonders, and units faster.
Best locations for city upgrades:
Hills – Great for production.
Near rivers – Boosts growth and adjacency bonuses.
Near forests or quarries – Can be converted into powerful industrial zones.
3. When the Town Has Reached a Large Population
Towns grow faster than cities, but once they hit max size, extra food is wasted.
If a town has plenty of food and a high population, converting it allows for further expansion.
4. If You Need More Cities for a Balanced Empire
Keeping a 1:1 ratio of cities to towns ensures you don’t fall behind in science and culture.
If you have too many towns and not enough cities, it’s time to convert one.
5. If the Town Has Poor Food Production
Some towns struggle to grow due to bad food tiles.
Converting them to a city with good production buildings makes them more useful.
When to Keep a Town Instead of Converting
If it's a coastal food hub – Some towns send food to cities, making them essential for empire-wide growth.
If it's a mining town – High-production towns with mines, quarries, or lumber mills generate tons of gold without needing city infrastructure.
If you need more gold – Towns provide steady income without requiring extra management.
Final Blurb
Converting a town to a city is not always necessary, but if you need more science, culture, or production, it’s a smart move. Look for high-population towns with good production potential and turn them into cities when your empire needs to grow beyond just gold and food.
