Chicago

I lived in Chicago for 4 years while I was going to college. I was in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, which is not far north of downtown, and it was very nice and I felt safe. Two of my friends still live in Chicago on the far north side, near Evanston, and it's nice there as well. I always heard bad things about the south side, but I never really spent any time there so I can't speak to the truth of those rumors. I was cautious when I was downtown, especially at night, but that's part of life in a big city and I never had a bad experience. I've moved to Minneapolis now, but that has more to do with being near family than wanting to get away from Chicago per se. Could you visit for a weekend first to see what you think?

Chicago is a great city! personally I LOVE it!
Yes , there are some areas which are very scary..I had bad experiences in south side chicago though I didn't live there. Incidents with guys pointed with a gun in the restrooms of a McDonalds there for cash. You definitely need to avoid such areas.There are many great suburbs which are quiet and peaceful with good school district.Your realtor can advise you on that I am sure.
Downtown is great.And also lots to see and do in the city.Great in summer and fall.

Winter is pretty bad. You will get different answers based on how long they have lived in midwest and their tolerance level but everybody will agree it's sometimes unbearable. It gets cold starting october. It gets very cold mid october - mid april. People from midwest would complain about the cold from Nov-Feb. Well yes it is - sometimes brutal. So compared to those peak winter months , the other border months seem much better though it's still very very cold. In short , you will have to be prepared for atleast 6 months of cold weather every year.You may not like it but you will get used to the cold after the first year, once you know what to expect.And driving in the snow is no fun at all though it's amazingly beautiful when it snows.
Traffic is horrible. It's a big city so there are positives and negatives. If you are ok with the winter and want to live in a big city , Chicago is great!

I grew up in the south suburbs. They have the METRO that will take you into the Loop or anywhere really. I still consider Illinois home as mom and dad are still there.
There are some really good schools in and around Chicago. You will have to do your homework.
Within an hour of the city you are in the cornfields too.

I lived in the northwest suburbs of Chicago for 15 years. Chicago is an awesome city!! There is so much to do. If you are considering moving to the suburbs I can help you out with some suggestions but within the city itself there are a lot of neighborhoods that are great to live in but I don't have any first hand knowledge for you.

Oh, on the weather, no it's not cold all the time. Winter can be tough December through February but otherwise you'll get pretty typical seasons including a summer that can easily reach into the 90's.

Good luck,
K.

I live in a suburb of Chicago, about 40 min car ride, depending on traffic. Traffic is horrible but the train system is very convenient if you will be working in the city. I would suggest renting for the first 6-12 months to get a feel for the areas. Chicago is so diverse there is tons of great areas & bad ones too, so do your homework. I have lived here all my life & there is so much to do whether you are single or have a family. Awesome restaurants, great parks, museums, Brookfield zoo, Millenium park,etc. Winters are no fun.

Hi chicago has some great things to do there like museums, theatres, and the shedd aquarium is great, but i wouldn't live there personally. I lived in rockford, il for 25 years which is a big town about an hour and a half away from chicago. My in laws live in oswego, il and it is a beautiful town with A rated schools and lots of shopping. that town is about 30 mins away from chicago. I would suggest looking into some of the smaller towns around chicago to live in and commute to work to chicago if thats why you are going. And no its not always cold there the summers in illinois get preety warm there too. The humidity can get bad in july and august, but it is beautiful in the fall when the leaves start to change. I do miss that. Good luck.

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago, and we love it. We moved here from Austin 3 years ago, and in my opinion, Chicago is the greatest city I've lived in. It is a typical big city with crime in some areas, but the whole city itself isn't unsafe at all. There's so much to do in Chicago, and it's a very busy culturally diverse city. If you prefer a little quiet, the suburbs are great. Someone else mentioned the METRA that runs straight into Chicago from every suburb between Aurora and Chicago. It's cheap, fast, and convenient. Chicago itself has a pretty good bus system, and most of the people I know that live there don't even own a car. The town I live in is called Naperville, and it's about 35 minutes west of Chicago, and it's the first place I've lived that I truly consider home. The winter here is sometimes pretty brutal, but it's not windy all the time (this was a misconception I had), and the spring and fall here are breathtaking. Summers are usually pretty mild, but it can sometimes get up to the 90s (but usually only briefly). If you have any more questions, please feel free to PM me. The schools here are top notch as well.

I nannied in Evanston (Northern suburb where Northwestern is located). I took a 3 year old little boy all over the place. We went to parks, the beach, etc. I'm sure like any big city, there are definitely areas you don't want to live, but in my experience, it was a fabulous place to raise a family. Your realtor would be a great resource as far as areas that are safer.

As someone who has moved around a lot, here is something to think about. This may not be a viable option for you, but it is the only way we would move to a new city. If possible, rent first. Find an area you think you'd like and rent a duplex, condo, house,etc. That is the only way to really get to know the areas around you. After moving to areas we thought we great, once we were settled into a house and mortgage, we slowly find areas we would have rather lived in. Sometimes it's the school district that has great tests scores, etc, but but doesn't have the extracurriculars we wanted. OR, we could have lived in a much nicer area with a shorter commute. Sure, our realtor was helpful with the houses, but to really get to know a place, living IN it and seeing what's really going on around you is the best way to know what you want. I was just talking to a friend who has also moved around a lot (even more than us) and she agreed. They no longer will just move to a place and buy a house. The last 3 moves for them involved renting first. You also aren't pressured into finding a house that you may or may not love. You have more time to find the perfect house in the perfect area. Like I said, I don't know if you are able to do this, but it sure is a great way to get information first hand. Good luck and GO BEARS!! :)

I have never lived in Chicago but after reading your post I just wanted to say that I LOVE Chicago! My husband and I have visited and we both think it's our favorite place! There is so much to do (museums, sight seeing, all of the sports involvement). One of my best friends lived there for awhile while her husband played with the Cubs. She eventually wants to retire there. She loves it THAT much. hahaha I know that it's definitely a different lifestyle than you guys, but she was home alone a lot when her hubby was on the road. She never mentioned feeling at risk or unsafe, for what it's worth. Good luck in Chicago!!