You’ve probably heard nothing but good things about Chicago if you’re considering making the move there. After all, the city enjoys a generally positive reputation among residents and visitors alike. Chicago is home to stunning architecture, delicious cuisine, thriving arts, and championship sports teams.
Chicago is the best city in the United States if you appreciate professional sports. There will always be a packed bar to watch the game in, whether your team of choice is the Cubs or the White Sox. Whether or not you’re a baseball fan, nothing beats spending the afternoon at Wrigley Field with your pals.
There are good aspects about living in Chicago, but many people also know that there are many bad things that happen there. While some of these may seem quirky, there are more important factors to consider before making the move to the Midwest.
Some of the more obvious reasons why a family might not wish to relocate to Chicago, Illinois are listed below.
How would you describe life in the Windy City? For starters, the city’s location on Lake Michigan means that it’s always windy and freezing. Not only is it the third largest city in the United States (after New York and Los Angeles), but it’s also one of the most underappreciated places to call home in the country.
Yet, crime rates and corruption both rank high in Illinois. Why wouldn’t you want to live in Chicago, Illinois, since it’s the largest city in the Midwest and home to so many exciting opportunities?
Worst Airports
Because of its size, Chicago is a bustling metropolis, and the airport is no exception to this rule. When compared to DIA in Denver, Colorado, O’Hare is just as busy, if not busier.
The terminals and runways are a jumbled mess, making it difficult to get in and out quickly. Of course, there is virtually always traffic on the way to the airport, which is a minor annoyance.
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Traffic
Chicagoans spend more time stuck in traffic than they would like, preventing them from seeing the city or making the most of their vacation.
When exactly does rush hour occur? There are so many people and not enough roads in Chicago that rush hour lasts all day. While the train does help relieve some traffic, it is still important to know how to use it before relocating to an area that relies heavily on it.
People in densely populated areas are used to sitting in traffic because accidents are commonplace; this may explain why they have a bad attitude.
Winters
The city of Chicago has a lot going for it. None of them include the weather. The city’s harsh winters are reflected in its architecture. The city may experience even more severe weather in the future as a result of climate change. You will experience thermal whiplash, frost quakes, and immediate frostbite if the 2019 polar vortex is any indicator of what the future holds for weather.
Chicago winters are notorious for their extreme cold, hazardous roads, and frequent school cancellations. You’ll have to determine whether the constant refrain of “I could never live there, it’s wayyyyy too cold” from people who aren’t from Chicago is worse than the weather there every time you tell them where you live.
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Expensive
This probably won’t come as much of a shock, given that major metropolitan areas typically have significant financial needs. But, Chicago is hardly an inexpensive alternative to New York or San Francisco.
If you’re planning on relocating to the Windy City, you should be prepared to spend a lot of money on rent, taxes, food, and parking. PayScale.com reports that Chicago has a 23 percent higher cost of living than the U.S. average. Transportation prices are 26% more than the national average, and housing expenditures are 55% higher. It’s far cheaper and warmer to visit Florida or Texas.
Crimes
Many of articles have been written about how crime in Chicago has prompted people to leave the city. In fact, when we poll the general public about why they think Chicagoans are getting in touch with real estate agents at unprecedented rates to sell and go, the overwhelming majority say it’s because of the city’s high crime rate.
While there are many other issues plaguing Chicago, a major one is the city’s high crime rate. The murder rate in Chicago is persistently higher than the national average.
Tax Rates
Cities with strong democratic traditions typically have high tax rates. Whether or whether you share such ideals, living and shopping in Chicago will drain a significant chunk of your income.
Chicago’s continued status as the city with the highest sales tax in the country is indicative of the city’s unreasonably high tax rates. A rate of 10.25% is extremely high.
A lot of people in the city are wondering where their tax money is going in light of the high crime rate and high cost of living. Eventually, this anger drives sceptics beyond Chicago’s borders.
Conclusion
We discussed the factors that have led to a recent influx of people leaving Chicago. Since that many professionals are now free from the restrictions of their Chicago-based jobs thanks to COVID-19, we anticipate that trend will grow more widespread.
What happens to Chicago’s population as time goes on and the habit of working from home persists remains to be seen. While you wait, feel free to peruse the rest of our blog for more information on real estate, Chicagoan culture, and related lifestyle subjects.
