moving to Chicago maybe.
Question:
Was wondering if anyone can help me with some questions on moving to Chicago. My wife works for a large company in Deerfield and would make about 65k. I work in customer service as a supervisor for a large bank and would be looking for a job when we move. So my questions are, can you live on 100K joint income with 1 kid in north Chicago suburbs? What are the best areas we could afford to live in? Crime and schools are our main concern as well as living close to deerfield as we can. Keep in mind we are coming from ND so my definition of crime is 3 murders a year for the entire state and maybe seeing a bar fight every 3 years is the closest I have come to a violent crime. Also is the traffic really that bad? Thanks for any help. we are deciding to move for my wife's career or stay here in ND where the average household income is 35K and we have a very comfortable life but no chance of ever advancing in any career here.
Answer:
So now you're /not/ moving to Chicago? You should strive for accuracy
in your subject lines.
The greater chicago area will shock you then. But the north burbs will
probably be within tolerance. What may offend you more is the keeping
up with the jones's materialism.
Here's the rub, all the cheaper places to live are west of the river,
including wheeling. If one is to ride a bicycle in this area expect
every fifth driver or so to be like wix (The kind that expects you to get
off the road for them). It's going to be a difficult transistion for
someone to go from riding in ND to these burbs, which are by far the
toughest I've ridden in, in the greater chicago area.
And odds are she'll probably be working on lake-cook road which despite
it being 6 lanes wide, it's underposted 45mph means that passing traffic
often is using the right hand lane and the flow chaotic. Really bad for
riding. Dundee road has a speed limit closer to the 85th percentile and
despite being restriped for the worse is still the better road to get
over the river by bicycle. (deerfield road is inbetween, it's a two
lane so sometimes there will be a timid driver that won't pass no
matter how much they are encouraged to do so and start backing up
traffic which in turn sets off one of the wixian drivers further back)
I take it, you are a white fella. Make the move and join your white bros.
and sisters. You have absolutely no reason to be apprehensive. Your white
bros. and sisters have carved out, a pristine white oriented and controlled
area. The same culture you enjoy in N.D. is basically in tact, in the
northern (white) Chicago suburbs. In Chicago, the blacks and other U.S.
Nationals (as distinguished from actual citizens, like you white fellas),
are mostly confined to large chunks of City of Chicago. Don't worry, you
won't come into contact with any blacks, as long as you stay with your own
kind, in the northern suburbs (which is a very large area, encompassing
several counties). You will have it so good, you will think you are in
apartheid era south africa.
We are going to just try and stick as
close to deerfield as possible even if it means gettig a 3 br condo
for $250K. I should say that ND is a lot colder than Chicago ever is
by the way. we were already at -7 last week and can have 2 week
periods when it never gets above 0 and wind chills hit -40 alot. my
car didnt start on April 1st last year cause it was -12 overnight.
checking Weather.com Chicago average Jan low is 18 Grand forks ND is
-4. your record all time low is -24 we have 5 different months with
record lows from -25 to -40.
Believe it or not I work with people from all backgrounds here in ND
but it is 98% white. Not like anyone is moving here of any race. If
you werent born here or assigned here by the military at one of the
air bases you are never going to live here. I am the last person I
know from high school or college left here. it is a great state for
families but unless you own a business or are a lawyer or doctor you
will have a tough time breaking 25K a year.
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