The old grey goose ain't what she used to be...
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3/31/2013
I've lived in Chicago all my life. I'm 53 years old. I grew up and was educated here. There was a saying when I was growing up that if you couldn't make it in Chicago, you couldn't make it any where. Well, you cannot say that now. Chicago has changed from a blue to a white collar town. If you are not making at least $100K, all you will be doing is existing. The costs of living has gone through the roof. Rents in decent areas are insance (you're going to need at least two or more roomates and good luck fitting them all into 650 sq. ft.). Crime has gone through the roof and is out of control. You're nickeled and dimed by the City on everything from parking fees, entertainment taxes, food tax, property taxes and any other tax that they can get away with. It has experienced negative population growth because it can no longer be comfortably afforded by the middler working class. The city is no place to raise children because of crime. You even have to watch your back going out in the day time. The "have nots" have gotten desperate for survival and have resorted to robbing, drugs and gangs are still prevailent, random shooting of children. You never have a sense of security. Winters are longer and colder and grayer (at least 6 mos). This is definitely not the Chicago that I grew up with. It does however still have great universities, summer events in the parks, great museums, clubs, restaurants, theater, etc....oh, but you won't have enough money left to do these things after paying rent or a mortgage anyway. Don't even think about living in a nice area in the City and having a car, you're asking for far too much and good luck on parking. Think you're escape the costs by moving to the burbs, think again, the burbs are not that much better as far as rents and mortgages. In a nut shell, it's a rat race.....and welcome to it if you decide to move here.
Vonda | Chicago, IL