Homogeneous Town - "Outsiders" Not Welcome
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8/24/2017
Small town mindset filled with unwelcoming and superficial people. Might be a good place if you are part of the "inbred" crowd - related to everyone else, never lived any where else, etc. Not such a good experience otherwise. Residents act extremely closed off to anyone from the "outside" - you might as well be from another planet. Spent many years living there and during that time no one was welcoming or inclusive. Townies often won't even talk to those not in the "clique". They must be afraid of any outside perspectives and interests - might be a "threat" to their town's homogeneous attitude.
Unless you're related to someone and/or went to high school in Sycamore, your kids will also be affected in schools, activities, sports, etc. Only the "locals" get the best teachers, make the teams, etc. (again because decision-makers are related and/or high school friends with parents). Small town politics and stereotypes on steroids here.
Schools are okay but it's clear they are run by relatives and/or lifers and have no regard for outside perspectives in hires, decision-making, etc. Property taxes are ridiculous high, in part because the state's political mess and the lack of major corporate employers. There is nothing to do here either, unless you count a mediocre and declining, crime-infested university in the neighboring town. All the town "festivals" are just a family/high school reunion for the locals.
Lived a lot of places across the country and this was by far the most miserable experience.
JJ | Sycamore, IL