People are leaving for a reason...
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1/24/2021
There are several reasons why Illinois is the only state in the Midwest to lose residents in 2019. The population has been in decline for the last 6 years. I was raised in Tinley Park. Moved here from Alsip in 1993. While Tinley itself is a pretty nice place, it is being crushed by policies enacted by the state.
Taxes: Illinois is near the top in almost every category of tax that exists. Granted, we may not be the TOP in any category, but do not let that fool you. While the property values seem reasonable, it fails to show all of the money you pay to the government on the back-end. Money that would otherwise go into your home equity elsewhere. You will end up paying more every month for a $250,000 home than a $350,000 home in many other states. You will pay roughly $7,500 a year in property tax for a home costing $250,000. That is an additional $625 a MONTH in tax, in addition to your mortgage. Property values have stagnated due to this. People are fleeing the state more than almost any other state in the nation. I've seen many people from New York and New Jersey downplaying the taxes here, failing to realize people are fleeing those states by the thousands as well. State income tax is 4.95% (Pritzker tried to make it a tiered system to increase even further but Illinoisans finally had enough of increased taxes). Sales tax in Tinley Park is 9.75%. Corporate Income Tax is 9.5%. Despite all of this, there is a constant push to increase in any way they can, due to the massive amount of debt the state has. The state has the worst credit rating of any state in the country being the only one with a BBB- score.
Positive Note: When I was in the military I was not taxed by the state even though Illinois was my Home of Record.
Business Friendliness: There is no reason to invest here if you are a business. There are more than a few states, even neighboring states, where your profits would be much greater due to less regulation and taxes. The city in Chicago is deep in debt due to pensions and decades of corruption. Last summer there were several riots that took place and many businesses were destroyed and looted. Magnificent Mile downtown was destroyed. Tinley Park was not affected, luckily. The politicians did not seem to care very much, until their own safety was threatened. Your business will not be protected if people decide to loot and figures Cook County S.A. Kim Foxx will actively let those responsible right out of jail (if they are even arrested in the first place).
Crime: Crime, like seemingly everywhere else in the nation, has increased a bit over the years. The city of Chicago is statistically among the worst in the country in regards to gun violence, even though Illinois requires you to ask their permission to exercise your 2nd amendment rights. Tinley Park is a pretty safe community though. There really has never been a time where I have felt unsafe.
Schools: The schools that people were raving about when I went through (early 2000's) were very good. We have seen a steady decline in the quality of education and college preparedness. Whether you go to Tinley Park High School or Andrew, you are likely not going to receive the same education you would have 20 years ago. District 146 has seen a decrease in their effectiveness and the school's scores reflect that. They have adopted a "just lower the standards and let them through" mentality which seems to have swept many parts of the country. The growth here has halted to such an extent that Lincoln Way North was closed because enrollment did not meet projections. Several schools were built with the belief that the population would continue to grow. Instead, the population stagnated and they had to re-consolidate. While yes, Illinois is still ranked in the top half of states in terms of education, I would argue that the direction it is in will see it continually fall in rankings. Also, not for nothing... Check out the largest teacher's union in the state. Head on over to their Twitter. See if the ideas they are espousing are what you would like your child to be taught.
Weather: If you enjoy all 4 seasons you will be happy. The winter can be very gloomy, and if you're coming from Colorado or a place where it is sunny during the winter, you will be disappointed. It can get quite depressing during the winter. Snow will be present during the winter, but it depends on the year as to how much will actually accumulate. Some years there is not much, some years there are snowstorms. The summers will usually get into the 80's and 90's. Mildly humid compared to states in the south.
Legality: Weed is legal but be prepared to pay some of the highest prices in the nation (coupled with the highest taxes... ~40% for concentrates). As stated before, you need additional permission to purchase a firearm. Gambling is legal and slots have popped up in restaurants. Fireworks are illegal to buy.
Transportation: Roads will constantly be under construction and the efficiency in which they are maintained is laughable. I understand the weather is a little harder on the infrastructure, but main roads are often narrowed down to single lanes for months at a time. One positive note on the transportation is the train access. There are two train stations in Tinley and you can take them straight into the city. Convenient if you work there, or just want to go exploring.
Things To Do: One of the things that I have found people know Tinley for is the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (Or Tweeter Center. Or 'The World') There are many good concerts that come through here. During the summer there is a block party on Oak Park Ave that I loved going to as a kid. There are several sports leagues to participate in as a kid. Brookfield Zoo isn't too far away. Top Golf in Naperville is a short distance. Bowling, shooting ranges, bars... a Dave and Busters in Orland. Several movie theaters in Orland and Country Club Hills. Multiple places to watch fireworks on the 4th of July. Just to name a few things.
Other Factors: There are two major airports nearby which makes travelling very easy. Whether travelling domestically or internationally, it is highly likely there is either a direct route or something very close. After serving in the Navy for 7 years, I can confidently say the drivers around here are actually some of the better drivers in the country. We are used to snow and compared to many other places, handle it much better.
Everywhere has problems, but Illinois residents have this belief that they are getting a fair return on their tax dollars. The politicians who have been convicted of corruption have drove the narrative that more taxes = better state. When in reality, more taxes = more money for them to pocket. The state is on the decline, led by Chicago, and given the policies currently in place, I do not see a way for it to recover. Anyone that says Tinley is not affected by Chicago or state policies is holding onto hope that this place will keep it together. Same as California. Same as New York. Same as the cities of Baltimore and Detroit. The people who vote for these policies are constantly led to believe that it is the "compassionate" thing to do. And I have seen people actively try to defend the "effectiveness" of what is going on. We all see the decline. Many people are in denial of the reasons. It's sad that it is financially irresponsible to invest in my own hometown.
Steve | Austin, TX