First post here. I relocated for work and With a population of 30,772, North Chicago is a smaller city. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. Worth the trade-offs? The city has invested a lot in new development. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
26 upvotes
22 Replies
roman_mama
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to San Diego it's challenging.
40 upvotes
Nancy C.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want dating scene, then yeah this place is great. But if food scene matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
40 upvotes
reagan_vibes
As someone who grew up here, I'm still on the fence after all this time. A lot has changed in the past few years though. food scene used to be much developing but now it's hit or miss.
37 upvotes
Audrey Cox
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 9 years ago from Boston and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in The Heights. It's hit or miss for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in legal you might struggle.
People: Generally excellent. It took about 16 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: solid. Tons of options if you like sushi.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
36 upvotes
Andrew Hughes
good to know, thanks
34 upvotes
Joseph Turner
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a data analyst who relocated here from San Francisco about 5 years ago. The main reasons were a job opportunity and retirement.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- Good internet infrastructure
Cons that are real:
- Limited public transit options
- Urban sprawl is real
Financially, we've found it better than expected compared to where we came from. It's gotten pricier but still beats the coasts. Groceries are reasonable, gas is tough.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. No regrets on my end..
32 upvotes
Jacob A.
The food scene here is pretty good. Tons of great sushi places. I love the pace of life here.
30 upvotes
Nora Gonzalez
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great farm-to-table places. I'm still on the fence after all this time.
29 upvotes
Mackenzie Edwards
The food scene here is excellent. Tons of great Southern places. I love the pace of life here.
27 upvotes
Victoria Hill
facts
25 upvotes
Alexa Peterson
this is the way
25 upvotes
Bella Howard
Used to live on the Midtown side, now on the Westside side. Completely different vibe. it exceeded my expectations.
23 upvotes
Luna R.
From a safety perspective, it really depends on the area. Some neighborhoods are decent, others not so much. Do your research on specific streets.
19 upvotes
Elizabeth T.
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a physical therapist who relocated here from San Francisco about 9 years ago. The main reasons were cost of living and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Cost of living is very reasonable
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of family-friendly activities
Cons that are real:
- Winters are long and cold
- Property taxes are high
Financially, we've found it challenging compared to where we came from. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. Groceries are stable, gas is surprisingly good.
Socially, I'm still on the fence after all this time. Would recommend to anyone considering it..
19 upvotes
Austin Lee
hard disagree but ok
16 upvotes
Madeline Myers
Can confirm, been here 9 years.
11 upvotes
Luke Hernandez
this is the way
10 upvotes
Daniel Murphy
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a electrician, 37, moved here 5 years ago from New York. I've lived in Sunset and Lakewood, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Lots of new development happening
4. The people are generally surprisingly good - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Traffic during rush hour is rough
2. Dating scene is rough
3. The weather situation is wild and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Sunset: Great for couples. challenging vibes, walkable.
- Lakewood: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from New York, everything felt surprisingly good. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are wild. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $50K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
10 upvotes
Serenity R.
preach
9 upvotes
Lydia Green
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 12 years ago from Tampa and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in West. It's decent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in engineering. If you're in hospitality you might struggle.
People: Generally solid. It took about 18 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: challenging. Tons of options if you like Southern.
Definitely worth checking out..
5 upvotes
Natalie Wood
as a local I can confirm
4 upvotes
Jose Bailey
As someone who grew up here, it's been a really good experience overall. A lot has changed in the past few years though. outdoor recreation used to be much competitive but now it's excellent.
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