Relocating to Chicago from NYC

[thetruth]

What are your thoughts about it? Are they similar cities?

 

Also, which are the best neighborhoods in Chicago? Thanks in advance.

[handiacefailure]

Both are great cities. If money was no object though I'd rather live in NYC since I'm a huge theater fan.

 

If you want a car Chicago is definitely a lot better city for that even though parking is still sky high but some neighborhoods have residential parking.

 

Chicago is probably a cheaper city, or at least before covid.

 

If I were to live in Chicago, probably Andersonville would be where I would live. I used to like Boyztown but it's become more mainstream in the past five to ten years.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Chicago is the friendlier, more livable Manhattan.

 

Colder, more bitter winters. You'll acclimate.

 

Beautiful, clean lake in the middle of the city. It's refreshingly cold in the summertime.

 

Chicago also has what I consider the premier museum scene in the States. Their theater scene is well respected with some of the most innovative and longstanding companies around. Chicago's comedy chops are legendary.

[+ keroscenefire]

Chicago does have considerable more crime that NYC. Almost twice as much in fact: 1098 violent crimes per 100,000 people compared to only 538 violent crimes per 100,000 in NYC. Similarly for property crimes: 570.36 per 100,000 in Chicago to 345 per 100,000 in NYC (although neither Chicago nor NYC are in the top half of cities for property crime. Chicago definitely is for violent crime).

 

And having visited both cities I would say Chicago feels a bit more unsafe. I've definitely been hustled and had an attempted mugging in Chicago (unsuccessful because a group of people suddenly came out of a bar and they ran off). Where I've actually have always felt pretty safe in NYC. I also feel people in NYC are friendlier than Chicago.

 

That said I think Chicago is a quite beautiful city with really good comedy, music and arts scenes. But I think I prefer NYC.

[CuriousByNature]

Awesome architecture in Chicago, and deep-dish pizza!

[rvwnsd]

The crime rate in the City of Chicago is higher than New York's. The current post-protest crimes notwithstanding, most of it occurs in poverty-stricken areas of the South and West sides. That's not to say it makes the high crime rate OK, but my guess is you don't intend to live in Englewood or North Lawndale, two of the most notorious areas for crime. After living in San Diego and now Phoenix since 2000 I feel perfectly safe walking around in Chicago (as I do in New York).

 

In terms of things to do, as @Benjamin_Nicholas pointed out the sheer number of high-quality museums is really outstanding. In large part that's the result of Chicago society wanting to demonstrate Chicago was every bit as good as New York. (Think of the old Avis commercial - "we're number two, we try harder") The theater scene in Chicago skews away from the mainstream toward the experimental.

 

In addition to the neighborhoods listed above, I've always been fond of Streeterville, The Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town, Bowmanville (just west of Andersonville), Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood. Logan Square also has nice places, although I'd suggest living someplace else when you first arrive and see visit to see if it is someplace you would like to live. I'd stay clear of Bucktown. It is an expensive, trendy place to live and is simply not safe. Margate Park is another one I'd avoid.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

What are your thoughts about it? Are they similar cities?

 

Also, which are the best neighborhoods in Chicago? Thanks in advance.

 

Definitely not similar cities. Chicago is midwestern and New York is east coast. Also much more expansive. People in other states will say they’re from Chicago, that could be like someone from Burbank saying

 

I’ve not really spent a lot of time in New York, but Florida has a lot of New York influence to where I feel I’ve been there for awhile.

 

I know some cities are trying to trend to being the next Chicago alternative: St. Louis, Denver and Minneapolis. I personally wasn’t able to find my niche in Chicago...from escort perspective. It’s a big city with lots of competitors, but it’s fun to go with friends. However, the crime factor is certainly a factor. Never had anything happen to me there, but I’ve seen the fights break out after the gay bars on the south side...

 

I try to avoid cities with too many of ‘us’ folks as it is. Its often a struggle as a minority myself, and never seems to improve my bottom line financially. I’m having that issue lately in Kansas City. Just dead, day after day after day. Nothing steady happening. I been alternating staying in St. Louis, but even there it hasn’t been any significant improvement. It’s just been barely getting by. Me thinks it’s time to hit a major metropolis like SF or New York/Boston myself.

 

But if you’re already situated with a job and housing, by all means...it’ll be great.

Edited September 14, 2020 by Jarrod_Uncut

[+ nycman]

New York is New York.

 

Chicago is not.

[Jarrod_Uncut]

New York is New York.

 

Chicago is not.

 

Yeah it’s kind of like comparing Miami and Houston. I suppose you could use your imagination, and pretend you are in Miami while in Houston. But it’s not going to Miami. Or LA, for that matter. Even though the 2 share similar qualities. It’s always going to be that 1 “something” that reminds you it’s not quite comparable.

[cany10011]

I’ve lived in NYC for 25 years and loved the pre-pandemic energy, cultural offerings, restaurants and museums and entertainment options available any evening of the week. Sadly, i think things are changing. Restaurants and stores are closing. I hope they will be replaced by other equally interesting businesses. Most of my friends have moved to their other homes or upstate. Lots of colleagues are still working remotely. I’ve moved to Toronto for the short term until things improve. Not sure if NYC or any other city will be the same after the pandemic takes its commercial and artistic tolls. So, hard to say if Chicago or NYC is better. I’ve been to Chicago many times. Like it there esp the architecture, but i think I’d take NYC still. The next closest city for my preference is Philadelphia and thinking of buying a place there.

[marylander1940]

What are your thoughts about it? Are they similar cities?

 

Also, which are the best neighborhoods in Chicago? Thanks in advance.

 

Chicago is cleaner, and more widespread. I hope you have a good time!

[+ bashful]

If you decide to move to Chicago, welcome.

 

I was born and raised in the mid-west, so I've always felt at home here. All cities are different, and have their own appeal, and downside for both natives and transplants. I used to travel a lot for work. Within the U.S., have spent time in Houston, Seattle, DC, LA, SFO, BOS, MIA, Orlando. Other cities for leisure. A couple I would consider if I wanted to leave the mid-west, just based on my limited experience, are Seattle, and Orlando.

 

I haven't spent much time in NYC, but I often spoke with those at our offices in NY, NJ, and loved our conversations. We would laugh, and we cried following 9/11. Only actually visited three times, and only for day trips for meetings. I would think you would find similar mindsets.

 

As far as places to live in Chicago, like NYC, we have it all. Apartments/condos, high-rise, low-rise, and mid-rise, duplex up, duplex down, town homes, row homes, single family homes (classic Chicago bungalow, ranch, 2 story, vintage, mid-century, etc.), in the city or burbs. Best neighborhood depends on what type of home you want.

 

Those I know from NYC say winters are more moderate there. The trick here is to find a home that can work for you in a frigid winter, and a hot/humid summer. I have a small condo in the burbs on a Metra line with radiant heat in the floor, and a heated garage. If I didn't want to freeze outside walking to, and waiting for the train, I was able to walk from my warm condo, through my heated garage to my car, park in the garage downtown, and elevator up to my office in the winter. I only took a coat in the winter in case I went out to lunch, or something happened, and I had to get out of the car.

 

My AC is separate, but my association fee includes the heat, in addition to gas for appliances. My electric bill (including AC) has never gone above $100 in a hot month. $30-40 in the cool months. My previous residence would cost me over $200 a month to heat, and on the frigid days, the furnace would run non-stop.

 

Will you work remote, or have to show up in person. If in person, downtown, or beyond. Commuting here can be time consuming, but there are options. CTA (bus, L), Metra rail, or just driving. If you are going to have to travel as part of your job, you'll want to have access to ORD or MDW. Blue line goes to ORD, and limited Metra service too. I don't know what CTA line goes to MDW. Traffic on the Kennedy to ORD can be awful, or a breeze, depending on time of day.

Edited September 14, 2020 by bashful

[rvwnsd]

Chicago is cleaner, and more widespread. I hope you have a good time!

 

Agree on being cleaner. If you compare "like for like" (i.e. Manhattan for an equivalent area of Chicago, such as McCormick Place/the South Loop on the south to the Evanston city limits on the north and 2 - 3 miles in from the lakefront on the west) the area is about the same (22.9 square miles vs 24.5 square miles). If you look at total area within city limits, then New York City is about 30% larger (303 square miles vs 234 square miles).

 

You can easily live without owning a car if you live along the Lakefront, but with more suburbanites moving to the city, car ownership has increased.

 

... I don't know what CTA line goes to MDW...

The Orange Line goes to Midway. The ride provides stunning views of he city. Midway is a much more tolerable airport than O'Hare.

 

...Traffic on the Kennedy to ORD can be awful, or a breeze, depending on time of day.

Friends don't let friends drive to O'hare. They give them a Ventra card and directions to the nearest Blue Line station.

 

Since @bashful mentioned suburbs, Oak Park and Evanston are both lovely places to live. Having lived in both places, I'd give Evanston a slight edge due to it being on the Lakefront and the availability of shopping. Oak Park, on the other hand, has a lot to do and is more accessible to O'Hare, and Midway. The neighboring city of Berwyn has a burgeoning LGBT community, thanks to elderly residents drying and their families selling their well-maintained, albeit dated, bungalows. Oak Park and Evanston are both very LGBT friendly. The two communities try to out-liberal one another. If memory serves, Oak Park was the first to have a domestic partner registry. Not to be outdone, Evanston responded by creating a registry AND included protections for trans people into its Human Rights ordinance.

 

Were I to move back right now, I'd live on The Gold Coast. Always wanted to live there, but relocated to San Diego instead.

[+ bashful]

Friends don't let friends drive to O'hare. They give them a Ventra card and directions to the nearest Blue Line station.

 

LOL!

 

I hear you. Family once visited for a weekend, and I suggested we just stay at a hotel in the city. They arrived mid-evening, so no problem picking them up at ORD, and going into the city. Had a great weekend.

 

However, they booked their return flight home for 9 am on Monday morning. Urg. What with getting them an hour early, and crawling on the Kennedy out to ORD, I told them to book a limo. I slept in.

[+ Lucky]

New York is New York.

 

Chicago is not.

Exactly.

[+ Lucky]

@rvwnsd I am curious why you left San Diego and its beautiful weather for Phoenix. If you care to share...

[MscleLovr]

@rvwnsd I am curious why you left San Diego and its beautiful weather for Phoenix. If you care to share...

 

Me too @Lucky. Over the years, I’ve spent considerable time in San Diego (initially on Point Loma, now in La Jolla). I really enjoy the relaxed life at the beach. Certainly SD has got busier and seems less ‘gay’ compared to 40 years ago, but it’s still a very agreeable place to live.

[+ Pensant]

Agree on being cleaner. If you compare "like for like" (i.e. Manhattan for an equivalent area of Chicago, such as McCormick Place/the South Loop on the south to the Evanston city limits on the north and 2 - 3 miles in from the lakefront on the west) the area is about the same (22.9 square miles vs 24.5 square miles). If you look at total area within city limits, then New York City is about 30% larger (303 square miles vs 234 square miles).

 

You can easily live without owning a car if you live along the Lakefront, but with more suburbanites moving to the city, car ownership has increased.

 

 

The Orange Line goes to Midway. The ride provides stunning views of he city. Midway is a much more tolerable airport than O'Hare.

 

 

Friends don't let friends drive to O'hare. They give them a Ventra card and directions to the nearest Blue Line station.

 

Since @bashful mentioned suburbs, Oak Park and Evanston are both lovely places to live. Having lived in both places, I'd give Evanston a slight edge due to it being on the Lakefront and the availability of shopping. Oak Park, on the other hand, has a lot to do and is more accessible to O'Hare, and Midway. The neighboring city of Berwyn has a burgeoning LGBT community, thanks to elderly residents drying and their families selling their well-maintained, albeit dated, bungalows. Oak Park and Evanston are both very LGBT friendly. The two communities try to out-liberal one another. If memory serves, Oak Park was the first to have a domestic partner registry. Not to be outdone, Evanston responded by creating a registry AND included protections for trans people into its Human Rights ordinance.

 

Were I to move back right now, I'd live on The Gold Coast. Always wanted to live there, but relocated to San Diego instead.

I’d much rather live in San Diego.

[spider]

The west loop has been a victim of its own success and is wild crazy busy. The green line station has helped with transportation but most trips will require a chance of train. If you fly a fair bit (in normal times) look close to the blue line for ORD or the orange for MDW.

Edited September 18, 2020 by spider

[Luv2play]

New York is New York.

 

Chicago is not.

What is the longest musical hit played on Broadway, named after a US city?

[rvwnsd]

@rvwnsd I am curious why you left San Diego and its beautiful weather for Phoenix. If you care to share...

My company offered me two packages, relocation or severance, and I took the transfer. The severance package was enticing, but there are really no jobs in San Diego that equate to what I do and/or use the experience I have. In fact, had my current employer not hired me in 2002 I would have left San Diego back then. It was never a good fit, but a condo and job anchored me. When one of the anchors was gone, it was much easier to leave.

[dbar123]

I think of Chicago as a very large collection of the world’s second best things. It’s very very nice to visit and I’m sure it’s a fun place to live in.....but it’s not NY or LA

[MassageDrew]

I've lived in Chicago for 30 years and I love it. It is home to me and it will still be for the next decade or so. It's really hard to compare Chicago and New York. I travel to New York every year and I love the city dearly, but it's not home. Not for me.

 

Like New York and it's many neighborhoods, Chicago is the same. It just depends on the type of neighborhood you want to live in. I enjoyed living in boystown in my early to mid 20s. Was fun at first but a bit too busy for me. Then in Lincoln Park for a few years. Very nice neighborhood. I currently live on the NW side of the city because of work. But now I'm looking to move again most likely in the Andersonville/Edgewater area where most of my friends live. I really like the neighborhood.

 

Give it time whichever neighborhood you live in. Explore and get to know the people. The neighborhood will only be a good a you allow it. I have so many friends who live here that moved from New York. Most love living here but there is that one or two that continue to compare it to New York. I always wondered why they bothered moving here. If New York was so great then why not stay there? I just think they love to tell people that they're from New York. As if it's some kind of a status thing. I just roll my eyes and walk away. They come across as trying too hard.

[CuriousByNature]

What is the longest musical hit played on Broadway, named after a US city?

Poughkeepsie?

[rvwnsd]

...If New York was so great then why not stay there? I just think they love to tell people that they're from New York. As if it's some kind of a status thing. ...

There's a lot of that to go around.

 

In fact, a friend, we will call him "Matthew" does this in reverse. Matthew moved to NYC from Naperville, IL (a far-out suburb of Chicago) shortly after the 9/11 attacks. During one visit, I observed him telling his friends he is from Chicago. Not wanting to be an asshole, I didn't say anything and let him have his fun despite Naperville being as much like Chicago as Poughkeepsie is like New York. So, we met up with some of his friends and their friend. The friend-of-friends asked me how I know Matthew and Matthew butts in and says "I know him from when I lived in Chicago." As I always do, I clarified that my most recent home was in Evanston (across the city limits) and f-o-f asks Matthew what neighborhood he lived in. After a few awkward, silent minutes I said "Naperville!" Everyone laughed.

 

When Matthew went to the bathroom one of his friends mentioned he now knows why Matthew had never heard of his favorite Chicago restaurant.