Raise a family in Illnois or California (Los Angeles, Long Beach: rent, loans)

[Fdurand]

I am in a great situation. I have a great oppurtunity with my job with a great promotion with my income being 200K and my wife about 55K that would give us a choice to live and work in either the Chicago or L.A. area. My concern is my 5 year old daughter who will be starting kindergarten and housing. Which would be better to live and raise a family, buy a home with that income? The Suburbs of Illonos like Napervliie or the LA area like Westminister? Thanks

[jc76]

Well I am not really too excited about being raised here in the midwest. I go to Chicago all the time for shows etc but I just see Chicago as a bigger version of a small town in the midwest. The weather is horrible, the people are overall pretty mean, and as far as cost I think Chicago is close or equal to LA. At least in LA you can live on the outskirts and you have year round fun of hiking, ocean, camping, driving the coast. Here around Chicago you get maybe 4 months of decent weather the rest of the time your going insane indoors looking out at a bleak white/grey sky, snow and dirty polluted snow that is in slushy piles everywhere. I gotta go with sunny California 110% Trust me, once your stuck in the midwest it's hard to get out.
Whatever you choose CONGRATS and GOOD LUCK!

[Charles]

Obviously the weather is better in California.
Not sure how bad the traffic is in IL.

Here's how I'd weigh the decision. Need more information.

Where are your sets of parents?
More kids in future?
Which city provides more opportunities for "Plan B" in your skill set if you lose your job?
Where exactly in SoCal is the job (you mentioned Westminster; is that the town the job is in, or the city you want to live in?) For example if it is in downtown Los Angeles, then Westminster might not be a good choice.
What is your housing budget ($255K income tells part of the story; down payment, existing loans like student and auto tell a lot more)
Is wife going to work or stay at home? ($255K or $200K?)

[Capt. Dan]

$255,000 isnt going to go as far in LA as it is in Chicago. The trade off is the winter or no winter. FYI-Naperville is ALOT nicer than Westminster. Good luck!

[chicken.or.the.nugget]

the main factor for me would be where you are originally from. Like if you're from wisconsin id choose chicago, if youre from san francisco id choose la etc. The chicago area might be a little more "down to earth" and family friendly. and most kids like winters anyways. I still love snowfalls, but when you're a kid theres nothing better than having a snowday and playing outside, and then having snowball fights and making snowforts at school.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by chicken.or.the.nugget

when you're a kid theres nothing better than having a snowday and playing outside, and then having snowball fights and making snowforts at school.

Speaking from experience, snow is fun for a couple hours, once a week or so, like after a new snow fall. The rest of the time it is too cold to play outside and it involves too many configurations into warm clothes and boots. The result is wild and crazy kids cramped in a house, not getting enough exercise, driving their parents nuts.

"Mommy, there's nothing to do. Are you sure you called everyone for a play date?"



If every thing else is the same, outside in 60F-70F in California in shorts playing in the streets with their friends on scooters and bikes and basketballs is ten times more inviting than snow.


Which one looks easier for a parent?

This


or this?

[D-Towner]

Are those both in Alabama?

Originally Posted by Charles

Speaking from experience, snow is fun for a couple hours, once a week or so, like after a new snow fall. The rest of the time it is too cold to play outside and it involves too many configurations into warm clothes and boots. The result is wild and crazy kids cramped in a house, not getting enough exercise, driving their parents nuts.

"Mommy, there's nothing to do. Are you sure you called everyone for a play date?"



If every thing else is the same, outside in 60F-70F in California in shorts playing in the streets with their friends on scooters and bikes and basketballs is ten times more inviting than snow.


Which one looks easier for a parent?

This


or this?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by D-Towner

Are those both in Alabama?

top picture is the Palmer Divide at our house in Colorado at 7300 feet, the year we got 204 inches of snow.

The bottom picture is the pond next to our backyard here in Huntsville.

[bhcompy]

What you're looking for in a home is what matters. I've spent a few months in what I've been told are some affluent Chicago burbs(Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, etc). I've heard them compared to Cerritos CA as far as wealth comparisons. That area had more land for the price and a more eastern/midwest style of house rather than a more Spanish or Mediterranean influenced 70s and 80s era house you'll see in Westminster(or Cerritos and other communities nearby that were all built in the same time frame).

Honestly, you'll be able to raise a family well in either place. There's plenty of stuff to do in Chicagoland and there is plenty of stuff to do here(beach, Disneyland, Knotts come to mind for kids).

If you value weather over a slightly smaller chunk of property, you'll probably value So Cal burbs over Chicago burbs. If you want snow and a bigger lot, Chicago will be the better choice.

Now, what you make will be more than enough. Westminster is a nice family community in the area, but I'd suggest Rossmoor, Seal Beach, Cypress, or eastern Long Beach over it(all are in the same general area). Better schools in each of those areas and very nice neighborhoods. WM has a few rougher spots(not that you won't be safe or isolated from it in a nice neighborhood, but if you buy or rent in the wrong spot, it won't be as good for your first experience in the area).

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by Fdurand

I am in a great situation. I have a great oppurtunity with my job with a great promotion with my income being 200K and my wife about 55K that would give us a choice to live and work in either the Chicago or L.A. area. My concern is my 5 year old daughter who will be starting kindergarten and housing. Which would be better to live and raise a family, buy a home with that income? The Suburbs of Illonos like Napervliie or the LA area like Westminister? Thanks

Westminster??? Have you ever visited the Westminster area?