Chicagoland's view of NW Indiana (Naperville, Northbrook: sales, credit, neighborhoods)

[CBB_bear]

I have always known that NW Indiana had regions that were essentially part of the Chicago metro area and even suburbs of Chicago, but I honestly never thought much about them. All of my family lives in northern suburbs of Chicago, and most of my friends in the area live in the city, so if I were to move back to the area, it probably wouldn't be on my radar for that reason.

Mostly when Indiana came up it was in the context of the state having loose gun regulations, essentially meaning that any gun regulation in Illinois or Chicago was ineffective because they would come in from across the border. That is pretty much the only context I can recall discussing Indiana suburbs of Chicago.

[CGab]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

Not really, I'm pretty open minded and would consider a move to NWI, but my wife said there's no way in hell she would live in Indiana so as they say, happy wife, happy life.

One trip through Munster, Dyer, Schererville, Crown Point or St. John might change her mind!

[pvande55]

Reasons to go: Casinos, Fireworks, Dunes. But it still has the industrial areas: Gary, East Chicago, Whiting, Burns Harbor. At times, during heavy construction, those places employ hundreds, but most of the time they are just something to avoid.

[nikitakolata]

I think NWI has a lot of potential. There is so much beautiful lake front there that looks neglected. I haven't inspected it closely, but I drove through NWI last week on my way to Michigan. The view from the freeway is not good. Everything looks sad and run down. It's a shame that a beautiful resource like the lake is covered in ugly industrial property that could probably function just as well inland.

My personal reason for never considering NWI is the commute. There are currently no great train options (I realize that may change soon) and driving to work is just not reasonable for me. Add in that my friends are all in the northern and western suburbs and it's just too much. NWI is only a good location if it works for your life and it doesn't work for mine.

[Justabystander]

My reason for never moving to Indiana is not the difference in look ( to me Indiana looks less crisp with less infrastructure, so less taxes I am guessing ) but the mindset of the state, which is a red bastion and easily went to Trump and is the home of Pence. I just would, on a daily basis, just be bothered by it. And as mentioned, although NWI has nice burbs that are lower cost with less taxes, they really can't equal the quality of the southwest, west and north suburbs IMO, and feel more isolated, even though they are certainly part of the metro Chicago area. I know people who live there and associate more with Indianapolis than Chicago, and look to Purdue, Butler and Indiana as school choices instead of Depaul, Northwestern, U of I etc. Just a different culture altogether, and although fine for some, not for me.

[Enean]

I don't live in Chicago any longer (hope to move back), but I know of a number of people who moved across the border to SE Wisconsin, rather than Indiana. In fact, I knew of no one who moved to NWIndiana.

[CGab]

Originally Posted by nikitakolata

I think NWI has a lot of potential. There is so much beautiful lake front there that looks neglected. I haven't inspected it closely, but I drove through NWI last week on my way to Michigan. The view from the freeway is not good. Everything looks sad and run down. It's a shame that a beautiful resource like the lake is covered in ugly industrial property that could probably function just as well inland.

My personal reason for never considering NWI is the commute. There are currently no great train options (I realize that may change soon) and driving to work is just not reasonable for me. Add in that my friends are all in the northern and western suburbs and it's just too much. NWI is only a good location if it works for your life and it doesn't work for mine.

Most towns look like crap looking from the expressway! You have to actually exit and drive a few miles. Looks completely different! People just think of the factories, Gary EC. They don't look beyond that and they are missing out.


As for what "Justabystander" quoted, stating "they really can't equal the quality of the Southwest suburbs". My town is no Naperville, I'll agree there is no river walk or downtown, but I moved to St. John from North Plainfield and St. John is WAY nicer, with all the tree's, deer walking around, no garbage on the streets, etc. I also can get to all the stores such as the one's in the Fox Valley area within 10 minutes of where I'm at and I don't have to fight traffic. Schools are rated better as well. To me, St. John and Dyer are nicer versions of Plainfield with a 3rd of the taxes. Yet still close enough to Chicago if we want to work there or visit. Only 35 miles away.

[cobra86]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

My reason for never moving to Indiana is not the difference in look ( to me Indiana looks less crisp with less infrastructure, so less taxes I am guessing ) but the mindset of the state, which is a red bastion and easily went to Trump and is the home of Pence. I just would, on a daily basis, just be bothered by it. And as mentioned, although NWI has nice burbs that are lower cost with less taxes, they really can't equal the quality of the southwest, west and north suburbs IMO, and feel more isolated, even though they are certainly part of the metro Chicago area. I know people who live there and associate more with Indianapolis than Chicago, and look to Purdue, Butler and Indiana as school choices instead of Depaul, Northwestern, U of I etc. Just a different culture altogether, and although fine for some, not for me.

NWI has been a democratic lock as a county for decades, and why would Indiana residents send their kids to UoI instead of Purdue/IU? Same quality of education at in-state rates.

[flamadiddle]

Originally Posted by Enean

I don't live in Chicago any longer (hope to move back), but I know of a number of people who moved across the border to SE Wisconsin, rather than Indiana. In fact, I knew of no one who moved to NWIndiana.

Don't understand why anyone would go through the trouble of moving from Illinois to WI. Their taxes are just about the same as Illinois?

[Enean]

Originally Posted by flamadiddle

Don't understand why anyone would go through the trouble of moving from Illinois to WI. Their taxes are just about the same as Illinois?

All I know, is that a LOT of Chicagoans are settling in the Pleasant Prairie area in WI. A lot. Here, they get to enjoy Milwaukee and Chicago, because they're, basically, in the metro of each.