Safety in La Grange (Evanston, Hinsdale: real estate, lease, mortgage)

[Hiruko]

You people have very interesting perceptions and ideas.

[JJski]

Hiruko, not all of us grew up as wealthy as you...

I also agree with you 180k does not go very far here for a family of 4. COL is high in Chicago... 180K/family of 4 goes MUCH further in Detroit for example...

My definition of upper class is also more along your lines in the 1M annual territory... keep in mind though that's more for Chicago - numbers translate differently in every other area of the country...

[deeman7]

180k for a median family income of a suburb is a lot. Don't forget all those boomer retirees with offshore accounts claiming little to no income. When the 1% is earning $250,000 a year or higher, I'd consider a median income of nearly 200k to be an upper class town.


But LaGrange is perfectly safe to pivot back to topic.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by deeman7

180k for a median family income of a suburb is a lot. Don't forget all those boomer retirees with offshore accounts claiming little to no income.

You do not understand how "offshore" accounting works. Americans are taxed on worldwide income. If they are earning income from investments outside of the United States, they are still paying any applicable taxes to the IRS, state, and local taxing authorities at their primary residence. The "upper-class" does not have to touch capital to survive in retirement.

[damba]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

You do not understand how "offshore" accounting works. Americans are taxed on worldwide income. If they are earning income from investments outside of the United States, they are still paying any applicable taxes to the IRS, state, and local taxing authorities at their primary residence. The "upper-class" does not have to touch capital to survive in retirement.

Agreed. Deeman7 missed the dartboard entirely.

I believe the term ‘upper class’ is too vague to ever be useful.

[coffeemoments]

Went to high school in La Grange when we lived in Western Springs and am currently living in a nearby suburb. I would not worry at all about living in La Grange. It is very safe.

[noid_1985]

Deeman, I see in your profile you lived in Broadview if you don’t mind me asking what high school did you attend? Proviso East, RB, Proviso West or maybe Joe’s, Naz, Fenwick?

It’s rare on these forums that you find someone who grew up or lived in Broadview, my parents have been in the area since 1988. I’m sure the regulars here wouldn’t be interested in Broadview (I mean you have questioning the safety in LG) but I’ve always thought it to be a decent working class suburb. I’ve even seen people bash North Riverside and Westchester on these forms and although they’re not cream of the crop suburbs they’re not terrible or unsafe.

[Justabystander]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

That is an upper-middle-class income, even though that is not how per-capita income statistics work out. You're taking big liberties with putting that figure out there. $180k doesn't give you a whole lot of financial freedom.

I don't understand the previous two poster's links. None of that makes Hinsdale an "upper-class" community. I'm not sure a truly "upper-class" municipality exists in this country. You're going to find middle-class and working-class people living virtually everywhere.

You obiously have no idea of what you are talking about. The very definition of per capita income is the average income of each person in a given geographic area. A family of four in Hinsdale would be upwards of $350,000. If you saw the amount of Land Rovers and Teslas roming the town you would know the average is not $180,000 per family, there are plenty of apartments and condos there with single people in Hinsdale.

Go to Bloombergs top 100 richest places in the country, Hinsdale was the 31st richest last year, 40th this year. Yes, there are true upper class communities; Atherton, California and Kenilworth come to mind. How you turned this La Grange safe topic into an elitist snobby topic is beyond me though.

[damba]

Originally Posted by Justabystander

You obiously have no idea of what you are talking about. The very definition of per capita income is the average income of each person in a given geographic area. A family of four in Hinsdale would be upwards of $350,000. If you saw the amount of Land Rovers and Teslas roming the town you would know the average is not $180,000 per family, there are plenty of apartments and condos there with single people in Hinsdale.

Go to Bloombergs top 100 richest places in the country, Hinsdale was the 31st richest last year, 40th this year. Yes, there are true upper class communities; Atherton, California and Kenilworth come to mind. How you turned this La Grange safe topic into an elitist snobby topic is beyond me though.

Where does your 350k per family figure come from(?)

[CCrest182]

Originally Posted by JJski

Hinsdale has more the C level individuals. if your an executive you will look at Hinsdale first...

La Grange has more common level professionals: Doctors, Layers, bankers, Accountants, IT - I gauge town wealth simply by driving by the school parking lot... is it filled with BMWs and range rovers?

Honestly both communities are awesome - Hinsdale is the big $$$ though...

Yes, the car types are a big indicator of the area. In Hinsdale you will see Mercedes, Tesla, Range Rover, Audi other luxury brands/cars.... in La Grange you'll see more of your run of the mill minivans, SUV's, and sedans... and yes, a couple luxury cars sprinkled in here and there but it's definitely not as overwhelming as in Hinsdale and Oak Brook.

I don't even see how this is up for debate... people, just drive through the central parts of La Grange, and then drive through the central part of Hinsdale... the wealthier suburb should be pretty darn obvious to spot...