Chicago tolerant or intolerant? (new home, to live in, dangerous)

[beat_the_govt?]

I was a grad student in Chicago who moved to the Bay Area a year ago for a job. Now that my state income tax return has been (probably indefinitely) withheld, the full measure of my mistake has been laid bare . I can say strongly that unless you are an uberliberal with no concern for your personal finances and/or have a bad case of seasonal affective disorder, you will be happier in Chicago. Chicagoans are totally chill compared to San Franciscans. Also, there are working class people and families in Chicago building a sustainable future for themselves and lending balance to the area.

The sales tax is pretty high in Cook County, but the state income tax (3%) is nowhere near California's (prob 9.3% for someone with your education). Salaries are lower. I'd say disposable income is comparable between Chicago proper and Bay Area suburbs. Chicago real estate appreciates steadily and predictably compared to CA real estate. No need to time the market or commute from Stockton...just buy when you're ready! Imagine that.

Chicago, in places like Lincoln Park/Lake View (Marina), Bucktown/Wicker Park (Mission) actually has more young people than SF. SF is crawling with aging Gen-Xers still partying like it's 1999. Chicago is crawling with beautiful, wide-eyed blondes from Indiana, Nebraska, et al who impart a very favorable male-female ratio.

I have friends who grew up in Arizona and have adjusted fine to life in Illinois (even downstate!)

Run, don't walk, for the nearest exit from the colossal Ponzi scheme that is California. (I can't wait for my lease to be up, now all I need to do is find a new job )

[west lawn kid]

Originally Posted by beat_the_govt?

I was a grad student in Chicago who moved to the Bay Area a year ago for a job. Now that my state income tax return has been (probably indefinitely) withheld, the full measure of my mistake has been laid bare . I can say strongly that unless you are an uberliberal with no concern for your personal finances and/or have a bad case of seasonal affective disorder, you will be happier in Chicago. Chicagoans are totally chill compared to San Franciscans. Also, there are working class people and families in Chicago building a sustainable future for themselves and lending balance to the area.

The sales tax is pretty high in Cook County, but the state income tax (3%) is nowhere near California's (prob 9.3% for someone with your education). Salaries are lower. I'd say disposable income is comparable between Chicago proper and Bay Area suburbs. Chicago real estate appreciates steadily and predictably compared to CA real estate. No need to time the market or commute from Stockton...just buy when you're ready! Imagine that.

Chicago, in places like Lincoln Park/Lake View (Marina), Bucktown/Wicker Park (Mission) actually has more young people than SF. SF is crawling with aging Gen-Xers still partying like it's 1999. Chicago is crawling with beautiful, wide-eyed blondes from Indiana, Nebraska, et al who impart a very favorable male-female ratio.

I have friends who grew up in Arizona and have adjusted fine to life in Illinois (even downstate!)

Run, don't walk, for the nearest exit from the colossal Ponzi scheme that is California. (I can't wait for my lease to be up, now all I need to do is find a new job )

Amen Brother!!

[RonnieJonez]

You'll be fine, while Chicago usually votes democratic, it is not considered a "progressive" city. Chicago liberals will argue it is, but if you spend enough time there, you'll realize it's far from it. Also, when I lived there, I noticed most locals found the corrupt politics as something to be proud of, like an extension of the days of Al Capone. Just avoid Minneapolis, as it probably makes Chicago look Right-Wing, and is easily the most liberal big city in the midwest.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by west lawn kid

i'm from a former socialist nation i've seen what idealism leads to. People do thing better when there is a carrot at the end of the stick instead of getting beat with the stick, besides i hate taxes, and government.

Note that in this country it's the conservatives who generally wield the stick through their control of the police, National Guard, Regular Army and Pinkertons and other goons. It wasn't the liberals who turned those forces loose on picket lines and strikers.

Just be aware that any legislation good for the working class--Wagner Act, OSHA, overtime over 40 hours, Davis-Bacon----was done by the Democrats (though Nixon, ever the pragmatist, signed when a Democratic congress passed OSHA).

While the Republicans allow working class people as individuals to move up in class they've contempt for it as a group and try to hold it down. If I were rich I'd probably be a Republican but I'm not.

Kind Regards

[aragx6]

The reason you see so many Illinois plates in Arizona is the weather, pure and simple. I suspect they'd move to California if it wasn't so expensive.

If you can handle the cold winters, you make a good living and you pick the right neighborhood, you'll be very happy here.

[RPSF]

Hey thanks for all of the posts.
I'm getting ready to head out to Michigan next week to help my nina (godmother) move from her single family Detroit home to her new gated apartment complex, she keeps telling me to tell everyone I know, and while I don't personally know you all, why not spread the word?
Anyway while I'm up there she's promised to take me to Chicago for a couple of days to do as thorough a visit as can be done in 2 days.
I know I should stick to the north side of the city, but are there any good parts in the south, southwest, or west sides? When I was college hunting I visited the University of Chicago, and Hyde Park was pretty cool, but I kinda got spooked when I went out of the immediate vicinity of the college. Any places you all would reccomend I visit on the south side?
Also, is there a sizeable Greek community here? My gf is Greek, and since she saw my Big Fat Greek Wedding she's convinced there's got to be a little Thessaloniki, or perhaps Athens?
So yeah, I gather the city votes like a democrat but lives like a conservative? As in, they may have voted for Obama, but they act like George Bush, no offense (lol, but he seems like a fun guy, no?).

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by RPSF

Also, is there a sizeable Greek community here? My gf is Greek, and since she saw my Big Fat Greek Wedding she's convinced there's got to be a little Thessaloniki, or perhaps Athens?

Yes... sort of. There was a large Greek population here a 30 or 40 years ago, but it's dwindled as folks assimilated. There's an earea of the West Loop that used to be a big Greek enclave, but now it's more of a place with some Greek restaurants and shops than an actual, legitimate Greek enclave.

So yeah, I gather the city votes like a democrat but lives like a conservative? As in, they may have voted for Obama, but they act like George Bush, no offense (lol, but he seems like a fun guy, no?).

...and again... no. First of all, you'll find all kinds here. Depends on the neighborhood and OF COURSE the individual. Are folks here more down-to-earth and less patently ideological than the average person in SF? Probably. Still, it TRULY depends on the individual. There's no way I'd paint it with as broad a brush as you just did.

[MyssaTx]

Well whatever you dont move to Dallas.

Houston is great though

[MyssaTx]

Is counting down

[MyssaTx]

One of the reasons I dont want to live in Bucktown or Wicker Park is because Im afraid it will be a lot like Austin. Been there done that