Who is moving "out" of chicago?

[SJaye]

I have to understand where Danny Scraper is coming from. Whether it be a city, a particular neighborhood, a politician, or a mediocre hospital drama show on TV, having to hear over and over again about about something that is not that great gets infuriating after a while! I am guessing he is just sick of hearing how great Boston is. My current pet peeve is the overestimation of the effect of school district on resale value.

[hxcobd]

Boston is actually a really great city; enjoyed a lot of trips there throughout high school and college.

However, the appalling (and in my opinion, unjustified) cost of living there is just inexcusable. Why on earth would it ever be so expensive? It's up there with the likes of San Francisco and NYC, despite being considerably smaller and with virtually no desirable work industries, compared to the other 2...

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by hxcobd

Boston is actually a really great city; enjoyed a lot of trips there throughout high school and college.

However, the appalling (and in my opinion, unjustified) cost of living there is just inexcusable. Why on earth would it ever be so expensive? It's up there with the likes of San Francisco and NYC, despite being considerably smaller and with virtually no desirable work industries, compared to the other 2...

There are a number of desirable (and high paying) industries in the Boston area - Biotech, Medical, Finance, Defense Contractors, and Universities being the largest.

Boston is also constrained how much it can grow. Where Manhattan and SF have physical boundaries Boston is hemmed in pretty tightly by a large number of old suburban communities that have no interest in multi-unit housing. The fact that the roads in the region were laid out in the 1600 and 1700's doesn't help much either.

A constant supply of students renting also gives it a pretty high floor for housing prices.

[radiojunkie2006]

I'm a Chicago native that lived in OC, CA for 9 years back in the '80s. My first child was born there and we decided to move back to Chicago because of a parent's illness. Since then, we had another child and they're now both in their mid-20s. I find myself yearning to return to SoCal because I can't stomach the Chicago weather, politicians, extreme taxes, et al., any longer. I realize that SoCal is no bed of roses either but the climate in Chicago is really the deciding factor. I can't see being in my 70s or 80s and putting up with the lousy winters as I know a few of my friend's parents that have slipped on ice and broken some bones.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by radiojunkie2006

I'm a Chicago native that lived in OC, CA for 9 years back in the '80s. My first child was born there and we decided to move back to Chicago because of a parent's illness. Since then, we had another child and they're now both in their mid-20s. I find myself yearning to return to SoCal because I can't stomach the Chicago weather, politicians, extreme taxes, et al., any longer. I realize that SoCal is no bed of roses either but the climate in Chicago is really the deciding factor. I can't see being in my 70s or 80s and putting up with the lousy winters as I know a few of my friend's parents that have slipped on ice and broken some bones.

I hate to break this to you, but taxes are higher in Southern California. That California income tax is a killer.