Is there a place for us? (Chicago, Springfield: movie theater, university, living)

[GhostPoet]

Hey, my wife and I are trying to figure out where to live….then we saw Springfield and it looks interesting. Seems to have a low cost of living…but had some other questions.

What is the weather like in the off-seasons? We want a place that’s more often sunny and warm than not.

Are there many standard office jobs for an accounts payable person?

What would be the best place in IL to live if we like a lot of convenience? (big movie theater, big mall, lots and lots of places to eat of different variety)

We prefer the suburb to a large city…

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by GhostPoet

Hey, my wife and I are trying to figure out where to live….then we saw Springfield and it looks interesting. Seems to have a low cost of living…but had some other questions.

What is the weather like in the off-seasons? We want a place that’s more often sunny and warm than not.

Are there many standard office jobs for an accounts payable person?

What would be the best place in IL to live if we like a lot of convenience? (big movie theater, big mall, lots and lots of places to eat of different variety)

We prefer the suburb to a large city…

Springfield is a shade warmer than Chicago, also a bit more humid in summer. Winters can be brutally cold, but usually average 30-40 degrees, with some spells in the single digits. Springs are short and pleasant, with a mix of warm and cold days. Summers are nice, averaging 80 degrees with some hot spells mixed in (like were currently in) with days in the upper 90s. Fall is beautiful, with early fall being sunny and pleasant, late fall being more cloudy and rainy.

Average sunshine possibility in Chicago is 54%. Winter months average 48-54% sunshine (think one out of every 2 days is sunny), summer averages 60-70% sunshine possibility. So we're no Yuma, AZ, but not as cloudy as some east coast cities. If you want sunny and warm year round, youd have to go south to places like Atlanta or Phoenix or San Diego or Miami, etc. Those places dont offer change of seasons, if you like that kind of thing.

If you want access to big theatre, endless dining oppertunities of different variety, then Chicago would be your best bet. Other cities and suburbs offer what you want, but not in the same quality nor quantity as Chicago. As for your job, Im sure you can easily find something in your alley. Just make sure you have a job lined up before you move here, and make sure the job is close to your house, traffic out here can be HORRID.

[Juice13610]

^^ Ridiculously cold winters and very snowy winters as well.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Juice13610

^^ Ridiculously cold winters and very snowy winters as well.

Read my second sentence. And very snowy winters are a thing of the past here IMO. One good snowfall a year, like we've been getting lately, is not bad. Heck, Albuquerque, NM got more snow than we did last winter.

[CellarBelle]

Check out Edwardsville, IL. Nice suburb of St. Louis. Lots and lots of bike trails, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is here, and we are a growing community. Nice downtown charm and new chain stores in the newer areas. We have a nice change of seasons. Very little snow the last few winters, but it can get chilly. It's all relative. Good Luck!