Moving from Scottsdale, AZ to Springfield, IL

[AnonymousCoward]

I had to second the comment about the north end. The north end is by far the best housing deal in the city, and overlooked (or should I say looked down on) by many who live in Springfield. Someone I know in Indian Hills refers to the north end as the best kept secret in town, and if you tour some of the neighborhoods you can see why. North-enders are very very loyal to their part of the city. It's safe, affordable, there are many very well kept neighborhoods, and the whole area has a very "down home" feel to it.

The north end has grown substantially in the past few years, adding several larger and smaller stores, which at least provide some shopping without going to the west side. There are also plenty of newly constructed houses in new and newer subdivisions in places like Manchester Woods and Twin Lakes. There are some very cool looking and well kept older homes over by Lincoln Park (the one south of the fairgrounds, not the one in Chicago) and some nice older smaller houses over by St. Aloysius. Expect to find nice little houses in the 70's - low 100's and plenty of larger places in 100's.

You still want to avoid the public schools, but for the difference between between payments and interest on a house on the north side, and what a similar one would cost on the west side, you just might be able to send your kids to a private school. Depending the house, and how many kids you have, you might even be able to fund your 401k more and retire earlier in addition to paying for tuition.

Originally Posted by sprngfldnwt

On housing, if you don't want to spend too much, and want to live in-town, I sudgest the North side. Although some people may say that side of town may be "on the wrong side of the tracks" it really isn't. True, some parts may not be perfect, but you can still find parts that have good people, good attitude and nice 90+ year old houses.

[cbsommer]

I saw your post from awhile back. We are thinking of moving to Springfield from California and I was wondering how you have liked the schools and the area? Is it friendly?

Originally Posted by Carolyn44Cooper

I moved here from the desert also. I limited my home search to Chatham, because I was not aware at the time that West Sringfield is ALSO in the Chatham district. There are a lot of kids from Springfield in the Chatham high school (Glenwood). It takes me 30 minutes to get to work (mid-town Springfield) no matter what route I take.

It really depends on what you are looking for--whether or not you have kids . . . etc. as to where you would like to live.

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by cbsommer

I saw your post from awhile back. We are thinking of moving to Springfield from California and I was wondering how you have liked the schools and the area? Is it friendly?

The poster you are asking has not posted on City Data for over two years. I doubt you will be getting a response from them.

[linicx]

Don't misunderstand, I like Sprinfield. It is a political town that leans toward conservative. There is a lot of history. Bring your mountain coat. Illinois IS cold and usually wet in the winter.All of Central Illinois from border to border, including Springfield, is in the heart of the Grain and Livestock Belt. We feed the world. The only metro areas in Central Illinois are: Springfield, Poeria, Bloomington-Norman and Champaign. They all have malls, box stores, multi-plex movie theaters, etc. Sprinfield and Peoria have s furrier. As far as I know all four have at least one shul. All of the towns are surrounded by farms and ranches. And the towns are about 50 miles apart - as the cros flies. Champain is located the farthest west,and Peoria is the farthest north. They are all connected by an Interstate Highway system. Springfiel is closer to St. Louis than Chicago. Peoria is more midway. Chicago and St. Louiis are connected by 1-55 that carries traffic through Springfield.

Lincoln is a smaller town about 15 miles or so NOrth of Sprinfield on 1-55. It has convenient shopping, junior college, local daily paper, and a hospital. I have friend thee who graduated from the highschool and so did the grandkids. Tjeu are great kids and so are the parents. Lincoln has serverd up good food for the 40 years I ate there on a regualr basis. Lincoln housing is till moderatly priced. AmTrack stops in Lincoln.

Regardless of where you move the one thing you do want to do ASAP is get ILLinois license plates. I waited and paid $75 ;ate fee.

The TWO things Central Illinois dOES NOT HAVE is Costco and Trader Joe's. The nearest TJs ores to Sprinfield are in St. Louis in Chesterfield and Brentwood. Bremtwppd is the largest and gets daily deliveries from Tjs warehouse.

What you DO need to know is 1-55 (61/40 in Missouri) is closed. Assuming you are driiving, you will most likely come across 1-40 to 1-44 east of Oklahoma City. I-44 to St, Louis. Take the Chicago Exit to 1-270 wgucg travels north and then turns east to Illinois and I-55 North onto Springfield. If you do not know St. Louis, you do not want to be detoured at night.

Gas up in St. Louis; its cheaper. You'll cross the Mississippi near Collinsville. It is the last large city before Sprinfield - which is about 90 miles to the southern most county line..

Springfield is in Sangamon County. Lincoln is in Logal County. Gasoline is ceheaper in Lincoln, taxes too. ILlinois food tax is 1% at the grocery store. It does not apply to deli, pop, etc. Great animal doc in Petersburg - north of Sprinfeild, not very rar. Very nice mall in Springfield. The area is building out around it.

Welcome home!

PS; Peoria has some nice upscale dining and shopping. Rolling hills and wide riever. I am sure Sprinfiled has upscale shopping as it has a furrier, but I do not know the location. Champaign is the home campus for the U of I. Its a big campus and it has some very nice stores. B-N is a very pretty, conservative town with some nice old Victorian homes. Its a pricy area to live in as it is the home of the largest insurance companies. I have friends who live there, too. As you ventue out and about, and talk to co-wrkers, you will learn more. I know serveral state workers who live in Petersburg.
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Each town is unique.