For those of you who've fled Illinois, where did you go? (transplants, 2015)

[Enigma606x]

Mod cut: Quoted post deleted.

My 10-month experience is that it is more overcast than rainy. Although, it rained a lot this winter. The weather is mild, and the scenery is beautiful. It just does not feel like it will ever be home to me. I am in Kitsap County by the way not Seattle. This does not mean that I want to go back to Illinois though. I don't right now.

[Jimmyp25]

I fled to Austin , Texas


No state income tax
No sales tax on groceries
Cheaper gas
Bought a house for 50k less
Warmer weather for winter
More outdoor activities
Economy is a lot better
More jobs
People here are happy

[Aerio]

Originally Posted by 4122

What are the differences between your new home and Illinois? Do you like it better or no?

Tokyo, Japan: I got a job at a local university.

Differences (from a Chicago perspective) higher cost of living, less crime, more humid spring/summer weather, skinnier/more fashionable people, less diversity in general, better public transportation, better but more expensive shopping options.

I like Tokyo a lot; but sometimes I miss Chicago/Illinois, and sometimes not.

[letrie]

Trying to flee to Miami, LA, San Diego or NYC....somewhere warm Honestly as much as I like to complain about Chicago, trying to move and seeing how good I had it here really made me appreciate it a lot more. Its a good balance of being an affordable, relatively safe city (if you stay away from the bad areas), but at the same time having a lot to do. Only thing is I HATE is the weather, so moving somewhere warm is a huge reason why I want to leave.

[JONOV]

I didn't flee Illinois. My Professional career took me to Raleigh. Lower property taxes, housing costs less, generally, but you aren't swapping a $600k house for a $200K house usually. While location and schools do determine real estate costs, schools aren't funded by local property taxes and are run by the county. So, imagine that North Chicago and Deerfield had the same teacher pay administered by the same district. It generally works out pretty well; most of the problems with the district seem to stem from gaining new students faster than they can build schools, and parents that are educated and invested in their children's future buy homes in neighborhoods of like minded people and those schools perform correspondingly well. The area is very safe. The weather I could take or leave, but that's everywhere.

[EllieKay56]

Moved to Wisconsin 30 years ago from Chicago. At the time we paid cash for our house, so no mortgage, lower crime rates, we never locked our doors and left the keys in the cars all the time. Private school tuition was $150 a year, we were paying $1600 a year. No traffic and the kids could bike to town to swim or visit friends. We were close enough that we could go home and visit all the time. The weather wasn't much different.
30 years later we still love living here. It isn't quite as safe, we do lock doors now but never feel unsafe. Out grand kids are here and they still have the freedom to bike or play outside. Walk home from school or practice.
We daytrip to Madison, Milwaukee or to visit family in Mchenry County. Glad we came, glad we stayed.

[Tyryztoll]

Originally Posted by EllieKay56

Moved to Wisconsin 30 years ago from Chicago. At the time we paid cash for our house, so no mortgage, lower crime rates, we never locked our doors and left the keys in the cars all the time. Private school tuition was $150 a year, we were paying $1600 a year. No traffic and the kids could bike to town to swim or visit friends. We were close enough that we could go home and visit all the time. The weather wasn't much different.
30 years later we still love living here. It isn't quite as safe, we do lock doors now but never feel unsafe. Out grand kids are here and they still have the freedom to bike or play outside. Walk home from school or practice.
We daytrip to Madison, Milwaukee or to visit family in Mchenry County. Glad we came, glad we stayed.

I worked in Lake Geneva, and we lived in McHenry. We loved Wisconsin and considered moving up there but that's another high tax state, and it turned us off to it.

[dude1984]

Originally Posted by 4122

What are the differences between your new home and Illinois? Do you like it better or no?

I briefly lived in Denver, but I'm back! I really want to get out again. I want to head to the West Coast. The COL is worth it IMO.

[RisingAurvandil]

I once moved from Illinois to Missouri. The St. Louis area in particular. Moving from Southern Illinois wasn't a significant change.

Of course, Downstate is entirely different than Chicagoland. The Downstate COL is still reasonable.

[nyyfanatic85]

Moved from western IL to Ramona, CA (semi-rural town of 40,000 northeast of San Diego) in August 2015. I do miss the thunderstorms, rain, and green grass and of course family. Outside of that, I am happy to be in California!