Relocating to Decatur Illinois Area

[Drover]

If Decatur is no different from any other American city or central Illinois city as you keep insisting, then why should anyone live there instead of any of those other cities? If it's no different, then why are more people leaving Decatur than moving to Decatur? Why are more people moving to those other cities that are "no different" than to Decatur? "It's no different than any other city" is not the ringing endorsement that people who use that silly phrase seem to think it is.

[stopping in]

I live in Decatur but Mt. Zion might be bettet for you. More expensive to live there but has everything you might need as far as shopping goes. Decatur is right down the road. There's a Conservation area there too. Look up Spitler Woods. Many apartment complexes in Mt. Zion. Don't know much about real estate though. Not so much for the kids to do so they do what every kid does...including getting into trouble. I think it's a busy-body town too. lol

[venom_99]

I know this thread is a bit old, but I thought I'd add my two cents:

As most mentioned, living IN Decatur should be out of your scope. There are three other surrounding areas that would be better for your family:

Forsyth (on the north end of Decatur). I think this is WAY over-rated. $300k is about the entrance point for a nice home, and you're still close enough to ADM & Staley's to get the stink on a regular basis.

Mt Zion (SE of Decatur). A nicer, small bedroom community. You can find some nicer neighborhoods down there. The drawback is the commute into Decatur -- there is no direct route to the center of town. I work on the east side, and my colleagues that live in Mt. Zion have a 30+ min commute.

Argenta-Oreana (NE of Decatur). Two very small towns, with a combined population of less than 2000. You can find some nice homes outside of the town limits. Oreana is close enough to get the ADM stink, where Argenta is far enough out that it only wafts occassionally. I live in rural Argenta, and LOVE the neighborhood (Hickory Hills).

Now, if I can only pack up my house and my neighborhood and move near Chicagoland, we'd be set. I love where we live. I HATE Decatur, and we're putting the house up for sale within the next week.