Consider move to Valparaiso vicinity (fit in, cliquey, homes)

[deebkt]

I'm considering relocating to Indiana and have picked Valparaiso from researching on the internet. Am looking for an area close to Chicago but not too close and near the cornfields of Indiana and relatives that live in central Indiana. Have lived in Connecticut my entire life and want to leave the congested east coast. Want to look for a job before moving but want to pick an area that I want to live in before starting the job search. Valparaiso caught my eye as a college town but still small and hopefully friendly to outsiders. Any thoughts/advice appreciated.

[domergurl]

Valpo is great. I used to work for the law school. Lots of Chicago people moving there. I loved living there. It's close enough to Chicago and to the Lake/Dunes. It will be very affordable for you coming from Conn.

[deebkt]

I've been reading about other moves to other parts of Indiana and was wondering if I need to worry about the Valpo area being clicquey.

[domergurl]

I didn't feel any cliquey-ness there mainly due to the influx of people moving there. Every town has their social strata. My suggestion would be to move into a neighborhood with newer homes. Chances are most who live there aren't from the area and you could form your own clique!

[j33]

My parents moved there many years ago from Chicago's south 'burbs and they like it quite a bit. The schools have a very good reputation. I remember upon moving there my siblings (I had finished high school) struggled to catch up because the academic standards were higher. They also struggled to fit in, but that is another story. That being said, it is a nice little town and it seems to be growing at quite a clip. I'm not sure how I feel about about all the spawl that is occuring outside the town limits though.