Why did Chicago start losing population so suddenly? (Atlanta: house, neighborhood)

[Huckleberry3911948]

Gosh I don’t know let’s ask Detroit
Signed a native

[dcisive]

The most disturbing aspect of Chicago's population decrease is that as more people decide to leave the area, the burden on those who decide to remain in the city will only be compounded. Essentially, each person who moves away from Chicago distributes their respective tax obligation among the citizens who remain. The financial woes of Chicago (and Illinois) show no signs of abating anytime soon, which means that the next census is likely to reveal that even more residents have moved on to greener pastures—to cities that aren't beholden to enormous debts and states that fund important public institutions in lieu of a political standoff. Issues such as gun violence and unchecked gentrification don't make Chicago any more attractive, so it's difficult to fault anyone leaving the city in search of a better life.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by dcisive

which means that the next census is likely to reveal that even more residents have moved on to greener pastures—to cities that aren't beholden to enormous debts and states that fund important public institutions in lieu of a political standoff.

I trust that these are real places, and not some imagined lands of milk and honey where jobs are everywhere and the issues of public corruption/impending financial insolvency are nonexistent.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

Take a look at this map of US counties' population growth between 2017 and 2018.

You can see a clearly defined edge between Illinois --- which is almost entirely losing population besides a handful of Chicago's exurban counties and a handful of others dotted across the state --- and the surrounding states which have many areas of growth. This suggests that the major factor underlying the recent decline is the new state property taxes and not anything specific to Chicago. The divide between the Missouri vs. Illinois sides of the St. Louis area is quite stark.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by dcisive

The most disturbing aspect of Chicago's population decrease is that as more people decide to leave the area, the burden on those who decide to remain in the city will only be compounded. Essentially, each person who moves away from Chicago distributes their respective tax obligation among the citizens who remain. The financial woes of Chicago (and Illinois) show no signs of abating anytime soon, which means that the next census is likely to reveal that even more residents have moved on to greener pastures—to cities that aren't beholden to enormous debts and states that fund important public institutions in lieu of a political standoff. Issues such as gun violence and unchecked gentrification don't make Chicago any more attractive, so it's difficult to fault anyone leaving the city in search of a better life.

Isn't gentrification what's helping offset greater population losses at this point?

[Atlanta_BD]

Originally Posted by jfre81

4.95% income tax isn't really that high, and the difference between the pay grades here vs. a Houston or Dallas covers that spread. The sales tax in any of the big cities is two cents less than Chicago's, although most nonprepared food items are fully exempt in Texas.

It's peanuts to me compared to not having to run my AC practically 24/7/365. I've had electricity bills in Texas in a 2br apartment for a month in summer that was more than the July and August bills here in my 3br here.

If you have a large family and/or need/want the biggest house you can buy and that is your yardstick for quality of life, then yes, you're better off down there. But that's not me. I lived in a city built for cars for a long time. Then I decided to live in a city built for people.

So true what you say about the electricity. I pay on average $31 a month for electricity here in Chicago versus the $75 to $85 a month I paid when I lived in Texas.


And while it's true that I did not have to pay any income taxes or taxes on groceries when I lived in Texas, my salary was literally half of what I'm making now in Chicago for the exact same job. So even though I am paying higher sales tax and income tax here in Chicago I still have more money in my pocket here then what I had in Texas because I make more money in Chicago.
Property taxes are also high in Texas.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

And while it's true that I did not have to pay any income taxes or taxes on groceries when I lived in Texas, my salary was literally half of what I'm making now in Chicago for the exact same job.

Then for all the people who supposedly are stuck here with no opportunities, they can work at Taco Bell here, take the CTA, not pay for gas, insurance, maintenance etc. for $13 an hour, probably part time. Or they can work in Texas at Taco Bell, become unemployable the moment they can no longer drive to work because there's no public transportation, for $7.25 an hour, probably part time.

There are indeed opportunities down south. There are also a lot of neighborhoods in Houston and Atlanta that have the same problems that Roseland and Englewood do, that anyone with ambition is trying to leave. All large American cities do. This is a greater issue facing our society as a whole, and it's bigger than this little corner of Lake Michigan.

[WestSideMillennial]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Not at all. But the whole conversation is stupid as we know who is leaving and why. It is lower income african americans in racially segregated and high crime areas. So stop with the BS and focus on who is leaving and why. Reducing crime is probably the number one thing we can do to help the situation. No one is going move to or stay in some of these depressed areas until crime is under control. No one is going to invest in those areas until crime is under control. Homicide rates in some of these neighborhoods is 50+ per 100,000. While the vast majority of the city is generally at or below national averages.

What about Hispanics? A lot of them are being displaced due to gentrification. I've read an article before that 10,000 Hispanics forcefully left Pilsen due to higher rents. While Logan Square (which gentrified in an estonishing pace) has lost over 20,000 Hispanics.

[Di3s3l_Pow3r]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

So true what you say about the electricity. I pay on average $31 a month for electricity here in Chicago versus the $75 to $85 a month I paid when I lived in Texas.


And while it's true that I did not have to pay any income taxes or taxes on groceries when I lived in Texas, my salary was literally half of what I'm making now in Chicago for the exact same job. So even though I am paying higher sales tax and income tax here in Chicago I still have more money in my pocket here then what I had in Texas because I make more money in Chicago.
Property taxes are also high in Texas.

Please Please don't bring any good aspects
On Chicago sub forum we only complain

[Chicago South Sider]

Originally Posted by Atlanta_BD

So true what you say about the electricity. I pay on average $31 a month for electricity here in Chicago versus the $75 to $85 a month I paid when I lived in Texas.


And while it's true that I did not have to pay any income taxes or taxes on groceries when I lived in Texas, my salary was literally half of what I'm making now in Chicago for the exact same job. So even though I am paying higher sales tax and income tax here in Chicago I still have more money in my pocket here then what I had in Texas because I make more money in Chicago.
Property taxes are also high in Texas.

The black median household income is higher in Dallas, Houston and Atlanta than it is in Chicago.