Illinois, Indiana, Ohio (compare, quality, pros, cons)

[WeSoHood]

Originally Posted by 04JETTA

IL theres something for everyone here 4 distincts seasons if you want a big city there is Chicago in the north if you want small towns you can go to central/southern IL its just all and all a great place to be

4 distinct seasons in all the states. In Ohio, you can find small towns and large cities just about everywhere. From the plains, to the Appalachian foothills, to the Metroparks, Ohio has the greatest diversity imo.

The Hocking Hills in the southeast part of the state are somewhat of a hidden gem.






Cuyahoga Valley Swamps are pretty cool to check out as well



Here's a site dedicated to hiking in Ohio
http://hikingohioparks.com/

[Drover]

The only thing keeping me in Illinois is Chicago and the city's proximity to Wisconsin, and those are the trump card that give Illinois the nod. Other than that, IMO none of these three states have a whole lot going for them except the Appalachian hills in SE Ohio have some nice scenery.

[costello_musicman]

Originally Posted by WeSoHood

4 distinct seasons in all the states. In Ohio, you can find small towns and large cities just about everywhere. From the plains, to the Appalachian foothills, to the Metroparks, Ohio has the greatest diversity imo.

The Hocking Hills in the southeast part of the state are somewhat of a hidden gem.






Cuyahoga Valley Swamps are pretty cool to check out as well



Here's a site dedicated to hiking in Ohio
Pictures, Movies And Hiking In Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kentucky, California And Arizona

WOW. Great post and AMAZING pictures!

[msamhunter]

I know I'm late to this but I would pick Indiana, Illinois and bringing up the rear Ohio. Not because I live in Indiana but growing up in Lake County, I've been able to experience in great detail Illinois as well. Illinois has Chicago but that tax is a killer plus that nice orange glow to downtown Chicago that makes it look so spectacular at night actually comes from the Indiana side. I choose Indiana moreso because better fiscal planning and spending as compared to Illinois and Ohio. Higher education wise, Illinois has UC and U of I. Ohio is strictly The Ohio State University. Let's face U of Cincy and Cleveland State just don't cut it. Indiana on the other hand has IU, Purdue, Butler, Rose Hulman and Notre Dame. All highly ranked universities. You could even throw in Valporaiso as it's constantly ranked one of the better smaller universities year in and year out. Indiana also has the Dunes. Illinois has Chicago and Ohio has Cleveland and to a lesser degree Cincinnati. I know Indiana only has Indianapolis as far as large cities go but with the largest and I think 6th largest single day sporting events on the planet with the Indy 500 and the Brickyard and it's affinity for being the amateur sports capital of the world and convention success, Indy isn't exactly a slouch and is actually underrated IMO esp. compared to a city like Columbus which in all respects is almost identical in demographics city population and metro population. The one thing Indianapolis truely lacks is a halfway decent public transportation system. The only thing there is IndyGo and it sucks royally. Crimewise with the exception of Gary, Indiana is relatively low in crime compare to cities in Ohio and Illinois.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by msamhunter

Higher education wise, Illinois has UC and U of I. Ohio is strictly The Ohio State University. Let's face U of Cincy and Cleveland State just don't cut it. Indiana on the other hand has IU, Purdue, Butler, Rose Hulman and Notre Dame. All highly ranked universities. You could even throw in Valporaiso as it's constantly ranked one of the better smaller universities year in and year out.

In addition to those you mention, IL has:

Northwestern
DePaul
Loyola

OH has:

Case Western
Xavier
Miami U (Oxford)
Oberlin
UC actually has a highly-regarded music conservatory

I agree that Indiana has a lot to offer and doesn't get the recognition it deserves, but IL and OH have many quality higher education institutions as well.

[WeSoHood]

^^ Ohio University also has one of the top journalism schools in the nation.

Originally Posted by msamhunter

I know I'm late to this but I would pick Indiana, Illinois and bringing up the rear Ohio. Not because I live in Indiana but growing up in Lake County, I've been able to experience in great detail Illinois as well. Illinois has Chicago but that tax is a killer plus that nice orange glow to downtown Chicago that makes it look so spectacular at night actually comes from the Indiana side. I choose Indiana moreso because better fiscal planning and spending as compared to Illinois and Ohio. Higher education wise, Illinois has UC and U of I. Ohio is strictly The Ohio State University. Let's face U of Cincy and Cleveland State just don't cut it. Indiana on the other hand has IU, Purdue, Butler, Rose Hulman and Notre Dame. All highly ranked universities. You could even throw in Valporaiso as it's constantly ranked one of the better smaller universities year in and year out. Indiana also has the Dunes. Illinois has Chicago and Ohio has Cleveland and to a lesser degree Cincinnati. I know Indiana only has Indianapolis as far as large cities go but with the largest and I think 6th largest single day sporting events on the planet with the Indy 500 and the Brickyard and it's affinity for being the amateur sports capital of the world and convention success, Indy isn't exactly a slouch and is actually underrated IMO esp. compared to a city like Columbus which in all respects is almost identical in demographics city population and metro population. The one thing Indianapolis truely lacks is a halfway decent public transportation system. The only thing there is IndyGo and it sucks royally. Crimewise with the exception of Gary, Indiana is relatively lo in crime compare to cities in Ohio and Illinois.

Howi s Ohio State the only higher education in Ohio? That's the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard.

I'm really not even sure why I'm replying, your whole paragraph is just absurd.

[Boston14]

Ohio because of all the parks there and its a nice place overall

[krock1dk]

Indiana is the best. Put aside I was born and raised there. Taxes in Hoosierville are lower and the people are better. Indianapolis and Fort Wayne make the state so much better; if it werent for these cities Indiana would be dead. I dont dont like Illinois' toll roads, taxes or political corruption. Yes, it has Chicago, but I dont care. Ohio is the epitome of the Rust Belt and would NEVER EVER live there. Although Columbus is nice. Indiana, hands down. And dont forget, Indiana has the lowest unemployment rate of the Great Lakes States.

[krock1dk]

Why doesnt anyone mention Indiana's good qualities?

- convenient location to major Midwest markets
- within a a day's drive of thwo-thirds the nation's population
- a more balanced economy
- a more equal population distribution
- the lowest unemployment rate of the Great Lakes States
- Marengo and Wyandotte Caves
- Brown County
- the amish country in the north
- hills in southern Indiana
- diversity of landscape and topgraphy
- the covered bridges
- the IU/Purdue rivalry
-its capital and largest city of Indianapolis is the 13th largest in the country and is the fastest growing large metro area in the Midwest and has the:
- Childrens Museum
- the Indy 500
- the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR)
- the Colts
- the Pacers
- the amateur sports capital of America, home to several dozen sports organizations
- Conner Prarie
- Circle Center
- Castleton Square
- White River State Park

[LASam]

I voted for Ohio because of THE Ohio State University... easy pick.