Denver vs Chicago (crime rate, home, job transfer)

[Whitey]

I'm having a hard time deciding between moving to Denver or Chicago. I might get biased answers on this board, but is there anyone out there that has lived in both of these places? If so, please provide me with a winner. I'm about ready to flip a coin since I can get a job transfer to both. I'm from Nebraska, but that shouldn't matter all that much with me fitting in either city.

Thanks,
AW

[SouthDenverGuy]

Are you kidding? I have only spent a few days or a week there from time to time in classes or seminars, but I can't wait to leave. I mean after the Navy Pier and riding around on the El and worrying about gangs, what else is there, unless you can move to one of the very affluent suburbs?
I have a friend who went to medical school there and calls it the worst hell hole on earth. Denver always!

[2bindenver]

Both cities have their pluses and minuses. What are you looking for? What is important to you? Where people choose to spend their life is entirely personal.

The best part is that there are no wrong decisions, you will discover things about each place that you would have never known.

........................Denver.........../..............Chicago
Median Income $37,500.........................$38.600
w/ kids............$60,695.........................$5 3,622
avg commute .......26.4...........................38.1 minutes
age......................33.5..................... .....33.8

Denver County has a positive growth rate and Cook County has a negative growth rate.

Check the crime rate for both areas....that may just help you make a decision.

[Rootsy]

Wow - SouthDenverGuy really makes Chicago sound bad which is a shame. I have lived in both cities and absolutely love Chicago. Guess it depends on what you consider living and whether you actually plan to live in the city or the 'burbs. Like most cities, when you live there you only do the tourist stuff when relatives come to town. Otherwise you won't be spending anytime at Navy Pier & Ed Debevoucs (sp).

Chicago is a vibrant, diverse, full of life city. The music, social and art scenes are amazing. I always tell people that if you are relatively young (<35-40) and unincumbered with kids, there is no better place to live than Chicago. (Having lived in NYC, Washington DC, Dallas, Chicago & Denver, as well as traveling weekly on business to major markets I have been fortunate to see a lot of places.) In Chicago its so easy to make friends, find things to do and expand your horizons. The downside is the typical midwest winters which really aren't that bad but certainly not as nice as Denver. The upside is that as soon as the first signs of spring come, people are out and ready to enjoy the great outdoors :-) There is no better place to be in the summer than Chicago - Cubs games, the lakefront, block parties, street festivals, Grant & Millinium Park events, etc. every week!!!

If you plan on doing the surburban living thing, the Denver area is your best bet. If you want to live in the city, Chicago is the clear winner IMO.

Good luck - you'll probably be happy in either place.

[SouthDenverGuy]

Originally Posted by Rootsy

Wow - SouthDenverGuy really makes Chicago sound bad which is a shame. I have lived in both cities and absolutely love Chicago. Guess it depends on what you consider living and whether you actually plan to live in the city or the 'burbs. Like most cities, when you live there you only do the tourist stuff when relatives come to town. Otherwise you won't be spending anytime at Navy Pier & Ed Debevoucs (sp).

Chicago is a vibrant, diverse, full of life city. The music, social and art scenes are amazing. I always tell people that if you are relatively young (<35-40) and unincumbered with kids, there is no better place to live than Chicago. (Having lived in NYC, Washington DC, Dallas, Chicago & Denver, as well as traveling weekly on business to major markets I have been fortunate to see a lot of places.) In Chicago its so easy to make friends, find things to do and expand your horizons. The downside is the typical midwest winters which really aren't that bad but certainly not as nice as Denver. The upside is that as soon as the first signs of spring come, people are out and ready to enjoy the great outdoors :-) There is no better place to be in the summer than Chicago - Cubs games, the lakefront, block parties, street festivals, Grant & Millinium Park events, etc. every week!!!

If you plan on doing the surburban living thing, the Denver area is your best bet. If you want to live in the city, Chicago is the clear winner IMO.

Good luck - you'll probably be happy in either place.

Rootsy,
I repectfully disagree! I would never be happy in Chicago. If you are into outdoor stuff as I am, Denver has Chicago beat by miles. I mountain bike all the time locally and the high country, we have over 600 miles of paved paths here in town if you bike, walk, or rollerblade. The climate is infinitely better - winter in Chicago is about as bad as it gets. I guess if you are into night clubs, bistros etc, then Chicago may be your bag. And it is humid there, horrible in the summers and the winters. And we haven't even discussed the Rockies! Denver is the number one empty nester destination in the US by a wide margin - I wonder why?

[colander]

Thanks for posting! I am trying to make the same decision myself. Good Luck

[McGowdog]

I don't live in Chicago. My new neighbor, however, did and he said that the taxes in Chicago (he lived in Schomberg) were insane compared to Southern Colorado. We are both homeowners.

I know that they are going up and the gap will someday be minimal.

This is a retired guy, so this may not affect your decision so much.

Chicago has some of the best food and most affordable restaurants on the planet. It used to be that people would rather eat out than cook at home because it was so good and affordable. Is this still true?

As far as outdoor activity, Chicago has this descent sized pond along Michigan Ave.

[mountainlvr25]

I am currently a Denver resident, have been here all my life and love it. However, I am looking at moving to Chicago for a job.

Denver is amazing. Blue skies, friendly people, up and coming social scene, and let's not leave out the fabulous outdoor activity options. I do wonder why I might want to leave, but in my personal opinion, Denver is a place to stay forever, while Chicago is a place to be for awhile. I know I can always come back to CO, after all, it is home and always will be. If you are looking to settle down and make a permanent home, Denver. If you are unattached and looking for an adventure, Chicago.

However, when all is said and done, both hold many different appeals and to each his own right?!?! Good luck!

[downtownnola]

I too have lived in Denver for a few years and am considering a change. Chicago is on the top of my list. I LOVE Chicago- it's a great city: very urban, tons to see and do, and much less expensive than other large cities like New York and LA. Denver is also a great place to live.

The major drawback to Chicago IMO is the weather- it's much more extreme than Denver: bitterly cold winters and hot, humid summers. I realize that Denver can get very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter, but the climate here is much more moderate in my opinion.

Sure there are bad areas of Chicago, and I avoid them like the plague! There are also bad areas in Denver. Chicago has an urban feel that Denver cannot match however, central Denver is becoming more urban all the time.

I'm with the previous poster... I think that Chicago would be a great place to live for a while, but I very well may return to Denver to settle down in the future. Both places are great, and each have a ton to offer!

[Flyfish71]

Originally Posted by SouthDenverGuy

Are you kidding? I have only spent a few days or a week there from time to time in classes or seminars, but I can't wait to leave. I mean after the Navy Pier and riding around on the El and worrying about gangs, what else is there, unless you can move to one of the very affluent suburbs?
I have a friend who went to medical school there and calls it the worst hell hole on earth. Denver always!

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but this is obviously a biased post, and I'm sure you'd hear the same if you had posted in the Chicago forums.

I lived in Chicago for 23 years and have been in Denver for 14. That being said, I'll add my .02 with the caveat that this is all based on opinion and personal experience.

- Navy Pier and riding the El is barely scratching the surface of Chicago. If I only spent my time in those areas "worrying about gangs" I wouldn't enjoy my time in the city either. Who's kidding who, Denver has a gang problem as well, many big cities do . . . Tie

- Outdoor recreation, unless you are a fan of water, and lots of it . . . Advantage Colorado

- Someone mentioned the Rockies . . . I'm sorry, I'll take the Cubs and Wrigley Field over Coors Field (please remember, my opinion) . . . Advantage Chicago

- OK for that matter the Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls . . . Advantage Chicago

- From my experience Denver, while as a whole is a friendly city, has some surprisingly arrogant people. To many, Denver is "the place to be" and attracts many of that crowd - dare I say arrogant . . . yuppie. I very much felt a sense of community and tradition in Chicago, which I have yet to feel in Denver . . . Advantage Chicago

- Food . . . Advantage Chicago

- Weather . . . Advantage Denver

Is one better than the other – nope, are they different - yep.