Forbes cites Chicago's horrible weather, bad economy, and declining population for topping Miserable Cities List (school, living in)

[Fred314X]

Perhaps Forbes ought to make a list of the best (or most miserable) Forbes lists!

[prarieman]

I have noticed too that Forbes always goes against Chicago

Yes- I do live in the Metro area
Yes it does seem to sting a bit when Forbes always lists Chicago at the bottom
of every list

Lets call a spade a spade they really do have a bias agaisnt the Chicago area

[ForYourLungsOnly]

This list is a joke and has already been talked about in the Chicago forum... they also mention sports teams as criteria.. Give me a break. There are places in the country with FAR WORSE weather. The weather in Chicago gets more over-hyped than anything. Forbes continues to put out God-awful lists that have no methodological backing. It's trash. I'm also sick of the Detroit hype. Go to some of the Detroit suburbs and you are looking at some of the nicest suburbs in the country. Yes downtown is struggling, but so is downtown Pittsburgh (talk about a city dying after 5pm). You really can't take Forbes seriously if you have half a brain.

[LauraC]

Considering the recent 66% income tax increase to go along with out of control spending, that's another reason for calling it "Miserable."

[brent6969]

I can certainly see Chicago on the list. I personally thing Chicago is overrated. Yes it is beautiful in some on the lakefront areas, but go in to the flat as a pancake suburbs, and it is row after row of cheap looking tract houses. Yes, some suburbs are nice, but overall it is not geographically pretty. Chicago is like NYC's blue collar brother.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by brent6969

I can certainly see Chicago on the list. I personally thing Chicago is overrated. Yes it is beautiful in some on the lakefront areas, but go in to the flat as a pancake suburbs, and it is row after row of cheap looking tract houses. Yes, some suburbs are nice, but overall it is not geographically pretty. Chicago is like NYC's blue collar brother.

Boring and flat suburbs with cheap tract houses like this?

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

This list is a joke and has already been talked about in the Chicago forum... they also mention sports teams as criteria.. Give me a break. There are places in the country with FAR WORSE weather. The weather in Chicago gets more over-hyped than anything. Forbes continues to put out God-awful lists that have no methodological backing. It's trash. I'm also sick of the Detroit hype. Go to some of the Detroit suburbs and you are looking at some of the nicest suburbs in the country. Yes downtown is struggling, but so is downtown Pittsburgh (talk about a city dying after 5pm). You really can't take Forbes seriously if you have half a brain.

I think in 2009 one of the reasons it was high up on the list is because it has a high population density, so they said it was too crowded and hence "miserable".

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I think in 2009 one of the reasons it was high up on the list is because it has a high population density, so they said it was too crowded and hence "miserable".

hahahaha... not surprised.

[west336]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Considering the recent 66% income tax increase to go along with out of control spending, that's another reason for calling it "Miserable."

Even with the increase the income taxes and property taxes in Chicago are pretty damn low -- lower than here anyways.

[west336]

Originally Posted by brent6969

I can certainly see Chicago on the list. I personally thing Chicago is overrated. Yes it is beautiful in some on the lakefront areas, but go in to the flat as a pancake suburbs, and it is row after row of cheap looking tract houses. Yes, some suburbs are nice, but overall it is not geographically pretty. Chicago is like NYC's blue collar brother.

What an odd statement. It sounds like you've never seen Chicago suburbs or are comparing them to someplace other than Atlanta.