Top reasons why people leave Chicago
In the past few years, more and more people have started leaving Chicago. The city appears to be losing its citizens fast, without getting the same or even close number of new people. There are many reasons why people leave Chicago. And they depend mostly on personal choices and lifestyle. Some have found better jobs and are moving from Chicago to New York. Others simply aren’t happy with the living conditions in the city. Due to the high number of people leaving, the city of Chicago lost around 15.000 people in the past few years. The decline occurs mostly in the metropolitan area, but also in the suburbs. So, in case you decided you want to look for a different city to live in, this article might help you. We are going to take a look at some of the most common reasons why people decide to leave Chicago.
The high living costs make it hard for people to manage
Even though Chicago is nowhere near other cities such as San Francisco or New York, it still is not a very economical city to live in. The taxes and the rent can be very, very high, and that doesn’t work too well with most people. Also, you will face other expenses, such as parking and spending a lot in restaurants. In comparison with the national average, the cost of living in Chicago is roughly 23% higher. According to the data from the previous year, the living costs of Chicago come very close to those of Los Angeles. A one-bedroom place would set you back around $1.100 in rent, while a 3-bedroom home costs up to $2.000. As far as purchasing a home goes, you’re looking at a median price of roughly $250.000. These numbers do not seem like much, but paired with taxes and utilities, they can become a headache.
A lack of investments is one of the main reasons why people leave Chicago
The overall lack of investments in fields such as local communities, employment, crime, and an overall bad tax system is the cause of so many people deciding to change their home town. This causes the local economy to take a hit since businesses have a hard time making it in these conditions. Moving companies in Chicago manage to thrive, but other companies either close down or move to a different city. To make things worse, the political scene in Chicago doesn’t help with the situation. The public and political leaders of the city either refuse to or don’t know how to deal with the situation. Because of all this, Chicago’s general debt back by the rough property taxes comes out at around 10 billion dollars. This is roughly $4000 per resident. This is far from perfect, and many people simply come to a decision that enough is enough and leave.
The extremely cold winters are not to everyone’s liking
There are many positive things about Chicago, but, to be honest, the weather is not one of them. The weather can be very brutal here, especially in winter times, which can last long. The city can expect even more extreme weather in the upcoming years, thanks to climate change. So, if things keep heading in this direction, expect to see even weirder weather here, such as frost quakes, and thermal whiplash. Given how extreme things can be, it’s no wonder that weather is one of the reasons why people leave Chicago. For some people, the crazy weather isn’t too much of a problem, while others are rethinking just how much they like snow.
Traffic and public transport don’t function that well
The traffic in Chicago is really bad, to say the least. But to be fair to the Windy City, traffic is horrible in every metropolitan city. However, when it comes to bad traffic, Chicago really stands out. No matter what list of top cities with the worst traffic you look at, you’ll see Chicago near the top. According to the data, citizens spend roughly 25 percent more time in their vehicles, trying to reach their destination. And this is a lot of time which can be spent with family or friends. The public transit in the city is rather well organized and maintained, but when people decide to ditch their cars and use the metro, it can also get overcrowded pretty fast, causing an endless cycle.
One of the reasons why people leave Chicago are high crime rates
Everyone knows about the high crime rates in Chicago, that is no secret. There have been too many unnecessary deaths, robberies, and shootouts in the city. Last year, there have been 97 murders in Chicago, according to the Chicago tribune. In 2018 however, there have been 27 more than that, so the number is decreasing. The suburbs are a bit safer, given that most of the crime happens in the metro area. This is something you want to consider if you are moving with kids. It may not always be the safest place to live in, and that’s not something you want to deal with on a day to day basis.
Things to know in case you plan on leaving
In case you are currently living in Chicago and have your mind set on moving somewhere else, you should plan ahead. You might need the help of reliable movers if you decide to move to another city or state. In case you are moving from a smaller apartment, getting ready shouldn’ take more than a month. Moving with a family from a larger house requires a bit more preparation and the help of reliable residential movers. In the end, the reasons why people leave Chicago are many, and they are your own. No matter what you decide to do, we’re sure it is in your best interest. If you are a newcomer who plans on moving to Chicago, this blog might help you have a better understanding of the situation and assist you in choosing a new neighborhood.