Why do people live in the City of Chicago?

[Armueller2001]

Right now I live in the city because I didn't know any better and to balance the commute between myself and my girlfriend we thought it would be a good idea. I cannot wait to get out of this city, preferably moving out of state soon.

1) We both waste at least an hour, usually an hour and a half on the commute home every night.

2) Taxes are rediculous, both property tax and sales tax. Luckily I rent right now, and don't own. Why are taxes so high here? What additional benefit do I get here that I couldn't get elsewhere with lower taxes? Am I paying for a larger percentage of the population on welfare or what exactly? One would think a larger city would be able to run more efficiently (therefore require a lower tax percentage) than a smaller one.

3) Home prices are outrageous, and are still sky-high even out to the suburbs. A decent 3 or 4 bedroom home is easily over $250,000. Compare that with Dallas, TX or Hammond, IN where the prices for a comparable home are about $100,000 less.

4) The crime rate is out of control.

5) Winter's are FREEZING cold.

6) I drive around for 20 minutes some places trying to find parking.

7) I can't legally keep a firearm in my apartment for self-defense. (I registered, but my form was denied arbitrarily. Currently in the appeals process) It is also interesting to note that any large-blade knives and tasers are also illegal. I guess my plan in case of a break-in should be to jump out my 3 story window while calling the police.

So my question is, why the hell do people live here? Do they enjoy living in a home half the size you could get elsewhere, for example Texas or Indiana? Do they enjoy paying over 10% sales tax? Highest gas prices in the nation? High violent crime and murder rates? No right to effective self-defense?

[Jerose]

Can't be worse than Detroit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g09GtnWdBjc

[Din Of Win]

I have a weird perpensity to base my feelings of Cities on how shows I've played went over.

This has led me to being absoloutly in love with Northern Midwest... Chicago, Detroit, Millwaukee, Madison, the 'Twin Cities'.


Anyways... i'd stay away from DC or Baltimore based on your list...

[baba]

I think many of the answers apply to all of the great cities. People put up with all of the downsides because they love the access to the world's best restaurants, clubs, bars, museums, nightlife, etc....and of course employment opportunities. If you work in the city and can use local transportation, the commute is not an issue. I know many city folks who don't even own cars but will simply rent one or use a zipcar when needed. I love the outdoors and spend as much free time as I can in it, but if I was single and/or without kids I'd be living in a city.

All I'll say about Texas and Indiana, and any other cheap place to live, is there is a reason they are cheaper to live in.

[Armueller2001]

Originally Posted by baba

All I'll say about Texas and Indiana, and any other cheap place to live, is there is a reason they are cheaper to live in.

For what reason?

[Eric Perry]

After living in Denver for over a year, it sounds like the polar opposite of Chicago. It's difficult for me to say much bad about Denver.

[tycobb73]

Living equally betwenn Detroit and Chicago and having visited both numerous times I'd easily take Chicago. The grass is always greener...

[baba]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

For what reason?

They are less desirable and therefore less in demand.

Less job opportunities and less access to all the aforementioned entertainment and culture. Then you have the coastal cities which also add beaches, ports, boating, etc. High density of people, for all its downsides, also means tons of things going on....street festivals, concerts, and events of all kinds.

I'm not knocking suburban life, country life, or middle America life. All I'm saying here is we have an obvious case of supply and demand. People seem to dig the city and certain areas of the US more than others. Why they do differs, but I think there are a lot of obvious reasons.

[Din Of Win]

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

After living in Denver for over a year, it sounds like the polar opposite of Chicago. It's difficult for me to say much bad about Denver.

Denver gets more days of direct sunlight than any other US city. It's an awesome place, but it falls in that trap of the midwest: you better REALLLLY like your own city because the next one is hours away. We're far too spoiled on the east coast.

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

Denver gets more days of direct sunlight than any other US city. It's an awesome place, but it falls in that trap of the midwest: you better REALLLLY like your own city because the next one is hours away...

Very good point. I REALLLLY liked the city, and simply left bacause I'm apparently mentally retarded. I am looking forward to returning at some point already. Hopefully sooner rather than later, depending on school....

[Balog]

I often wonder why people would choose to live in certain cities/states/countries. Generally, I find that the majority of people are simply unable to fight inertia. They were either born there or moved young for a job and couldn't escape the tarpit afterwards. Look at the families in a lot of places and the results are: generation A moved for work opportunities, subsequent generations failed to escape the gravitational envelope of the familiar.

Some of it is also the normative experience. If massive taxes, lack of freedom, filth, crime, and horrific weather are all you've ever known it is easier to accept "that's just how things are."

[7StringBassist]

250,000 for a nice house LOL try Los Angeles now that's where I'd complain

my neighbor sold his house at 450,000 for a 2 bedroom !! 250,000 you can live in the ghetto

traffic sucks over here, sales tax is at near 10%

I'm trying to move out but its too expensive atm

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by 7StringBassist

250,000 for a nice house LOL try Los Angeles now that's where I'd complain

my neighbor sold his house at 450,000 for a 2 bedroom !! 250,000 you can live in the ghetto

traffic sucks over here, sales tax is at near 10%

I'm trying to move out but its too expensive atm

Yeah, $250,000 for a 4 bedroom house isn't bad at all. My parents live in a town of 6000 and that is the average price for a house. Plus, there is 13% sales tax, winters are the worst in Southern Ontario, crime is sky high (biggest Meth producing area in Canada) ect. I would take Chicago over that any day, but Chicago is probably my favorite city that I have ever been in.

lowsound

[jeremyr]

I moved to Maywood for all the reasons the O.P listed above.

I'm in a good neiborhood with EXCELLENT neighbors and just a good area all together.

I got a 3 bedroom 2 bath home for 50K (praise God).It needed some work, but you can't be a $830 mortgage. Also I have a drive way AND a 2 1/2 car garage with a decent sized yard.

Previous to buying my house I lived at Marina City for 2 years, The pavillion off of 90 & cumberland for 4 years. My wife use to live off of Irving Park and Ashland, so I was over there alot as well.

Give me the burbs ANY DAY

[Armueller2001]

Damn dude where did you find a house that cheap??!!

Looking at Realtor.com right now. This looks promising...

[jeremyr]

check out these city.

Bellwood, Hillside, Maywood

My property taxes are $3100 annually (not to shabby compared to oak parks craziness)

They have AWESOME houses in good neighborhoods (well alot of them..ROFL)

I've put about 40K into my house doing a full rehab, but I definitely won't complain after getting it for $50k

Here are some pics of my place after the exterior was done. I just need to refinish my deck now:

[LaklandBass]

Yea I live in Darien which is about 15 minutes outside of chicago. The weather sucks, the people are so rude and arrogant, the sales tax is insane, the state income tax is nuts, the politicians are the worst in the country, the home pricing is absurd, the property tax is unreal and the roads are basically mine fields. Yea, this area blows.

[Armueller2001]

Originally Posted by jeremyr

check out these city.

Bellwood, Hillside, Maywood

My property taxes are $3100 annually (not to shabby compared to oak parks craziness)

Thats awesome man. I was looking at details about Maywood... looks like the crime rate is a bit high. To hell with it, I'll just put a 10ft. fence encompassing my property with a security gate

[jeremyr]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

Thats awesome man. I was looking at details about Maywood... looks like the crime rate is a bit high. To hell with it, I'll just put a 10ft. fence encompassing my property with a security gate

it depends on what part of the city you're in (just like Chicago).

I live in the neighborhood where all the big city honchos live at, so I've never had a problem. Heck I went out of town and my neighbors thought I was sick and they were calling the cops to try and find me (talk about GOOD NEIGHBORS!!) luckily i returned right before they called them to open my house up..lol

Let me know what city you're looking at and I can more than likely tell you about the area that you're looking at (crime wise that is).

[MakiSupaStar]

You guys complaining about 250k for the price of houses is hilarious. That won't even get you a condo around here.