Relocating from UK to Chicago
#1
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5
Relocating from UK to Chicago
Hello,
My husband has been offered a job in Chicago, we have two children under two and are looking for somewhere to live in the suburbs.
We'd like to live somewhere where we can walk into the town/ city and have easy access to local amenities. I won't be working so would like to be involved with toddler/ baby groups etc. Safety is also a priority.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
My husband has been offered a job in Chicago, we have two children under two and are looking for somewhere to live in the suburbs.
We'd like to live somewhere where we can walk into the town/ city and have easy access to local amenities. I won't be working so would like to be involved with toddler/ baby groups etc. Safety is also a priority.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
#2
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
I sincerely doubt you will find anywhere "in the suburbs" where you can "walk into town". For starters, much of the Chicago suburbs are low density, so the walk would be long, secondly, streets are rarely set up with walking as a means of getting about as a consideration, so even if there are sidewalks (pavements), the provision of pedestrian crossings is often poor, inadequate, or nonexistent. And thirdly, even if the first two are not enough to dissuade you, I doubt if you will want to be walking around much during June- September or December to March because both of those periods the temperatures/ weather are generally significantly outside the weather norms experienced anywhere in the UK.
#3
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
Check the City-data Forum for walkable neighbourhoods in Chicago. Not easy to find walkable towns in the USA, but it IS possible if you do your homework. Here's a thread on walkable Chicago neighbourhoods from last year:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ime-rates.html
Also, I have to disagree with Pulaski that Chicago isn't fun to walk in from June to September. Summer temperatures are usually not unbearably hot in Chicago in the summer. Highs even in the hottest part of the summer tend to be low or mid-80sF. It can be very humid, but there is often some kind of breeze.
However, I will agree that the winters in Chicago are pretty cold. November to March can be nippy for walking!
http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ime-rates.html
Also, I have to disagree with Pulaski that Chicago isn't fun to walk in from June to September. Summer temperatures are usually not unbearably hot in Chicago in the summer. Highs even in the hottest part of the summer tend to be low or mid-80sF. It can be very humid, but there is often some kind of breeze.
However, I will agree that the winters in Chicago are pretty cold. November to March can be nippy for walking!
Last edited by WEBlue; Oct 26th 2013 at 8:23 am.
#4
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
Check the City-data Forum for walkable neighbourhoods in Chicago. Not easy to find walkable towns in the USA, but it IS possible if you do your homework. Here's a thread on walkable Chicago neighbourhoods from last year:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ime-rates.html
Also, I have to disagree with Pulaski that Chicago isn't fun to walk in from June to September. Summer temperatures are usually not unbearably hot in Chicago in the summer. Highs even in the hottest part of the summer tend to be low or mid-80sF. It can be very humid, but there is often some kind of breeze.
However, I will agree that the winters in Chicago are pretty cold. November to March can be nippy for walking!
http://www.city-data.com/forum/chica...ime-rates.html
Also, I have to disagree with Pulaski that Chicago isn't fun to walk in from June to September. Summer temperatures are usually not unbearably hot in Chicago in the summer. Highs even in the hottest part of the summer tend to be low or mid-80sF. It can be very humid, but there is often some kind of breeze.
However, I will agree that the winters in Chicago are pretty cold. November to March can be nippy for walking!
#5
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
I heard that Arlington Heights is really safe and I would be able to walk into town, does that ring any bells for anyone? And Oak Park?
I'm not afraid of a 20 min walk! I walk everywhere most days here, I've never been a fan of driving when you can walk. And I don't mind the heat, cold however is not my friend, I may have to admit defeat in that case.
Thank you for all of the positive feedback, it's really helpful : )
I'm not afraid of a 20 min walk! I walk everywhere most days here, I've never been a fan of driving when you can walk. And I don't mind the heat, cold however is not my friend, I may have to admit defeat in that case.
Thank you for all of the positive feedback, it's really helpful : )
#6
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
WEBlue, I'm from East Anglia too!
#7
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,719
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
Hello,
My husband has been offered a job in Chicago, we have two children under two and are looking for somewhere to live in the suburbs.
We'd like to live somewhere where we can walk into the town/ city and have easy access to local amenities. I won't be working so would like to be involved with toddler/ baby groups etc. Safety is also a priority.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
My husband has been offered a job in Chicago, we have two children under two and are looking for somewhere to live in the suburbs.
We'd like to live somewhere where we can walk into the town/ city and have easy access to local amenities. I won't be working so would like to be involved with toddler/ baby groups etc. Safety is also a priority.
Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
I'd suggest looking at places to live relative to the 'L' map and bus routes. Or, if you find an area farther out that looks good, the Metra rail opportunities.
#8
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
Have you been to Chicago? If not I strongly recommend that you visit for a week or so to do a reccie. My husband's company initially wanted him to transfer there...we stayed in Chicago for 2 weeks to get a feel for the place.
#9
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,719
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
I heard that Arlington Heights is really safe and I would be able to walk into town, does that ring any bells for anyone? And Oak Park?
I'm not afraid of a 20 min walk! I walk everywhere most days here, I've never been a fan of driving when you can walk. And I don't mind the heat, cold however is not my friend, I may have to admit defeat in that case.
Thank you for all of the positive feedback, it's really helpful : )
I'm not afraid of a 20 min walk! I walk everywhere most days here, I've never been a fan of driving when you can walk. And I don't mind the heat, cold however is not my friend, I may have to admit defeat in that case.
Thank you for all of the positive feedback, it's really helpful : )
I agree with Jerseygirl .. Go there for a two week holiday if possible. You are lucky, Chicago is an amazing city with world class museums, music, opera, ballet, libraries, walking, cycling ... I could go on, but it really is a beautiful place.
#10
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
I guess everyone is different but if I walked for even ten minutes in 80°+ temperatures and high humidity I could take my shirt off and wring the sweat out of it. Could I walk in such weather? Sure. But would I want to walk for twenty minutes to go to the library, the doctor, an event with other parents, or even to buy groceries (given that I would then have to carry them home), if my clothes were going to be dripping wet by the time I arrived? No, I don't think I would.
Our temperatures here in southern MA reached mid-80s this past summer, with very high humidity, and we still walked the dog and walked to town to do errands. You get a little sweaty but that's fine--it's summer & you expect that.
For the people I know who want to walk (and it sounds like VeryStrawberry is one), low 80s temps are not much of a deterrant.
#11
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Joined: Oct 2013
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Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
Thank you! some real positive feedback! Genuinely much appreciated, it's good to hear that it's not all bad, in fact Chicago sounds great.
.. We're moving to Chicago in 6 months and we may not have the time or funds to visit first, so I'm relying on research and opinions at the moment.
I have to apologise, I neglected to mention that my husband will be working in Schaumburg, sorry that's why I mentioned Arlington Heights and Oak Park, my bad!
We lived in London before we had kids and driving is very rare there because the public transport is so good and the traffic is so bad! I was hoping Chicago would be relatively similar in that sense.
Anyway if anyone knows of any suburbs near Schaumburg that are walkable and I won't feel isolated or bored but will feel safe, I'd really appreciate it!
.. We're moving to Chicago in 6 months and we may not have the time or funds to visit first, so I'm relying on research and opinions at the moment.
I have to apologise, I neglected to mention that my husband will be working in Schaumburg, sorry that's why I mentioned Arlington Heights and Oak Park, my bad!
We lived in London before we had kids and driving is very rare there because the public transport is so good and the traffic is so bad! I was hoping Chicago would be relatively similar in that sense.
Anyway if anyone knows of any suburbs near Schaumburg that are walkable and I won't feel isolated or bored but will feel safe, I'd really appreciate it!
#13
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
I agree, not that hot.
Plus she has not stated how fast she walks.
Plus she has not stated how fast she walks.
#15
Re: Relocating from UK to Chicago
We moved to NJ in June this year. Temperatures for June, July and August would have been around 85, with many days 90+. Myself and my daughter walked our dog nearly every day, went sightseeing in New York, walked to the shopping mall and did a grocery shop twice a week. Yes, it does get very hot and humid, but I do not remember dripping with sweat. It was actually quite refreshing to be able to wear shorts, t-shirts and sandals everyday for nearly 4 months of the year.
My only word of caution is that you mentioned that you have two very young children. There were a couple of days that it peaked 100 and my daughter felt a little nauseous for a few days around this time, so we didn't go out until really late in the day. I would also add, that when we did go out we were not walking for anything longer than 1/2 hour and I would have found it difficult to walk for an hour straight.
My only word of caution is that you mentioned that you have two very young children. There were a couple of days that it peaked 100 and my daughter felt a little nauseous for a few days around this time, so we didn't go out until really late in the day. I would also add, that when we did go out we were not walking for anything longer than 1/2 hour and I would have found it difficult to walk for an hour straight.