Moving to Chicago? 15 Reasons to Make It Your Home

At Poseidon Moving and Storage, we understand that sometimes you need a change in life, and no matter how long you’ve called Boston home, sometimes a move is necessary. One of the most popular destinations that our professional movers have helped Bostonians move to in the past is Chicago. As long-distance movers, we have experience helping our customers make the move from Boston to Chicago and thought we would take this chance to give you 15 reasons you should consider a move to Chicago.

As the third-largest city in the United States, Chicago is a land of nearly three million residents. With so many people living in Chicago year-round, it is clear that there is something to living in Chicago. Today, Poseidon Moving and Storage will be giving you our top 15 reasons to move to Chicago. We hope that this will help you make your decision as to whether or not to move to Chicago in the future. Let’s get started!

Among the best reasons to move to the Windy City is its close proximity to Lake Michigan. Any outdoor lover will enjoy living so close to Lake Michigan as it is packed with things to do. Lake Michigan’s lakeshore is approximately 26 miles and is filled with public beach access from Montrose Beach to North Avenue Beach. There are also 18.5 miles of trails and plenty of green space for hiking, biking, and sports. If you are someone who will be spending a lot of time outside, Chicago is the place for you!

Within the past few years, Chicago’s job market has seen a significant rise in available jobs. As a result, the overall unemployment rate in Chicago has fallen sharply from 8.4 percent to just below 6 percent. This is due to the fact that hiring is on the rise across a variety of industries including insurance, professional services, IT, and healthcare. Job stability is strong in Chicago!

Another great reason to live in Chicago is found in its diverse neighborhoods. Chicago is home to 77 vibrant and unique neighborhoods. Each of the best neighborhoods in Chicago offer something different, ranging from arts and culture to their own unique culinary attractions. A few of the best neighborhoods to live in Chicago include Lincoln Park, Old Town, and Hyde Park.

If you are a sports lover, it goes without saying that Chicago is one of the best places in the world for you to live. From the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox to the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bears, every major sport has a legendary team that calls Chicago home. Chicago knows how to put on a sports event and when you start talking about the amazing college sports offered in the area, the allure for sports lovers to live in Chicago only becomes more clear.

If you’ve never heard of Restaurant Row and consider yourself a lover of the culinary arts, you’re in for a treat when you move to Chicago. Restaurant Row, located in Chicago’s West Loop, is home to some of the best restaurants, eateries, and bars in the entire city. You’ll find yourself spending a lot of time checking out all of the diverse restaurants lined up down Restaurant Row upon moving to Chicago and we’re willing to bet you’ll love your time there.

Chicago is a paradise for shoppers. The Magnificent Mile is one particular location that shoppers love to spend their time. As the gem of Chicago’s shopping, The Magnificent Mile is packed with high-retail establishments as well as a variety of dining and entertainment options. That being said, The Magnificent Mile is just one of many shopping locations you’ll find in the city. Shop to your heart’s content!

Chicago is, hands down, one of the best places to live during the summer months. This is due to the fact that countless festivals such as the Old Town Art Fair and Windy City Rib Fest are held in the summer. Apart from the festivals, the summer is the time for some of the best concerts hosted in Chicago. Summer is also a particularly beautiful time to enjoy the outdoors in Chicago. Enjoy yourself!

Chicago is a hub for history, art, and culture in the United States. In fact, you could spend an entire day just exploring the city’s historical locations and monuments! Any history lover or lover of the arts will love living in Chicago and exploring everything it has to offer. Some of the best locations to visit include the Alder Planetarium, Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, and Chicago Cultural Center.

Although Chicago is a large city, it’s miraculously easy to navigate. This is because Chicago has so many options for getting from point A to point B. While plenty of people own a car in Chicago, many elect to get from one place to another by biking and walking. This is due to the fact that Chicago is one of the flattest cities in the country and you won’t encounter many hills during your trek. Chicago’s public transport system is also amazing and you can always rely on the L train to get you from place to place.

Chicago is home to some of the best universities and school systems in the country. The University of Chicago is well-known and brings in students from all over the country and even the world. Northwestern University in nearby Evanston is also a popular school for students all over the world. It should be noted that while many of the college students are attending school from out-of-state, many choose to live here long after they graduate. This should tell you a lot about what life in Chicago is like.

While we’ve mentioned that summer is one of the best times to live in Chicago, it’s also one of the best times to enjoy any of Chicago’s amazing parks. Chicago’s parks rise above many parks in the nation and are a great place to spend an afternoon when you want to get away from the busy city streets. Chicago is an outdoor lover’s paradise!

Aside from the few festivals that we have mentioned, there is always some sort of event to enjoy in Chicago regardless of the time of year. Whether you are interested in music festivals, culinary events, or theatrical events, there is something to do on every weekend of the year in Chicago. There are also always special events coordinated around holidays such as Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, and, of course, Christmas.

While we have already noted that Chicago is home to some of the best public education you can get in the country, there are also plenty of local public libraries for those who love to learn. With nearly 650 public libraries in the state of Illinois, there is always a place for you to find a good book when moving to Chicago.

The cost of living in the state of Illinois is well-below the national average and if you’re planning a move to Chicago, the least expensive neighborhoods that you should consider are Morgan Park, Avondale, or East Garfield Park. That being said, the cost of living in Chicago is extraordinarily affordable overall

According to the 2000 census, the state of Illinois has a per capita income of $23,104, making it the 11th most wealthy state in the entire nation. In fact, the per capita income in 2012 was almost $1,500 higher than the national average. It is true that there are always financial growth opportunities to be found in Chicago and those with an entrepreneurial mindset will find the perfect environment for them in the Windy City.