Leaving Illinois for Wisconsin? (Chicago, Rockford: homes, buy, college)

[Kmanshouse]

Originally Posted by olive03

I have absolutely no desire to move to WI. If I'm leaving Chicagoland, I'm leaving the Midwest completely.

That being said, we have friends who sold their suburban Chicago house last year and converted their WI lake house into their full time residence. I think they were just done with IL taxes and wanted a slower pace of life. So far they LOVE it.

This makes sense. Living in a beautiful north side Chicago neighborhood, I feel like any move within the midwest would be a step down, or many steps.

I like Wisconsin just fine, but no desire to move somewhere even colder, and less urban. If/when I move it will be to the Southwest, Nashville, or the Carolinas.

[EverythingNow]

Absolutely agree with Kmanshouse. My husband and I moved our family to a near north suburb of Milwaukee last year from a north side Chicago neighborhood. It’s been a major step down in every way, even though it was supposed to be a positive move for his career. We have been disappointed with the schools, housing, culture and amenities ever since. The one positive is that we are closer to some beautiful outdoor areas now. Can’t wait to return to Chicago.

[Jon998877]

Different strokes, for different folks.. Obviously more people are moving into Wisconsin than Illinois, so there is something that's attracting them up there.. Same with NWI and Eastern Iowa..

[Milwaukee City]

Originally Posted by EverythingNow

Absolutely agree with Kmanshouse. My husband and I moved our family to a near north suburb of Milwaukee last year from a north side Chicago neighborhood. It’s been a major step down in every way, even though it was supposed to be a positive move for his career. We have been disappointed with the schools, housing, culture and amenities ever since. The one positive is that we are closer to some beautiful outdoor areas now. Can’t wait to return to Chicago.

Well if you would have asked on CDF, you would have found out the 2 best school districts in the whole state are Mequon and Whitefish Bay. Virtually every suburban Milwaukee School Dist. is very good and I am curious as to which one you are in or send your children to. Housing cost would have been a step up, 600K buys a lot up here and property taxes are a lot less than $10-$15,000 per year. Safety, would have been a step up, commute times would have been a step up. Now I grant you if you want to live in the heart of a urban area Chicago wins vs every city in America except NYC, restaurants Chicago wins but Milwaukee has some fantastic restaurants and including a lot of restaurants that Chicago people have opened up here in the city.



Don't worry once you move back to IL, we'll still see you every labor, memorial, fourth of July and when you take your summer vacations to the Dells, Door County or Lake Geneva

[Army_Guy]

Originally Posted by olive03

You sound like my father-in-law. Born and raised on the north side of Chicago. He HATES WI with a passion. Not sure why, but any time he has to cross the state line, there's profanity spewing from his mouth.

He probably hates WI because of the Packers.

[olive03]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Don't worry once you move back to IL, we'll still see you every labor, memorial, fourth of July and when you take your summer vacations to the Dells, Door County or Lake Geneva

This made me laugh, but is SO off. Not every Chicagoan wants a weekend getaway to WI. I've been here since 2003 and can count on one hand the number of times I've been in the cheese state. More power to you and those who like to travel up there, but it's not my thing.

[olive03]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

He probably hates WI because of the Packers.

Could be. He also can't stand the way people in WI drive.

[damba]

Originally Posted by olive03

Could be. He also can't stand the way people in WI drive.

LOL

Perhaps only a half click worse than some of Chicago’s finest drivers. There’s plenty of bad drivers here to go around.

The WI folks just need to practice how to merge, and how to let another driver merge. I would forgive their other issues if those were solved

Cheers

[damba]

Originally Posted by Milwaukee City

Well if you would have asked on CDF, you would have found out the 2 best school districts in the whole state are Mequon and Whitefish Bay. Virtually every suburban Milwaukee School Dist. is very good and I am curious as to which one you are in or send your children to. Housing cost would have been a step up, 600K buys a lot up here and property taxes are a lot less than $10-$15,000 per year. Safety, would have been a step up, commute times would have been a step up. Now I grant you if you want to live in the heart of a urban area Chicago wins vs every city in America except NYC, restaurants Chicago wins but Milwaukee has some fantastic restaurants and including a lot of restaurants that Chicago people have opened up here inok:

Agreed, except for the safety part. Are you familiar with how low the crime rates are in equivalent north shore suburbs to WFB or M? That part is a wash.

I am also curious where the OP relocated.

[damba]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

He probably hates WI because of the Packers.

He gets a rash when he sees the cheese hats