Moving to Chicago in few months (Lincoln: crime rates, neighborhoods, income)

[livingusa2024]

Why is Chicago getting so much bad press? is the Crime really that bad, or is it all overrated.
Can someone help me with some local imput

[odieluck]

Originally Posted by livingusa2024

Why is Chicago getting so much bad press? is the Crime really that bad, or is it all overrated.
Can someone help me with some local imput

All major cities have had a spike in crime since 2020, and a lot of anti social behavior has persisted since then. Chicago, NYC, San Francisco, etc, each have their problems today and are used as political boogeymen, but I wouldn't want to miss out on what these places offer, especially compared to living in a safe but boring suburb.

[ebitdadada]

It's a bit weird bordering on crazy at how Chicago, and many other cities now, are portrayed in the media. As far as why... I suppose partisan gain is one reason there but there also just seem to be a group of people who sleep better at night thinking cities are hellholes and media is more than happy to sell that product. Why people enjoy this product, I won't speculate on.

To the second part of the question:

I feel like there is "lived experience Chicago" (which yours truly experiences day-to-day) and "media Chicago." The two are very different places. I'll preface this with saying that I'm a white guy living on the northside (by way of DC, NY Suburbs, Seattle, St. Louis, Charlotte, Minneapolis and some other places) but my lived experience is that Chicago is quite lovely and, quite frankly, it would be pretty facking hard to pay me enough to leave. Forgive the enthusiasm but, especially in the summer, its almost to the extent of "why would I bother even traveling when I can't possibly do everything there is to do here and its so nice all the time?"

To be fair, things were not as peachy in 2020 and 2021, and even into 2022 I'd say things were still in the recovery phase (though the bad in 2020-2022 was probably even exaggerated in the media).

On that subject though, and this may be controversial given said large group of humans who sleep better believing Chicago is a hellhole ( and more seriously there are still some scars from covid as there are everywhere) but... since about ~late April or May 2023, being here, it really does feel like "Chicago is Back." Festivals are as big or bigger than as they were before, downtown seems busy again, and the El (Chicago's mass transit) seems to be getting back to normal (though there are still some annoying reliability problems). Overall, it just seems alive again.

Anyway, that's my local input. Take it as you may. I'll go grab my armor in advance of the incoming wave of "NO MES MUST BELIVE CHICAGO IS BAD!" / my impending punishment for violating the "Thou shalt not acknowledge Chicago is an amazing place to live without first apologizing for its issues rule."

[Cool Arrow]

It's all political. Big cities have become the punching bag of the far right, look at pop country song "Try that in a small town" Ironically the singer has never lived in a small town. Chicago in particular is demonized, I suspect it has a lot to do with Obama being associated with Chicago. Per capita there's a lot of other cities and towns that have higher violent crime rates but that doesn't matter because none of them are associated with Obama.

[Kmanshouse]

As a Chicago lover, I wouldn't say it's 100% political. There is some truth to it.

There are a few comfortable northside neighborhoods where I suppose life is 99% wonderful still. I've noticed that everyone who denies Chicago's problems live in or around Lakeview, Lincoln Park, North Center, and even Lincoln Square to a lesser extent. It's a bubble.

We moved to East Ukrainian Village/West Town. The robberies on the street have exploded this year. In fact, they've exploded this last 5-6 weeks. I just attended a community meeting that was VERY eye opening. Residents standing up and saying how they've lived here 30 years and it's never been like this. How their teenaged kids got held up the other day and their phones taken. Etc.

In that meeting it was very clear that since Covid, we have a huge cop shortage in Chicago, and criminals know it. And they are taking advantage.

Don't be an ostrich.

This is why the rest of the city thinks northsiders are douchbags and a-holes. The bubble is shrinking too.

And I'm a huge Chicago homer - I said all the same things until a couple months ago. I still love it here and Chicago is still where I want to live, for now. But I'm seeing cracks, and these aren't quick issues to solve.

[mattywo85]

Chicago has violence, yes but the way its portrayed in the media is extra. People think if you walk off your plane there is a mob waiting for you, when that's just not true.

There are areas of Chicago I would never go to, nor would I recommend, but for the most part its a great city to live and work.

The issue comes in with politics IMO. The politicians, specifically the Chicago mayor and his posse, are spewing the same nonsense they have for decades, and it boils down to tax dollars.

[mwj119]

It's a great city.

Not the most dangerous, but more dangerous than most. If you're living on the north or near west side, you'll be fine.

I think downtown/river north is still in a clean up phase. I've been back a few times over the last couple of months, and it's certainly not what it was pre-covid. More unkempt, not quite as busy. But Chicago at 75% is better than nearly any other city in North America, as far as I'm concerned.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by livingusa2024

Why is Chicago getting so much bad press? is the Crime really that bad, or is it all overrated.
Can someone help me with some local imput

There is a crime thread here for you to review. Chicago is a very large city with a lot of diversity. The Forest Glen community area is going to have substantially less crime than the Englewood community area, for example. You cannot paint the area with a broad brush. Your experience of crime in the city is sadly going to be most informed by your socio-economic background. Lower-income and working class minorities experience a very different city from affluent whites. That being said, I always say, nobody should move to Chicago because they are seeking safety. Fortunately, I have never been the victim of any crime in Chicago beyond vehicular vandalism.

As someone in my 20s living in the 'burbs, but spending a lot of time in the city daily, I recommend vigilance (example: do not sit in your car for extended periods, pay attention to surroundings, and avoid display of valuables) and avoiding unsafe circumstances (example: walking alone late at night or while visibly intoxicated, traveling via CTA at off-peak hours, and hot spots like Boystown/Northalsted, River North, and the Loop late at night). Also, do not expect CPD and the justice system to protect you. CPD errs on the side of not getting involved in almost anything. This is a post government society, to a certain extent. You will regularly see private security patrols in the toniest areas.

[Master Jay]

Good morning, all.

In my hometown of Milwaukee, many people have said Chicago is dirty, and unsafe, etc.

I've only been to Chicago a couple of times....

this week.

[Kmanshouse]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

Good morning, all.

In my hometown of Milwaukee, many people have said Chicago is dirty, and unsafe, etc.

I've only been to Chicago a couple of times....

this week.

LMAO - I almost choked at your 2nd to last sentence.

I think you've been to Chicago 6 or 7 times just in August, amirite?

On a different note....

Is Chicago as bad as the media portrays it? Not even close.
Is Chicago dangerous? In some areas, very. In others, kinda. In others, no. (I moved from a "no" to a "kinda")
Is Chicago a great city? Yes.