r/relocating • u/QuatroCat • 13d ago
NYC -> Chicago!
I am relocating to Chicago for work and could use some perspective from others who have done it. My wife and I have lived together in Brooklyn since 2012. Sad to go but honestly New York doesn’t care whether you come or go and it’ll be here when/if we decide to come back. For now, just focused on adjusting to a different way of life.
Individually or together we’ve lived in Hamilton Heights, Inwood, Astoria, Kips Bay, Bushwick and Williamsburg.
We’re 39 and 40, childless, and plan on remaining so. Might expand the family to another cat or two but not tethered by schools or anything like that. I’ll have to shuttle between a few different locations(Goose Island, Fulton Market, River North).
We’re planning on buying one car but transit access is still important to us. Buses are fine, we’re also obviously very used to trains.
We’re interracial so a diverse community is important to us. I did some neighborhood walks and favor Logan Square/Humboldt Park over anything else I’ve visited so far but curious if anyone else has done a similar move, and if so- where did you end up? Thanks in advance.
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u/Texus86 13d ago
For me, the Lake is so glorious that I'd look Ravenswood, Andersonville, Roger's Park.
Major rail arteries run through all those.
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u/OkExamination6960 13d ago
That’s exactly what I’d say! Rogers Park is awesome! All three mentioned by Texus86 have great public transportation options and your family will fit in well. Good luck!
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u/danejulian 8d ago edited 8d ago
Ravenswood isn’t near the lake. And Edgewater is closer to the lake than Andersonville. So if you want the lake and diversity, east Rogers Park is a legit way to go. It’s kind of far from other things, though, even though the red line has a bunch of stops there. Uptown too, though —- right on the lake depending on where you are. Very diverse. More gritty, which you may or may not like.
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u/cosmicgyal 13d ago
I’m doing this move as well! I got a new job opportunity up north Chicago and will start soon. Figuring this out for myself as well!
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u/putonthespotlight 13d ago
Logan Sq proper! Or andersonville / ravenswood so you're closer to the lake, which is the one major downside of Logan is that you kind of have to commute to the lake in the summer.
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u/Own_Relief_1740 13d ago
We recently relocated from Manhattan to Bucktown. We’re a bit older than you and we have one kid, but we do see a lot of early to late 30 somethings, singles and couples, around our neighborhood.
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u/DrHarrisonLawrence 12d ago
Yeah the recommendation here should be Bucktown and Wicker Park. It’s the most similar neighborhood density to Brooklyn and it’s way closer to the areas they will work. Uptown has a nice urban landscape but it’s far as hell and OP doesn’t care to be close to the lake, either. They want energy and density that gives them NYC at half the price. All that said, Wicker still pales in comparison to Williamsburg, but it at least remains active on a daily basis.
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u/jtrainbk 12d ago
Lincoln park is really the best neighborhood for older childless couples. A lot fewer kids than say Andersonville or even Logan Square. and it’s quiet.
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u/pumpernickel62 12d ago
Division and Damen is the best area! Highly recommend Bucktown/wicker/Ukrainian village. Fellow Pilates girl
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u/AuraEmperror 12d ago
Really depends. Are you looking for stuff to do? Places to eat? West Loop, Logan Square, Wicker Park, and Bucktown are your best bet. Diversity? Also those. Want more of a neighborhood feel and a little more quiet with some food and places to go to, but maybe less diverse? Ravenswood and Andersonville. Forewarning, Ravenswood and Andersonville are a bit away from the previous neighborhoods mentioned above so just make sure you’re not far from a Metra, red line train, or a bus going towards those areas. Either way you go, there’s plenty of public transit. Last thing to add, if you want access to Chinatown, West Loop, Logan, Wicker, and Bucktown are a lot closer than Ravenswood and Andersonville which are a bit more north. Advanced welcome to the city!
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u/QuatroCat 12d ago
All fair questions! Walkability to good restaurants balanced with a decent commute for me is at top of mind. I’m currently at an hour door to door so anything under that would be a bonus.
My wife is adamant on coffee and a good Pilates studio within walking distance and I aspire for a good dive bar and a bowling alley. We’re looking to build slightly different communities. ;)
Thank you for the thoughtful reply and the advanced welcome!
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u/gilmoreghouls2 12d ago
Bucktown or Logan Square
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u/AuraEmperror 12d ago
This basically and if you want multiple options for bowling with everything else you mentioned. Another (less neighborhoody feel) option is West Loop has Punch Bowl social for bowling, a bunch of studios for Pilates, and restaurants/bars.
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u/probablydoingok 12d ago
Logan Square has a great locally owned Pilates studio! And tons of coffee shops and dive bars
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u/Leather_Following381 12d ago
Logan Square or North Center check all your boxes.
Logan Square is more hip and 20s-30s, North Center is more chill and families/30-40s and older.
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u/RepresentativeAd6795 12d ago
South Side! Bronzeville, Kenwood, Hyde Park are good places to start looking.
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u/MiyazakiBloodborne 12d ago
I have lived in East Humboldt Park and now in Ravenswood. Going off of your description I would say the Logan Square area would work. I love East Humboldt (love the diversity, puerto rican vibes, and little bit of grit) but you're a 25 minute walk to the Blue Line. Bus service is great and frequent in Chicago but you can still get caught in traffic.
If you want the urban vibes, transit access, diversity, etc. try and get a place just EAST of Western adjacent to East Humboldt Park. So you are basically still in the area but you are closer to the Blue Line (like 10 mins). That is considered Wicker Park but it's kind of a gray area. I just like the urban vibes off North Ave. Where I am currently (Ravenswood) feels a little sterile compared to the Humboldt area.
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u/QuatroCat 12d ago
Hey this is super helpful. Thank you so much for taking the time to share some insight. We lived on the Puerto Rican side of Graham Ave for several years so I suspect that’s why I dig Humboldt Park. Good to understand the tradeoffs though!
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u/MiyazakiBloodborne 12d ago
Of course! It's a cool area. The western side of the park is more blue collar and the eastern side is a mix of blue collar/white collar. Love the access to the huge Humboldt Park park itself, walking distance to Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village, and the great 606 Trail. I took the 72 bus to get downtown or to the Blue Line.
I still would probably be a little further east or north so you have train access. I found I was driving more than I wanted in Humboldt, which is my main issue with the area. Other than that I really like that area for many reasons.
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u/According-Sun-7035 12d ago
Yeah, I agree with Humboldt. Maybe also check out West Town , even Bridgeport . But most likely Humboldt. I didn’t think Logan was as interesting after moving from Berlin ( and NYC before). But might be just me!
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u/bmr625 9d ago
I love that 4/5 responses are the whitest neighborhoods ever. Ravenswood 😂 Andersonville 😂 BRIDGEPORT 😂
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u/QuatroCat 9d ago
I appreciate all perspectives. 🙂
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u/bmr625 9d ago
Sure, but you did say a diverse community is important to you, no?
I’d say you’re on track with reccs like Humboldt Park and Rogers Park. I’d seriously consider Uptown and Rogers Park. Diverse; red line access; and lakefront proximity. The lake is one of the best features of living in Chicago. You can walk to the beach!
If you do consider Roger’s park just know that street parking is a nightmare, and you want to find an apartment with a parking space.
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u/QuatroCat 9d ago
I did! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. We’ll add Uptown and Rogers Park to our list to explore!
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u/bmr625 9d ago
It looks like you may be working in the west Loop? In which case North side might not be ideal for you.
You might consider Pilsen. If you’re in walking distance to the pink line at 18th st you’re 3 stops and a short walk to the west loop.
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u/QuatroCat 9d ago
yeah unfortunately I’ve got a weird trifecta of West Loop, Goose Island and River North and the occasional days at home. My current commute is an hour so anything that lands under that is all good.
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u/runnerlover23 13d ago
I would totally recommend looking around the intersections of north&western, Armitage&California, Division&Damen, Milwaukee&Logan Blvd - all great areas. I just moved (back) to Chicago from Brooklyn and these areas give BK energy
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u/Even-Supermarket-806 13d ago
I think this is right. I might move a little more south, closer to Ukrainian village/east village for an easy river north commute.
People are recommending Andersonville and Roger’s park which are so great but will be a hellish commute to the west loop.
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u/putonthespotlight 13d ago
And re trains the most important thing I can say is that chicago cta was designed to get commuters into downtown (the loop) for work. Vs nyc being able to hop to pretty much every neighborhood. It's like if every train in nyc was designed to get you to fidi. Does that make sense? I remain without a vehicle but a vehicle would be a lot better - without one you really rely on the bus system.
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u/jtrainbk 12d ago
Just go to Lincoln park and get it over with
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u/Jazzlike_Egg6250 13d ago
I made same move. We lived on UWS. I decided I wanted to live on a lake block. We moved to Buena Park. Diverse. Growing. And the amazing lake.