Would you live in Orlando or Chicago?

[Pletch]

Thanks for the feedback, I realize this may not be the most objective place....but I have had some good responses! To answer a few details. We are a young family, late 20's early 30's with a 10month daughter, planning for one more. We are not tied to any one location....we have lived/worked in Seattle, Texas, Upstate New York, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Wife is from Venezuela, but we handled the cold in NY. Career is Materials Science/Metals, from University of Florida, PhD. In brief, both jobs are of equal interest and equal potential for growth, each in their own way, this simplifies the question. To cost of living equation, yes Naperville has state taxes, housing prices are higher, but looking at Orlando, I would consider Winter Park which will be higher than Orange county in general. I also realize you pay for what you get. I find Naperville very attractive for raising children and giving them the best educational experience. We are active and enjoy the outdoors. I realize the attractiveness to living near WDW, but I truly consider what is best for our family to be well rounded. does that make sense?

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Be smart and look into your personal quality of life issues. Housing issues, commute issues, safety, entertainment, dining, etc. Then decide which gives you what you want.

Orlando's metro murder rate eclipse's Detroit and DC and the east side isn't really great, IMO. Commuting is among the worst anywhere and the weather, while VERY inviting this time of year, isn't nearly as hospitable during summer.

Then there's the Mouse. Many transplants will tell you how GREAT it is to "hop over and visit anytime you'd like" but believe me it isn't that easy AND most people really get tired of it sooner than they'd think (although a hundred people here will dispute that).

Good luck.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Other than warmer winter advantage, I would choose Chicago area, much more to offer.

 

[chyam]

After growing up in the Chicago area and moving to FL. 26 years ago, I would say stay in FL. Yes the summers are hot and humid but as you know it is not 9 months worth as others have stated (and you already know that) Winters in Chicago are cold and brutal, yes summer is nice, but it is only for about 3 good months, yes there are alot of cultural things to do, but the whole area is one big mass of concrete! Where as in FL it doesn't take you all that long to hit the rural areas.
I miss the change of seasons but not enough to move back to that mass of human beings, cold weather, traffic etc. I don't really care for the weather here from June-the end of Sept. but given the choices I would much rather be hot than cold.
I would say hop on a plane next week, spend a weekend up there and see if that is something that you would enjoy...shoveling snow, wearing layers and layers of clothes, driving in their traffic and then weigh things out. I have always told people that tell me they want to move to FL. to visit in Aug. and see if that is really what they want. You have to experience the worst of each area to see if that is what you want, especially when it comes to a move.
Naperville is quite expensive.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Naperville has some of the best schools in the state. I'm not going to say it has all the benefits of Chicago without the congestion though. I've lived in Chicago all my life and I will never go to Fox Valley Mall on the weekend to a restaurant.

It seems that most of the time the value of a house, and the more expensive and functional a kitchen is (and there are some beautiful ones in the area) is inversely proportionate to the amount of times said kitchen is used.

I think the DuPage Children's Museum is one of the better ones I've been to in any state.

 

[Kitty 34]

At my age I would move to a warmer climate in a heart beat!

However, having lived in River Forest for 6 years which is so close to Chicago, I would say Chicago. Winters were cold but there's something about Chicago; starting around St Patrick's Day, through the exciting summers of baseball (at Wrigley Field of course ), even the autumns were fun. I love Chicago and everything it has to offer!!!

 

[freckles and boo]

I am biased. Florida is a nice place to visit. Chicago is a real place to live. I don't know much about Naperville other than it has a wonderful reputation and is on the pricier end of the spectrum. Chicago is a world-class city and Orlando is Disney.

 

[lillygator]

no way on Chicago.....but as far as it being a "real" place to live come on. Orlando does not equal Disney - only those that see it that way.

 

[freckles and boo]

no way on Chicago.....but as far as it being a "real" place to live come on. Orlando does not equal Disney - only those that see it that way.

I said I was biased.

 

[KimmyDisneyNerd]

Orlando all the way. After this winter, there is not much choice for me.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Hmmm... I love chicago, it's a beautiful city. I don't like winter, however, winter only last from Dec. through March. I love Orlando, Mickey and Universal Studio are right there. I'm not too crazy about summer there, too darn hot and it's too humid.

 

[FINFAN]

I sent you a PM......So you're a metalurgist? Veeeeerrrryyyyy smart choice of career! Our neighbor years back pretty much wrote his own ticket in that field. He and his family live in Paris now. They traveled the world, truly. Talk about an education for their family!

 

[Rora]

I was born and raised in FL and I have to go with Orlando..

It doesn't get any better than the sun, nice weather, the beach and of course.. Disney World!

IMO, Chicago is a little scary and a big change from good ol' Gainesville (Gator alum, here!).

 

[Cindy's Mom]

At my age I would move to a warmer climate in a heart beat!

However, having lived in River Forest for 6 years which is so close to Chicago, I would say Chicago. Winters were cold but there's something about Chicago; starting around St Patrick's Day, through the exciting summers of baseball (at Wrigley Field of course ), even the autumns were fun. I love Chicago and everything it has to offer!!!

My kids go to school in River Forest.

Topic/ I agree 100% with what Kitty 34 wrote. Sure winters are cold, but that makes the summer that much more special and appreciated. To me, living in Chicago is more of a sense of community, as big as we are, its still a small hometown feeling. There are roots here and pride.

 

[FINFAN]

can't stop thinking about your situation..lol...after thinking, here is what I would try and pull off...accept the postion in Naperville. Rent or buy a modest home, and purchase a 2 bedroom condo in Florida now, that you have for travel etc, retirement. Or not in Florida, wherever you think your family will spend a lot of time. With the housing market the way it is now, this is the time to be able to pull something like that off. As long as you can still put away for college, that would be optimum. You will find that most folks would like the snowbird plan. Since you have 5 years before you start being stuck on the academic school travel calendar, you could make big use of the vacation condo. One other thing is medical. My mom is in Naples, and last year she had some serious issues, long story short, she ultimately chose ( as sick as she was) to travel up to Naperville to stay with us to have treatment at Loyola. Her treatment was successful, and she is back in Naples. However, my brother who is in Cape Coral,you could not pay him enough to maove back here, and his DD feels the same way. Naples and Cape Coral however, are not the East side of Orlando. Naperville does have very low crime...probably the only place where there are more police than residents! 9kidding, but living 4 blocks form the police station, sometimes it feels that way! I have everything at my fingertips here in Naperville, but I have always said I am a "misplaced Floridian"...I just gel better w/the laid back lifestyle of Florida, grew up spending my sun=mmers there so have a little bit of an idea of "over the years". I would love to retire there, and that's pretty much it in a nutshell, people work in the less attractive climates where pay and job security ( until recently) were better, and then retire to warm climates.
Anyway, if you cold pull off the lifestyle you want for your family and still have a vacation condo/home..that would be worth moving north for, if I knew we had a place of our own ( simple, nothing stressful)to escape to,it would make getting thru winter a bit easier, thats for sure.