So we need to move. 2 bedroom condo in a nice area of Chicago (2 adults, 3 year old, and a dog) but we cannot afford to buy a house here (900k is about the cheapest you’ll find…and it aint great) so the debate is ongoing if we should pick everything up and move to Madison, or just slightly north to Evanston where the schools are solid and could buy 2 houses compared to the cost of one in our current Chicago neighborhood.
Here are the facts:
my job: can do from anywhere. Good earnings, high demand position (as long as I stay close to metros or reasonably sized cities) in enterprise sales hence transferable to other companies etc
wife job: established at major university in Chicago/Evanston but much more family minded than career minded. Stable position with good earnings
Network of friends in Chicago/EvanstonVery small network of the above in MadisonNeed to move for more space, although will not become "house poor"I have a desire to be closer to natureWife has confirmed numerous times that she would be happy/comfortable staying in the Chicagoland areaInterracial couple, hence interracial 3 year old. It’s important to both of us that he grows up with a wide variety of people/experiences (note this is much more important to me…the white guy). Also important that my wife feels comfortable. We both moved from a very rural area where being asian gets second glances, so my wifes comfort is tied to this as well.
Where I’m at now is completely burned out on thinking about moving but my gut keeps on saying Evanston. Which is likely what’s making you say “no shit” as you read the list above. Career-wise it’s the most stable move, same for network/friend-wise, diversity-wise it’s a no-brainer. Only cons I’m coming up with have to do with cost of living which will drop dramatically (no more doggy daycare for our dog…fuck I swear every time I type “doggy daycare” my junk shrinks an inch), and our little guy will be able to go into quality public education there (so no more high end daycare costs…which come to $2000/mo as it is now). Taxes will stay the same.
Cons are I really would like to live somewhere that I could get outside and explore more but again the no-brainer is “that’s what vacations are for”. Overwhelmingly Evanston seems to be the best family decision. I think we’ve just hemmed and hawed on this decision of moving throughout the years so much it’s taken it’s toll. Previously it was all about getting back to easy access to nature etc but now it’s 90% family focused.
VERY supportive wife so her response is whatever is going to make me the happiest but I’m smart enough (barely) to realize that it’s not all about me anymore and that a happy wife does in fact lead to a happy life.
There are plenty of places around Chicago to get out into nature. You may not be able to do it before breakfast every day, but just a short drive on the weekend would do it. As you kid gets a little older, sign him up for Cub Scouts or something like that which would give you a built in excuse to go camping, do nature hikes, etc.
Evanston resident here, perhaps I work at the same ‘major university’ as your wife.
In many respects you seem to be answering your own question. Particularly with respect to the combination of social diversity and quality schools it will be hard to match Evanston. It’s obviously not urban living, but neither is it the soulless suburbia of subdivisions & strip malls.
You’ll still be living in the land of mind-bending taxes and screwed up state government, but as a current Chicago resident you already know the score on this front. 25 years ago I had job prospects in both Madison & Evanston, and chose Evanston on the strength of (i) family (Chicago’s my home town), (ii) existing network of friends, and (iii) world-class culture. I haven’t regretted it.
If you want access to nature, consider looking east. I keep a sailboat on Lake Michigan. The population density drops precipitously once you’re out on the water.
Thanks. I do appreciate this. I grew up in the inland northwest and, by default, think of nature as mountains and rivers, it really is about enjoying whatever nature is at your doorstop. The Driftless Area comes to mind…
Based on everything you said Evanston is a no brainer. There are plenty of forest preserves up that way and you’re an hour closer to Wisconsin (I am figuring in time to get to 94). You can also go to a certain university’s home football and basketball games and have access to the SPAC for an athletic fix. The only problem is ETHS has had some “gang” problems in the past, but nothing like a city high school. Another possibility is oak park. It’s like Evanston, but a little more small town feel (but with your wife’s job probably not as good a pick).
I think you probably do work at the same “major university”. Great points around schools and social diversity (both at the top of the list for us). Those are the two factors that keep coming to mind for me. Interesting that you came to the same cross roads (evanston/madison) in the past.
Great point around access to nature being lake michigan out to the east. Getting inside my own head a bit but I should look at nature being something other than just mountains and major rivers…
Based on everything you said Evanston is a no brainer. There are plenty of forest preserves up that way and you’re an hour closer to Wisconsin (I am figuring in time to get to 94). You can also go to a certain university’s home football and basketball games and have access to the SPAC for an athletic fix. The only problem is ETHS has had some “gang” problems in the past, but nothing like a city high school. Another possibility is oak park. It’s like Evanston, but a little more small town feel (but with your wife’s job probably not as good a pick).
Thanks. Your post the other day on moving prompted me to toss up this one.
Actually, Oak Park is my home town, and where my family still lives. Oak Park and Evanston are, indeed, cut from the same cloth, except that Evanston has the lake and the university (and higher cost of living as a result). But, based on many years experience driving between OP and Evanston, you DON’T want to live in one and work in the other. It’s one of those classic ‘you can’t get there from here’ situations.
I live in Middleton (essentially a suburb of Madison) and I recommend it here - Madison schools have issues - I live about 4 miles west of Middleton, just off the IMOO bike loop
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I live in Middleton (essentially a suburb of Madison) and I recommend it here - Madison schools have issues - I live about 4 miles west of Middleton, just off the IMOO bike loop
Thanks Lorenzo. I know Middleton fairly well, in fact we stayed up there about a month back to get a feel for that suburb specifically. Very nice area and good to know on the Madison schools.