Considering move to Chicago
Posted by JaapSt@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 26 comments
My wife and I are considering moving from the Netherlands to a suburb of Chicago with our 2 kids (below 4 years of age). Do you have any advice on things that people usually overlook? Or any insights?
Would love to hear from people that have made a similar move!
Thanks!
tenniseram@reddit
I’m a Chicagoan living in Groningen. Dm if you would like to chat.
RandomTopTT@reddit
Don’t underestimate how cold a Chicago winter is compared to the Netherlands. From experience. Northern European winters feel chilly and damp, but Chicago is a different beast.
Also, when we moved we went wayyy over budget. Not sure how it is now but leasing/buying a car without a credit history was tricky. There are specialist services that can help you out but once you land it can be difficult to get one.
Same with house rental without a US renter history.
Unless you have a bunch of money. These were the things that tripped us up.
JaapSt@reddit (OP)
Thanks! How did you deal with renting the house in the end? Anything I can do from a distance already?
lunaticlabs@reddit
A lot of people here seem to be suggesting that you should live far from the 'L'. I have the opposite opinion. I like to live in places where the city is accessible, and find that living near public transportation makes life far easier. In the city proper, some of the issues that the people here describe do happen, but in the suburbs, the train stations are generally fine and clean and don't have issues. Living near one lets you get into the city, or even other suburbs, without needing to get into a car and drive. This makes a difference if you want to have a glass of wine with friends, for example.
I've always lived near public transportion, I spent 10 years in Chicago by the Logan Square Blue line stop, so speak from experience.
Generally speaking, the US is a very car oriented country. Owning a car tends to be damn expensive, and with all the ride-sharing apps that are available now, I don't know if I'd feel the need to own a car (living in the city, suburbs would be a different calculation). I lived in Chicago proper for 2 years without my own car, post ride-sharing, and it was fine and far cheaper than owning a car.
SadSpeechPathologist@reddit
Don’t they mean Metra if the family will be living in the suburbs? I was going to say they should definitely live within walking distance of a Metra station so they can easily take the kids to museums, etc. without driving downtown. In fact, do anything to avoid driving in Chicago!
Also, the banking system will be very different than in Europe, but that’s for a different subreddit...
JaapSt@reddit (OP)
Could you elaborate on the banking system?
ibitmylip@reddit
I want to co-sign this 100%. being close to the El and the Metra (if possible) is a game changer.
Plus get some bikes.
ElSuroGato247@reddit
I mean, I didn’t say they can’t take the busses? Those are definitely fine to get on.
The L has had many safety issues and just from the perspective from someone who has ridden on what a train system should be (ex: most large EU cities fit this criteria) then OP is probably going to be very disappointed in it.
lunaticlabs@reddit
I agree with that. FWIW, I'm in the EU now, so I'm experienced in both. Buses also work, but tend to have quite limited hours. Of my friends who lived in the suburbs, the ones who lived near public transportion that ran often and all hours were far more socially active than those who weren't. There are downsides to living near public transportation, but some of us weigh those differently, and I find the convenience of nearby transportation to far outweigh whatever stuff comes from the proximity to the station. I'm certainly not advocating to live next door either.
Level_Apple_7001@reddit
Go to the NW suburbs and focus on school districts.
Reasonable-Hand219@reddit
May I recommend Forest Park, Berwyn, Oak Park, Brookfield, N. Riverside? Kid-friendly towns with easy access to Chicago transport network, a zoo and Forest Preserves!
hardware_error@reddit
Consider Lake Forest and Winnetka. Excellent schools and you can take Metra to Chicago rather than drive.
Cincinnati-kid@reddit
Libertyville FTW!
FearMcDoogins@reddit
I wouldn't recommend moving here. The summer's are decent but there's a lot of issues here with crime and class devision between races. Not much outdoor stuff to do either excluding lake Michigan. I have spent my whole life here and wish I could leave for good.
ElSuroGato247@reddit
Yeah, don’t listen to this person OP.
If you look up posts on r/SameGrassButGreener you’ll find that most people that move to Chicago love it.
Chicago just saw the largest decrease to homicides in several decades. No doubt it’s safer than it ever has been.
gizmogrl88@reddit
Agreed. This is not a realistic/true description of Chicago.
gizmogrl88@reddit
My husband and I just moved back to the NW suburbs of Chicago. We're in Buffalo Grove. It's a quiet town, filled with parks and lakes, and only 20 minutes away from the city via highway. Our location is also in one of the best school districts in the entire country.
Traffic is nowhere near as bad as when I commuted in England. Air quality is fresh and we are close to all the good stores, including Whole Foods.
I would definitely recommend you take a look at the Northwest Suburbs. Beautiful secenery, lovely houses, close to great companies to work for, and close to downtown Chicago.
BreakfastGirl6@reddit
Consider budget and school district. I’d check out the local FB community groups for the area. Look into the /chicagosuburbs group.
deep-sea-balloon@reddit
Reading (some of) these comments makes me miss Chicagoland ♥️
Green_Mind60@reddit
I don’t get everyone giving advice about city neighborhoods when OP specifically said they wanted the suburbs. My opinion is look at the north shore suburbs, then Oak Park and then maybe further out Naperville/St. Charles. They’re all different but loved by people who live there.
claudia_kroll@reddit
Moving from the Netherlands to Chicago with young kids is a big transition but a genuinely great one - Chicago punches way above its weight for expat families.
A few things people often overlook:
- Neighborhoods matter enormously. Chicago is very much a city of neighborhoods, and quality of life, school access, and safety vary dramatically block by block. For families, areas like Lincoln Square, Andersonville, and Edgewater tend to be popular - walkable, family-friendly, and close to good schools.
- Schools for expat kids: There are excellent international school options - British International School of Chicago, Lycée Français de Chicago, and German International School Chicago - so if maintaining a European curriculum matters for your kids, that's well covered.
- Public transit is genuinely good - the CTA 'L' network is extensive and you can get around without a car, especially in the north side. Coming from the Netherlands you'll appreciate that more than most Americans do.
- Winters are brutal. Coming from the Netherlands you think you know cold - you don't. Budget for proper gear and factor it into your housing choice (proximity to transit matters more in February than in July).
- Cost of living runs about 14–18% above the U.S. average, mostly driven by housing - still very manageable compared to NYC or LA.
I actually ran a full investment and livability analysis on Chicago recently at under500k.ai/app/reports/chicago-united-states - it covers neighborhoods, safety scores, expat community size, schools and more. Might be a useful read as you're researching the move.
Overall Chicago scores a 77.6/100 on livability for expats - strong infrastructure, large expat community, no foreign ownership restrictions, and world-class food, culture, and lake access. It's a fantastic city to raise kids in if you land in the right neighborhood. https://www.under500k.ai/livability-index
lunarbanana@reddit
My wife and I (Americans) lived in woodridge for 10 years and really liked it. We’re from the Midwest, so Chicago was familiar people. People are generally kind. Chicagoland area is great for food and culture. We kept season tickets to Shakespeare theatre. It’s the thing I miss most about having moved to Switzerland.
I never felt unsafe but we weren’t in the city at night except walking back to the car after a show or dinner out. The suburbs will have everything you need without as much of the failings of the city (crime, homelessness).
It’s also a great place to explore lots of America from by air.
That said, traffic in the region is terrible. Do your best to minimize your commute. Parking in the city is eye wateringly expensive.
InterviewLeast882@reddit
North Shore is very nice.
Jncocontrol@reddit
I've been to Chiacgo plenty of times, just avoid the L, you're going to see a bunch of homeless people around the street, I even saw masterbating. I have even seen some crimes go down not to far from where i lived, there was a shooting at a 7/11.
ElSuroGato247@reddit
If you’re worried about safety, honestly the only place I’d avoid in Chicago is the “L” (Chicago’s train system), I say this as someone who has been on different European cities’ public transit systems. Generally, you won’t find trouble on the L if you’re not looking for it, but more than being at risk of harm, the many homeless who use the L can be unsightly along with the L’s stops (in desperate need of a facelift).
Other than the L, some really good neighbors for families include Lincoln Park and West Loop, though there’s a ton.
Baejax_the_Great@reddit
You're going to want to make sure you move to an area that Lou Malnati's delivers to.