What’s up, Chicago!
Okay, last week we published an article about things that people hate about Chicago according to Redditors. As it turned out, there was a lot to talk about, like traffic, politics, and of course, the winters.
But it wouldn’t be fair for us not to dive back into Reddit again to find what locals are saying they love the most about living here. And overwhelmingly, people love this city so much. So we gathered as much information as possible and sorted it into the most common reasons why Chicago is incredibly endearing.
If you’re new here, we’re the Ben Lalez Team, and we’ve helped over a thousand families buy and sell homes in the city. We’ve had hundreds of conversations with clients who have told us the reasons why they’re moving to Chicago (or the reasons they’re staying), the things they brag about to their friends who live elsewhere, and why they couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
In this article, we celebrate Chicago and what your fellow Chicagoans have to say about home.
The Lakefront
We can’t start this article without talking about the lakefront first.
It might be the only thing that every Chicagoan agrees on, and what we’ve found is that it doesn’t matter who you are or what part of the city you live in, the lake feels like it belongs to you.
You can go there to clear your head after a long day of work, walk the dog, get some much-needed exercise, or simply sit with a coffee and reflect on your life decisions. The best thing is, the lake is big enough that you can always find your own quiet spot even on the busiest summer weekends.
One Redditor said it best:
We couldn’t agree more. You don’t have to be a photographer or a runner to appreciate it, and we think we’re truly blessed to have access to such an iconic shoreline.
Big City Energy, Small City Feel
Chicago is a relatively large city, but it doesn’t completely overwhelm you. It’s something that a lot of people really enjoy about living here.
You still get to experience all the benefits of a major city, such as concerts, food, jobs, nightlife, and festivals. But it still feels cozy enough that you always know your way around. You can get to know your local bartender, wave to your mail carrier, and run into people you know at the store. This is something that doesn’t happen in every big city.
The other thing people mention is how easy it is to move around. Chicago has real neigborhoods, not just never-ending blocks of condos. You can walk to what you need, and it’s easy to grab dinner just about anywhere in the city.
And if you don’t drive, public transit connects most of the city (not perfectly), but better than a lot of other places.
We couldn’t have said it better.
The Food
You know as well as we do that everybody in Chicago is passionate about the food.
Our food scene isn’t really about crazy trends or celebrity chefs. Instead, it’s more about the places that have been here for decades. Places like pizza joints that don’t change their menu, neighborhood bars that make the best burgers, and the bakeries that open before sunrise.
One thing we’re lucky to have is the ability to eat food from anywhere in the world without leaving the city. And people tell us all the time that it’s not just the variety of the food – it’s the quality. If you’re eating Polish, Mexican, or Thai… it’s authentic.
Redditors know we have so many incredible options to choose from. You can dress up for a fancy steak one night, and then grab tamales from a cart the next night.
Neighborhoods With Personality
One thing that truly makes Chicago unique is that it’s not just one big city, but rather a patchwork of distinct neighborhoods with character.
You can literally go from quiet residential streets to a busy corner full of live music in five minutes. Every neighborhood has its own history, pride, and crowd of regulars. And people really love having their own sense of identity.
Even people who move away still talk about where they’re from, like it’s a part of who they are. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Chicago can continue growing and changing, but your neighborhood never really leaves you.
Value For Your Money
Everyone knows that it’s getting more expensive to live here, but for the most part, people still see Chicago as a bargain compared to most other large cities in America.
You can buy a home (or rent a decent apartment) and raise a family without needing millionaire money. You can live near the lake, walk to restaurants and coffee shops, and still have money left over for groceries. In today’s economy, this quality of life is something to be grateful for.
And even when people complain about rising costs, they’ll still admit that Chicago is cheaper than many other places.
The People
We can’t talk about Chicago without mentioning its people.
You can have great amenities, attractions, and nature, but it’s the people of the city that ties everything together. For a city of our size, you can still find kindness everywhere. People hold doors open, shovel sidewalks for neighbors, and say “morning” even if they’ve never met you before.
Chicagoans are not fake-friendly, but we are blunt (in a good way, of course). If they like you, they like you. If they don’t, you’ll know. And we often hear that it’s hard to make friends if you’re new to the city, but once you’re in, you’re in for good.
Amen to that!
You Get What You Give
We know that Chicago isn’t always an easy city, but we truly believe it’s a fair city. In other words, you get what you give.
If you take care of your block, it takes care of you. If you support your local spots as a regular, they’ll remember you and treat you like family. Every year, we all grind it out to survive one more brutal winter, and when summer hits, it feels like a reward we earned.
This is the spirit we saw everywhere on Reddit when people raved about Chicago. We’re not perfect or polished, but we are authentic.
Here’s what one person who doesn’t live in Chicago had to say about our city.
Not going to lie, that gives us the warm and fuzzies.
What Does This All Mean?
If last week’s post was about what frustrates people the most about Chicago, this one is about why people would never want to leave.
Scrolling through Reddit can be an interesting experience because you can see the extremes of both sides of any opinion – the venting and the pride, the rants and the love letters, and the complainers and the ambassadors. In Chicago, people really tell it like it is.
And although every big city has problems, there was undeniable pride in every thread we read. People genuinely love the city and would fight to the death for it.
If you’re thinking about moving to Chicago, or you live here and want to move across town, we can help you find the right spot. We know the headaches, but we also know the heart. Give us a shout, and we’ll be happy to share all our favorite stories of Chicago.
Sources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1d7gz0m/what_are_the_things_you_love_about_chicago/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskChicago/comments/1mb78x3/what_do_you_love_about_living_in_chicago/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1i5r71n/whats_a_small_thing_you_love_about_chicago/
https://www.reddit.com/r/SameGrassButGreener/comments/1llex1s/if_you_live_in_chicago_and_genuinely_love_it_what/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/qf7bpm/tell_me_why_you_love_chicago/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/1cyqd2w/what_is_your_favourite_thing_about_living_in/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskChicago/comments/1ltac0f/what_is_your_favorite_part_about_living_in_chicago/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/mue3oe/what_are_unique_great_things_about_chicago_that/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskChicago/comments/1n4zgrk/what_makes_chicago_so_special_compared_to_other/
https://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/uiwwb6/i_love_this_city_im_so_glad_to_live_here/
