People who aren’t from Chicago tend to think of it as a big slab of a city - without the distinct boroughs of New York, or the famous neighborhoods of Los Angeles. But if you live in Chicago your neighborhood defines you in ways the whole city does not. 77 different neighborhoods, each worthy of celebration on its own: each filled with a unique vibe, culture, and history that longtime residents come to embrace. These neighborhoods in large part drive our inclusion of Chicago in [LookyLOO's list of top vibrant urban cities](https://lookyloomove.com/tags/vibrant-urban-centers).&#x20;

What’s also cool though is that the other 76 neighborhoods are unique adventures for you to experience. You can live in the electric energy of downtown and minutes scoot out to the warmth of a Cubs game in Wrigleyville or the epicenter of cool on the West Side (sorry Wicker Park). 77 different neighborhoods, one that is your own, and 76 others all at your disposal.

Let's switch to what's tough about Chicago. Winters may not kill you but damn, they’re gonna hurt. Everyone knows about the cold, the wind, and of course, the snow, but the thing they don’t warn you about is how grey the skies remain for so long in winter. The Great Lakes cast a low, heavy layer of clouds over the city, creating a perfect storm of cold, wind, snow, and clouds throughout January and February. If you can survive that stretch though you’re home free.

Neighborhood Pride  

LookyLOO Review of Chicago

Architecture and building types matter a ton in cities that get as chilly in the winter (and hot in the summer) as Chicago. Lifestyle here is driven more by your home or building than other cities so let's dive into that first. Chicago has every kind of place you can live -- high-rises downtown, bungalows, two-story flats, big brick single-family homes, and all the rest. Most unique to Chicago though is The Courtyard apartment building. These are distinct 3-story U-shaped buildings with grass courtyards, mostly built between the 1910s and 1930s when fire hazards and regulations prevented builders from going taller. There are so many other ways to live but everyone should get a chance to live in one of these sometime.

Beyond the architecture, you'll find beautiful beaches and a silly number of music festivals, including [Lollapalooza](https://www.lollapalooza.com/), [Pitchfork Music Festival](https://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/), and the [Chicago Blues ](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_blues_festival.html) and [Chicago Jazz Festivals](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_blues_festival.html). Chicago is excellent at bringing people together when the weather gets warm. 

The city has a great food scene, seriously, watch The Bear. It has excellent transit, so not having to own a car makes it even more affordable. Many say it has most of the perks of NYC but at a fraction of the cost and a more favorable salary-to-cost-of-living ratio. That makes it attractive to couples and young families, aspiring to buy a condo or home and take advantage of the excellent public school systems in the suburbs. 

Finally, Chicago has a much more relaxed vibe, people aren’t rushing or trying to get ahead quite as much. There is an ambitious and hard-working culture but the city moves at a less stressful pace than NYC or San Francisco. 

Check out the [calendar of events](https://www.themagnificentmile.com/things-to-do/events) to see how jumping this city gets. 

We highly recommend visiting Chicago and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ).

Lifestyle in Chicago

In terms of how schools are assigned, children are guaranteed a place in the neighborhood school to which your home is assigned as long as you fill out the forms to enroll them in a timely manner. If you don't fill out the forms in a timely manner and the classes fill up, your child may be assigned to another adjacent neighborhood school for a year until they can get staffing figured out for the school your child would have been assigned to. The assigning of homes to schools is done usually by distance but in the past had some political reasons to not always be. Under a new state law, all school catchments will need to be regularly re-assessed with the default assumption being that the nearest school should be the appropriate neighborhood school. This will not change the school assignments for currently enrolled students though unless parents opt into the new school they would normally be assigned to. Also, at any time if you are unhappy with your neighborhood school, you can apply to send your child to any other neighborhood school in the city. I'm unsure how that approval process works.

Beyond the neighborhood schools, you have the magnet schools which are admittance by application only. Some are special interest schools with a focus on STEM or the arts for example. Others are purely academic in how you get into them. In terms of the application process, they all require some form of test and sometimes ask for recommendations from teachers. They are not looking not only for top scores on the tests but for relative scoring position when compared against other similar students (that is to say, against your child's peers so being top 10% in the district doesn't help if they're only top 30% in their school). They do this as measurable intelligence and aptitude on tests is primarily driven by home life and school environment moreso than the student's natural aptitude. So the hope is that by using relative ranking within schools that they create an equitable process that manages to bring the students with the greatest natural or learned talent to the magnet schools without disadvantaging poorer communities in the city while still giving some advantages to wealthier households who can better prepare their children for the entrance exam.

What this ends up doing is that in the wealthiest parts of the city, up to 20% of students from their elementary schools get sucked up into the magnet schools while in the poorer areas, it is around the top 8-15% (roughly). This is often why if you look at standardized test scores for places like Lincoln Park High School or Lake View High School it looks like the school is bad but in reality the top 20% of students from the elementary schools feeding it were all admitted to the top magnet schools.

Basically, if you want "good" schools live in a school catchment with high income families as that's the best indicator of a student's success with the second being the number of books their parents had in the household (not owned, in the household so the library is fine) on average while they were a young child. But that said, even the lower income areas can be great. For example, my wife taught for an amazing 1+ rated elementary school in a middle-income Hispanic community where the parents were focused on their kids having an easier life than they did. That school sent around 16% of its students to the top magnet high schools.

Yes, CPS has a bad reputation because of fear mongering and people not talking about individual schools within the system separately. But overall, CPS makes up 5% of the top 100 high schools in the USA based on matriculation rates to top rated universities. If you expand to the top 250, CPS still is about 5% of the schools in the list. Please keep in mind that the City of Chicago is a bit less than 1% of the US population. So this indicates that CPS greatly outperforms expectations as an overall school district.





Review from Former Teachers

Schools in Chicago

Chicago is an amazing city; with great industry and economy, beautiful classic architecture, world-class culture, an exciting sports scene, and everything a $3 subway ride away, but these things also come in a much less expensive package than the coastal majors. If you crave a major city but want a more economical lifestyle than New York, San Francisco, Boston, or Los Angeles, then Chicago has to be on your list. It’s the 3rd largest city but just the 15th most expensive city in the United States.

It may seem surprising but Chicago is the most inexpensive major city in the U.S. If that matters to and you're creating a short list of affordable options, check out the [LookyLOO Guide to Cities with a Reasonable Cost of Living](https://lookyloomove.com/tags/reasonable-cost-of-living).&#x20;

The Economics 

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**Basim Ali** / Lived in Chicago / Updated 3yr
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Chicago is hands down one of the best cities in the states.

Cost Of Living: First off, Chicago is incredibly cheap. It’s significantly cheaper than NY, LA, SF or even cities like Seattle and Boston. (It’s cheap compared to most major North American cities. It’s still obviously going to be more pricey than middle of nowhere Texas). Most cities with a relatively cheap cost of living either don’t have well paying jobs, or they don’t have jobs at all. Chicago on the other hand is the 3rd largest city in America, and it has a very diversified economy. Despite this, it remains affordable for such an important city. Even in the desirable neighborhoods in the North Side of the city you can very easily get a studio for $1000 a month.

Things To Do: Chicago has more than enough things to do and there’s something happening every single day in the city. The Magnificent Mile is one of the best shopping streets in America, trumped only by Fifth Avenue. Other places to visit include the Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and one of my personal favorite things about the city: the Riverwalk. The Lincoln Park Zoo is incredible as well (and it’s free). In addition to this there are many river and lake cruises that offer stunning views of the skyline. In the summer the lakefront bursts into action. Throughout the warmer months, there are parties and festivals on the gleaming beaches in the shadow of Chicago’s cloud piercing skyscrapers.

Food: Food in Chicago is incredible and relatively cheap, a perfect combination. Chicago style deep dish pizza and hotdogs are of course world renowned. Chicago’s diversity also means that there also a lot of cuisines from all around the world. There are also many upscale food options as well such as Everest or Alinea. The city’s restaurants have a total of 24 Michelin Stars.

Crime & Safety: Chicago has a notorious gang and murder problem. That being said the downtown and most of the North Side neighborhoods are completely safe. As long as you don’t venture into the wrong neighborhoods, which you have no reason to unless you want drugs, are a part of a gang etc then you should be completely fine. You should always be conscious of your surroundings but that goes for most major cities, not just Chicago. If you’re planning to move to Chicago, the Northern suburbs are incredibly safe places to live. Naperville, Evanston etc consistently rank as some of the best places to live in the Midwest.

Weather: This depends on the kind of person you are. Winters in Chicago are brutal, but they are so beautiful! Chicago in the winter time is nothing short of magical and the cold makes us all the more grateful for summer. However if you like to wear flip flops and t-shirts all year around and generally don’t like snow/ cold weather, Chicago and the Midwest in general is not for you.

I hope that I was able to paint a realistic picture about what it’s like to live in Chicago, both the pros and the cons. To summarize, Chicago is cheap, has great summers, a plethora of things to do, delicious food, safe suburbs and most neighborhoods of the city are safe. However winters here can be brutal and some areas of the city do have a very high crime rate.


For more reviews from locals check out: [**reviews section**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/chicago/reviews)

Reviews of Chicago from Locals

**The Good, The Bad, The Ugly**

**The Best Thing About Chicago?** Neighborhood Pride

Chicago is a huge city that stands as one to those from the outside, and of course those who live here are proud of the whole. But if you live here your neighborhood defines you in ways the whole city cannot. 77 different neighborhoods, each worthy of celebration on their own: each filled with a unique vibe, culture and history that longtime residents come to embrace. What’s also cool though is that the other 76 neighborhoods are unique adventures for you to experience. You can live in the electric energy of downtown and in minutes scoot out to the warmth of a Cubs game in Wrigleyville, or to the epicenter of cool on the West Side (sorry Wicker Park). 77 different neighborhoods, one that is your own, and 76 others all at your disposal. 

**The Worst Thing About Chicago?** Winters That Do Not Kill Us Make Us Stronger

They may not kill you but damn, they’re gonna hurt. Everyone knows about the cold, and the wind, and of course the snow, but the thing they don’t warn you about is how grey the skies remain for so long in winter. The Great Lakes cast a low, heavy layer of clouds over the city, creating a perfect storm of cold, wind, snow and clouds throughout January and February. If you can survive that stretch though you’re home free. 

**How You Living?**  On A Courtyard

Ok, so Chicago has every kind of place you can live. Highrises downtown, bungalows, two-story flats, big brick single family homes, and the rest. Most unique to Chicago though is The Courtyard Building. These are distinct 3-story U-shaped apartment buildings with grass courtyards, mostly built between the 1910’s and 1930’s when fire hazards and regulations prevented builders from going taller. There are so many other ways to live but everyone should get a chance to live in one of these sometime. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** The Economics

Chicago is an amazing city; great industry and economy, beautiful classic architecture, world-class culture, exciting sports scene, and everything a $3 subway ride away, but these things also come in a much less expensive package than the coastal majors. If you crave a major city but want a more economical lifestyle than New York, or San Francisco, or Boston, or Los Angeles, then Chicago has to be on your list. It’s the 3rd largest city but just the 15th most expensive city in the United States. 



If you’ve never been to the Chicago Metroplex you may not know it stretches across the southwest side of Lake Michigan. While Chicago ain’t a coast it for sure is a beach town. The Lake is a defining characteristic as it provides play in the warmer months and brings the wind in the winter. 

The city is surrounded by many quiet and some city-like suburbs, some of the most beautiful in the country. Evanston, home to Northwestern University, sits north of the city along the lake and is a wonderful college town for those who crave a city, but don’t want to live in THE city. The northern suburbs tend to be a bit fancier as their lake access is rewarded with higher prices and fancier digs. To the west lie countless booming ‘burbs like Oak Park, Hinsdale, Downers Grove and Naperville, that tend to serve both upper and middle/working class families. 


The Area

As was noted above, Chicago neighborhoods are a big deal to locals. It may be the sporting culture that brings that local pride and spirit down to the street level, but it plays out for the most part innocently with the possible exception of the North Side v. South Side rivalry. Historically the North Side was wealthier and more white, and the South Side more working class and African-American. While some of that hegemony still exists, Chicago has diversified in ways that make the distinction less clear and perhaps idealistically less important. 

Overall, city neighborhoods are organized into districts, and while there are plenty of exceptions for any of these characterizations you can think in terms of the north as being “posh”, downtown as urban upscale, west as hipster, and south as home to great arts, sports, historic culture and more diversity.


The Neighborhoods

Chicago has so many neighborhoods for young professionals it feels greedy for them not to share with other midwestern cities. Huge apartment skyrises downtown, big brick apartment buildings in the surrounding neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, three-decker apartment homes in historic and upcoming neighborhoods like Wrigleyville, and Logan Square, that all provide relatively inexpensive housing (compared to NYC/SF/LA) for the younger generations. Every one of these neighborhoods has a great local social scene if you just feel like walking out for some fun, and the L provides super-cheap transport to the rest of the city when you feel like venturing farther. 
- Downtown / The Loop
- Logan Square
- West Town (Ukranian Village, East Village, Wicker Park, Pulaski 
  Park)
- River North
- Lake View (Wrigleyville/Boystown)


Young Professionals

Downtown

The biggest and most famous of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in Chicago is Boystown. It hosts the Pride Parade and is full of cool boutiques, coffee joints, theaters, comedy clubs, and amazing nightlife. Boystown, which is part of the Lakeview area also has the historical Legacy Walk the world’s only outdoor LGBTQ history museum.
Another popular neighborhood is Andersonville. Labeled “Girlstown” due to a big and growing lesbian population, the neighborhood is on the north side of the city with most of the social scene between Clark Street and Ashland Avenue. Andersonville is home to Women and Children First, one of the largest feminist and LGBTQ+ bookstores in the United States. 
- Boystown (Lakeview)
- Girlstown (Andersonville)
- Pilsen

LGBTQ+

Boystown/Girlstown

Chicago has plenty of neighborhoods for young families looking for “city life” but who also demand great schools, safe streets and some of the amenities they’d get in a suburb but without you know, “the suburbs”. Beverly is a great example of these neighborhoods - big brick homes with room to grow at reasonable prices, great local schools for the little ones, and tons of outdoor space including a 250 acre forest preserve for hiking, or sledding when the snow falls. If you’re in the family way but intent on hanging in the city you’re going to be ok here. 
- Beverly
- Edison Park
- Lincoln Park
- North Center
- West Loop
- Hyde Park 


Families

Beverly

A lot of bigger families in Chicago flock to the suburbs for the homes, yards, public schools and lifestyle, but staying in the city is absolutely a thing here as well. Neighborhoods like Sauganash/Forest Glen are magnets for families prepared to spend bigger bucks for beautiful older homes, large yards (for the city), and close proximity to great schools for their beans. It should be noted that these neighborhoods tend to be a bit quieter, with less of a jumping social scene than the hipster or younger family options but there are golf courses if that is your scene. As with most cities Chicago has plenty of “crossover” cities that attract young professionals, young families, and bigger/established families. Lake View, which includes Wrigleyville and Boystown, and Lincoln Park, are two of these areas. Great big homes, luxury condos, apartment buildings and fancy-ish amenities make these neighborhoods work across nearly all demographics, as long as you’ve got the $$$. 
- Sauganash/Forest Glen
- Lake View (Wrigleyville/Boystown)
- Lincoln View


Sauganash/Forest Glen

Chicago

**Beyond_the_Matrix **/ Living in Chicago / Updated 3yr
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**What's it like living in Chicago?**

You can do almost anything you think of. Normal stuff like play in a sports league or book clubs or dance classes or cooking classes etc. Less common stuff like improv, burlesque, trapeze, learn sailing. During normal times, on any given night, you have endless options. Pick any cuisine, you can find multiple restaurants. Think of any kind of bar/nightclub ambiance, we have it. Pick a style of music, you can probably find someone playing it somewhere. Or go see a play or stand-up comedy or a cabaret show.

We also have an excellent public transit system so you can get anywhere at almost anytime without needing a car (or a designated driver).

We also have jobs in pretty much any field. Whatever you do … you could probably do it here. Want to change careers? We have other options and also lots of universities and other options to get a degree or training.

And we’re next to a giant lake so we have beaches (a lot of people don’t realize that) for swimming, boating, or just chilling.

But what differentiates is from a lot of big US cities is our cost of living is more attainable than a lot of similar cities.

Some people really hate the winters though. But just get waterproof snow boots and a legit winter coat and you’ll be ok.

Plus we don’t have as much “nature” as other areas, or other nearby cities for getaways.

Bad stuff - it’s a city. Thankfully I haven’t been on the receiving end of any crime or violence but it sucks to hear about it happening nearby. I am cautious about where I go alone at night, when I’ll take public transit, etc. But I’m still able to go about my daily life without trouble.

**Pros and Cons of living in Chicago**
Living in Chicago / Updated 2yr
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Good for me. I grew up on the south side, Beverly neighborhood. Had a good community upbringing, you knew the same people your whole life that whole thing, went to private school but my family scraped all they had to send me there because at the time the neighborhood public school was bad, it’s a lot better now. I got into a trade Union around 21, started making good money so I left that neighborhood and moved to Pilsen because it was the only place where I had a friend that needed a roomate, lived there for 2 years, pretty fun neighborhood(great if you love carnitas and Latin culture), close to downtown but still it’s own neighborhood feel, then moved to Tri-Taylor, pretty good area but close to the west side crime and drug addicts but still close and accessible to downtown and other fun neighborhoods, never get unsafe living their though despite decent amount of crime in the area. Last 4 years I’ve been in the Near West Side neighborhood, which borders the West Loop, so that’s been fun and now moving to Buena Park with my fiancé and really looking forward to being close to the lake and away from the highway.

Remember, Chicago is all about neighborhoods, there’s 77 of them and they’re all unique, I’d suggest renting in the West Loop or Old Town, being close to transit and traveling the El to different neighborhoods to get a feel for what you like best. You’ll know quickly if you’re in a bad neighborhood because there’s empty lots, tons of graffiti and busted/burnt out buildings, avoid those areas at night and you’ll be safe, they’re mainly west of Western and south of Pershing, although there is a nice area by the lake, south called Hyde Park that is where University of Chicago is. Keep awareness in touristy areas and you’ll be fine as well, in my 30 years I’ve never had an altercation outside of a drunken bar dispute.

**What is it like to live in Chicago (city)?**
**Dave Marques** / Lived in Chicago / Updated 2yr
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Winters are cold as hell, but there are some surprisingly mild days interspersed. Spring is rainy, windy, and chilly, but absolutely gorgeous towards the end. Summers are hot and humid but with some nice cool weather mixed in. Fall is wonderful.
Lake Michigan is a treasure. Lots of public beaches and parks along it. The water is a really beautiful cerulean color sometimes and seeing the skyline on the lakefront by night is a must.
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Downtown (the greater Loop plus River North) is tall and dense, kind of like Manhattan but emptier (especially at night). Outside of that, however, the city is divided up pretty precisely into neighborhoods, each with their own architectural styles, socioeconomic/racial/ethnic demographics, histories, points of interest. They are fun to explore - Hyde Park is very academic and cerebral; Wicker Park and Logan Square are trendy with lots of thrift stores and funky restaurants; Bronzeville has important Black historical and cultural institutions; Boystown is the lgbtq hub of the city. The downside is that they can also be a little insular at times and there are pretty glaring inequalities between neighborhoods, especially on the South and West sides.

**What is it like to live in Chicago (city)?**
**Basim Ali** / Lived in Chicago / Updated 3r
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Chicago is hands down one of the best cities in the states.

Cost Of Living: First off, Chicago is incredibly cheap. It’s significantly cheaper than NY, LA, SF or even cities like Seattle and Boston. (It’s cheap compared to most major North American cities. It’s still obviously going to be more pricey than middle of nowhere Texas). Most cities with a relatively cheap cost of living either don’t have well paying jobs, or they don’t have jobs at all. Chicago on the other hand is the 3rd largest city in America, and it has a very diversified economy. Despite this, it remains affordable for such an important city. Even in the desirable neighborhoods in the North Side of the city you can very easily get a studio for $1000 a month.

Things To Do: Chicago has more than enough things to do and there’s something happening every single day in the city. The Magnificent Mile is one of the best shopping streets in America, trumped only by Fifth Avenue. Other places to visit include the Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain and one of my personal favorite things about the city: the Riverwalk. The Lincoln Park Zoo is incredible as well (and it’s free). In addition to this there are many river and lake cruises that offer stunning views of the skyline. In the summer the lakefront bursts into action. Throughout the warmer months, there are parties and festivals on the gleaming beaches in the shadow of Chicago’s cloud piercing skyscrapers.

**35 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE MOVING TO CHICAGO**
In this video I share the 35 things you need to know before moving to Chicago. 


Italian Beef

California

Michigan

Minnesota

New Jersey

New York

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado’s appeal is multilayered. Of course, there are the Rockies—snow-capped peaks, ski resorts, and Instagrammable vistas—but beyond the obvious, the state reveals itself in its micro-regions and quirks.

Denver has grown into a full-fledged metro, attracting industries from aerospace to fintech. Neighborhoods like RiNo and Cap Hill pulse with murals, independent bookstores, and some of the best third-wave coffee west of the Mississippi. Yet, 20 minutes outside the city, you’ll find Golden, a once-sleepy brewery town now thriving with young families, hikers, and mountain bikers—all while still housing Coors’ giant facility.

Boulder, perched between rugged wilderness and intellectual ambition, is equal parts Patagonia fleece and startup pitch decks. It’s home to Naropa University (the country’s only accredited Buddhist-inspired school) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, reflecting the state’s unique mix of spiritual curiosity and scientific rigor.

To the north, Fort Collins flies a little under the radar but boasts Colorado State University, a jumping historic downtown, and enough breweries to rival cities twice its size. Meanwhile, Colorado Springs feels like a different state altogether—home to multiple military installations, it leans more conservative but surprises visitors with epic natural landmarks like Garden of the Gods and the quirky artist enclave Manitou Springs, where mineral springs bubble out of old-timey fountains.

Then there are the mountain towns that get less attention than Aspen or Vail:

- Salida: An artsy river town known for whitewater festivals and a historic downtown dotted with galleries.
- Paonia: Tucked on the Western Slope, it’s where organic farmers, artists, and winemakers coexist—a quieter, greener slice of Colorado.
- Crested Butte: A former mining town turned "wildflower capital of Colorado," still fiercely local despite its world-class skiing.
- Leadville: The highest-elevation incorporated city in the U.S., with Wild West vibes, antique shops, and a reputation for producing ultra-endurance athletes.

- Even Pueblo, long dismissed as a steel town, is experiencing a mini-renaissance—check out its green chile scene, which locals claim beats New Mexico’s any day.


**Lifestyle**

Colorado is all about the blend: high-intensity outdoor pursuits and laid-back social life. People measure days by powder totals or trail mileage, but they’re equally serious about craft beer, local music, and farm-to-table brunch.

There’s a statewide obsession with gear—ski racks are practically standard issue—and the unspoken dress code skews toward Patagonia puffer jackets, trail runners, and trucker hats. Even at upscale restaurants, you’ll find Gore-Tex mingling with linen.
Summer weekends revolve around farmers' markets, mountain festivals (like Telluride Bluegrass), and patio culture, where people sip IPAs while their dogs lounge nearby. Yes, 
Colorado is one of the most dog-friendly states in the country—don’t be surprised to see pups on brewery patios, hiking trails, and even paddleboards.

The weed industry is fully mainstream here—legal since 2012, dispensaries now sit next to yoga studios, and CBD drinks are common on menus. Despite the outdoor glamour, winters can drag, especially along the Front Range, where weeks of “brown season” (dry, gray winter days) test your patience if you’re not skiing every weekend.


**Who’s Moving to Colorado?**

- Outdoor Diehards: Skiers, mountain bikers, climbers, and trail runners all build their lives around nature’s calendar.

- Remote Workers: Many are now settling in places like Buena Vista, Pagosa Springs, or Ouray for mountain views and coworking spaces that offer reliable fiber internet.

- Young Professionals: Cities like Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins attract college graduates seeking startup jobs in tech and a social scene that is outdoorsy and active.

- Families: Suburban areas such as Louisville, Superior, and Castle Rock provide excellent schools, greenbelts, and proximity to both the city and the mountains.

- Military & Veterans: Particularly in Colorado Springs, where military bases and VA services have a significant presence.

- Artists, Creatives, and Off-Gridders: These individuals are moving to smaller towns like Paonia, Crestone (known for its spiritual retreats), and Trinidad, where former mining towns are being transformed into vibrant art communities.

**Worklife** 

**Major Industries:**

- Aerospace & Defense: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and dozens of military installations fuel this sector.

- Tech & Startups: Boulder leads, but Denver is fast catching up with expansions from Google, Amazon, and a strong venture capital scene.

- Healthcare & Life Sciences: Anchored by the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and countless health-tech startups.

- Outdoor Rec & Tourism: A massive industry—from ski resorts to bike gear startups like Yeti Cycles.

- Renewable Energy & Green Tech: Solar farms, wind energy, and electric vehicle infrastructure are booming, especially east of Denver.

- Craft Beer & Cannabis: Both industries are major employers and cultural forces. Denver’s Great American Beer Festival draws thousands annually.

The work culture here is serious about productivity but just as serious about play. Flex hours are common—so is the “Friday early out” to chase powder or head to the hills. People here don’t brag about work hours—they brag about the number of 14ers climbed.

**Why Move Here Now?**

Colorado’s mix of economic opportunity and lifestyle remains hard to beat, but the secret’s long been out. Housing costs—especially in Denver, Boulder, and mountain towns—are steep. Still, the “live where you vacation” dream is possible, especially if you’re strategic about location.

Remote work has made previously overlooked places—think Montrose, Rifle, or Florence—more appealing. These towns offer affordability, mountain access, and emerging arts scenes without the crowds or costs of Summit County.
Meanwhile, climate-conscious infrastructure investments and Colorado’s renewable energy push are attracting a new wave of green tech talent. If you’re looking for a place where your weekends feel like a vacation, your weekdays pay the bills, and your backyard is the view—Colorado still delivers.

Just be ready for the quirks: expect your weather app to lie, brace for spring hailstorms, and know that people here take their green chile—and their Broncos—very seriously.

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Virginia offers a little bit of everything—beaches, busy cities, historic towns, mountain views, and adventures for the outdoorsy types.  Families can find charming colonial neighborhoods to settle in or a tech-driven suburb, and young professionals (or families) will find cities known for culture and lifestyle (tons of breweries) —and none of it feels out of place.

Northern Virginia cities like Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax get a lot of attention for their young professional scene, government jobs (shaky right now but still), and shiny high-rises. But head west, and things shift—Charlottesville, Richmond, and Roanoke are growing fast, thanks to lower housing costs, beautiful scenery, and thriving food and arts communities.
And yes, Virginia’s got beaches. Virginia Beach and Norfolk offer a relaxed coastal lifestyle while still keeping you within driving distance of larger cities.
Lifestyle 

Virginia balances history and modern life better than most. There are amazing historic landmarks and battlefield tours, but it’s also a growing tech hub, home to a solid craft beer scene, and packed with outdoor activities—from hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains to kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay.

Public schools, especially in Northern Virginia, are notably strong, with Thomas Jefferson High School (TJ)  in Alexandria frequently rated the #1 public high school in the country. You get four distinct seasons, plenty of small-town festivals, and easy access to both mountains and beaches. Outdoor lovers will feel right at home.


**Who’s Moving to Virginia?**

- Families: Especially to Northern Virginia and Richmond suburbs for the schools, safety, and space.

- Young professionals: Drawn to government (prepare for this to change), tech, and consulting jobs in DC-adjacent areas like Arlington and Alexandria.

- Retirees and second-home buyers: Looking for less expensive mountain views or coastal living.

- Military families: With large bases in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Quantico.


**Worklife**

Virginia has a strong job market with several major industries driving growth:

- Government and defense: Big in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads although federal jobs are disappearing. 

- Tech and data centers: Amazon HQ2 in Arlington and Loudoun County’s “Data Center Alley”

- Healthcare and education: UVA, VCU, and major hospital networks

- Tourism, shipping, and military: Especially along the coast

The state consistently ranks as one of the best for business. Salaries are strong, especially near DC, though the cost of living is higher there too. Farther south or west, your money goes a lot further.


**Why Move Here Now?**

Virginia is hitting a good stride—a strong economy, a cultural boost in mid-sized cities, and more opportunities popping up beyond the DC suburbs. If you want East Coast energy without New York or Boston prices, Virginia’s a great option.
There’s a lot to like: solid job prospects, a wide range of places to live, and easy access to nature. Remote workers are starting to notice cities like Charlottesville and Richmond for their charm and affordability. And if you’re in tech, Amazon’s expansion means even more jobs on the horizon.

Bottom Line: Move for the jobs, stay for the mountain views, farmers markets, and the fact that you can hike on Saturday and hit the beach on Sunday. Virginia’s got space for you


Virginia

Massachusetts

Mississippi

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North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the country, driven by a combination of economic opportunity, natural beauty, and a more reasonable cost of living than many large metro areas on the East Coast. For people looking to bail on expensive cities like New York, Boston, or D.C., North Carolina’s growing mid-sized cities hit a sweet spot—offering urban energy without the overwhelming cost or scale.

Charlotte and Raleigh remain the fastest-growing hubs, but what’s fueling the state’s appeal are cities like Durham, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Asheville. These places have seen significant investment in arts, culture, and local businesses, creating vibrant downtowns and neighborhoods while maintaining accessibility and affordability. Wilmington, with its historic riverfront and proximity to beaches, adds a coastal option with similar momentum.

North Carolina offers a blend of lifestyles—from dense city cores to suburban communities and small mountain or coastal towns—all within a state that delivers four distinct seasons and easy access to both the Atlantic and the Appalachians.

**Lifestyle** 

Living in North Carolina means having access to almost every kind of landscape and lifestyle you can imagine. The mountains of western North Carolina, including the Blue Ridge and Smokies, draw hikers, climbers, and people looking for small-town life with incredible scenery. Asheville anchors the region with a nationally recognized food scene, music venues, craft breweries, and a progressive arts community—all surrounded by nature.
Along the coast, places like Wilmington, New Bern, and the Outer Banks offer a completely different pace of life—historic charm, beach towns, and maritime culture.

In between, North Carolina’s mid-sized cities have grown into dynamic cultural hubs. Durham, once defined by tobacco warehouses, is now a food, music, and startup center, balancing grit and growth. Greensboro and Winston-Salem have embraced their history while building arts districts, indie music venues, and foodie scenes that attract newcomers looking for quality of life without the price tag of bigger cities.
Outdoor recreation is baked into the lifestyle—weekends are often spent hiking, kayaking, hitting the coast, or exploring dozens of state parks. Meanwhile, urban centers keep adding restaurants, music festivals, museums, and farmers markets that make daily life feel rich and varied.

Housing costs have risen, particularly in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville, but remain notably more reasonable compared to cities like D.C., New York, or Boston. Mid-sized cities and suburbs still offer affordable homeownership options, which continues to draw families, young professionals, and retirees.


**Who’s Moving to North Carolina?**

Young professionals and remote workers: The combination of job opportunities and lifestyle has put places like Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte on the map. Increasingly, mid-sized cities like Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and Asheville are drawing remote workers who want cultural amenities without the high price tag.

- Families: Good schools, growing suburbs, and attainable home prices make North Carolina a top choice for families leaving higher-cost states. Suburban areas around Raleigh and Charlotte, like Cary or Huntersville, are growing fast.

- Retirees: North Carolina is a retirement destination—particularly western towns like Asheville, Hendersonville, and Boone, or coastal towns like New Bern and Southport, where people are drawn to the mild climate and slower pace of life.

- Tech, biotech, and finance workers: Raleigh-Durham’s Research Triangle remains a major driver of growth, along with Charlotte’s powerhouse banking sector. Mid-sized cities are seeing a ripple effect as people seek affordability near these job centers.


**Worklife** 

North Carolina’s economy is diverse, which has helped it stay resilient and attractive to new residents:

- Tech, biotech, and healthcare: The Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) is home to major universities, research parks, and a growing number of startups and tech companies. This area competes nationally for talent.

- Finance and banking: Charlotte is the second-largest banking center in the U.S., home to Bank of America and major offices for Wells Fargo, Truist, and others.

- Education: With strong public universities and private colleges, education remains a huge employer, feeding into the region’s research and innovation economy.

- Tourism, arts, and service industries: The mountains and coast pull in millions of visitors each year, supporting a growing tourism economy that fuels restaurants, shops, and creative industries in cities and small towns alike.

- Remote work is also changing the landscape, as people relocate from expensive markets to cities like Asheville or Wilmington, seeking a better work-life balance without sacrificing culture or community.


**Why Move Here Now?**

North Carolina is in that rare window of growth where the state feels exciting but still livable. While housing costs are rising, they remain manageable compared to the Northeast or West Coast. Newcomers are often surprised at how much house—or quality of life—they can afford here.

The job market is strong, especially in tech, biotech, finance, and education, and there’s momentum in the arts, food, and cultural scenes, particularly in mid-sized cities that still feel accessible.

If you’re looking for a place that offers career opportunities, space to explore, and a more affordable cost of living—all without sacrificing culture—North Carolina’s cities, especially its rising mid-sized ones, are worth a serious look.


North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

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South Carolina

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Vermont

Maryland might be one of the smallest states by land area, but it feels expansive in the variety of places, landscapes, and cultures you’ll find here. Locals sometimes call it “America in Miniature”—and it fits. Within a few hours, you can go from the crab houses and maritime history of the Eastern Shore to the rolling farmland and horse country of Howard and Carroll counties, then up into the Appalachian foothills in Western Maryland.

Baltimore—gritty, beautiful, and still deeply local—anchors the state with its historic brick row houses, growing arts scene, and a complicated but evolving identity. It’s a city of neighborhoods, from the cobblestone streets of Fells Point to the indie shops and music venues in Hampden. Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland draw researchers, students, and healthcare workers, while the Port of Baltimore keeps the city tied to global trade.

The DC suburbs—places like Bethesda, Silver Spring, Rockville, and College Park—are among the most diverse in the country. They’re fast-paced, career-driven, and home to major employers in tech, healthcare, defense, and international policy. Montgomery County consistently ranks high for public school systems, while Prince George’s County—once overlooked—is booming with development and homeownership among Black professionals.

Then there’s the Chesapeake Bay—arguably Maryland’s emotional center. Fishing villages, waterfront towns, and a deep-rooted culture of crabbing and boating shape life here. In places like St. Michaels or Solomons, watermen traditions meet weekenders from DC.


**Lifestyle** 

Maryland is a state of contrasts:

- Outdoors: Summers bring locals out for blue crab feasts, sailing regattas, and Eastern Shore beaches like Ocean City or Assateague Island, where wild ponies roam. Hikers find solace in the Catoctin Mountains or the Maryland stretch of the Appalachian Trail. In the fall, leaf-peeping in western Maryland rivals New England.

- Suburban Professional: Many Marylanders are commuters, with highways like I-270 and the Capital Beltway packed every weekday. Work-life here often revolves around careers in government contracting, federal agencies, or research labs.

- Cultural: Baltimore punches above its weight in music, art, and food. It's home to quirky traditions like the annual HonFest, while the nearby suburbs offer concert venues, museums, and some of the country's best public libraries.

- Education-Focused: With several nationally ranked school districts, plus colleges like UMD College Park, Loyola, and St. John’s in Annapolis, education drives many families’ choices.

The cost of living is high in the DC metro area—Montgomery County and Howard County are expensive but offer great schools and amenities. Meanwhile, Baltimore City and parts of the Eastern Shore remain relatively affordable, though income disparities can be stark.


**Who’s Moving to Maryland?**

- Government and Defense Professionals: With NSA, NIH, and countless government contractors, Maryland is a hub for federal careers.

- Healthcare and Biotech Workers: The state’s economy is built around giants like Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland Medical System, and a growing biotech corridor around Gaithersburg and Rockville.

- Families: Strong school systems, safe suburbs, and access to both urban and rural life make it a prime target for families.

- Nature and Water Lovers: The Bay, mountains, and access to the Atlantic draw people who don’t want to choose between city life and nature.


**Worklife**

Maryland boasts some of the highest median incomes in the country, but it comes with a cost. Key industries include:

- Government, Defense, and Cybersecurity (Fort Meade, NSA, countless Beltway contractors)

- Healthcare and Life Sciences (Johns Hopkins, NIH, biotech firms in the I-270 corridor)

- Port and Shipping (Baltimore’s port is one of the busiest on the East Coast)

- Education (Universities, research centers, and public school systems)

Maryland’s job market tends to be resilient especially near D.C.—especially in recession-proof industries like healthcare, science, and in prior administrations, federal government work. High wages can offset higher living costs, particularly in areas like Montgomery County.


**Why Move Here Now?**

Baltimore is changing -- neighborhood revitalization, a growing arts scene, and affordable historic homes make it a city to invest in. The DMV’s tech and biotech boom means Maryland’s share of the tech and life sciences boom is growing fast, especially in Montgomery County and the suburbs along I-270.

Waterfront and small-town charm aplenty, with coastal towns offering an escape that feels worlds away from DC but still within reach for weekends or remote work. Finally, access without total commitment: Maryland lets you plug into DC’s energy, Baltimore’s grit, or nature’s calm—all without fully committing to just one lifestyle.


Maryland

Washington is not what most people around the country think if their view is based solely on the Emerald City. You’ve got Seattle, yes — the tech hub with glassy towers, expensive lattes, and endless cranes reshaping the skyline. But Washington’s story is bigger and weirder than that.

Head east and you hit the Cascades, where towns like Leavenworth lean hard into their Bavarian cosplay — full-on Alpine architecture and Christmas markets, even in summer. Cross those mountains and the state turns dry, golden, and wide open — apple orchards, hops fields, and wine country roll through the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla. It’s a different state over there, one that cares more about rodeos and crop yields than whatever Seattle’s latest zoning fight is about.

There’s also the pocket-sized, artsy cities people don’t talk about enough — Bellingham, tucked up near the Canadian border with its crunchy, outdoorsy vibe and a local ski hill just 30 minutes up the road; Olympia, the capital, where the punk music scene still has a pulse and the farmers market is the real social center; and Port Townsend, a Victorian seaport town known for wooden boat festivals and a whole lot of ghost stories.

What keeps people here is the geography — Puget Sound, the Olympics, Mount Rainier looming massive. There’s a certain stubborn pride about how many people own a kayak and know how to dig their clams. You don’t have to go far to find someone who will try to convince you their corner of Washington is the best — whether that’s a foggy coastal town, a moss-draped mountain pass, or a sunny plateau east of the mountains. And honestly, they’re all kind of right.



**Lifestyle** 

Living here means you learn to live with the weather — or love it. Western Washington’s gray season lasts months, but the long, golden summer days make up for it. The east side flips the script — hot, dry summers and winters that mean snow.

People are big on the outdoors, but not in a performative way. It's less Instagram hiking and more “this is just what we do.” Mountain biking in the Cascades, skiing at Stevens Pass, trail running in the Issaquah Alps, or mushroom hunting when the rains come — the connection to nature runs deep.

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword here — it’s baked in. You’ll see people line up to return compost buckets at the farmers market or debate which salmon run needs protecting. There’s a hyper-local food scene, from oyster farms like Hama Hama to foraged nettles making their way into restaurant menus.

Housing is a mixed bag. Seattle and the Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland) are expensive, with median home prices well above $900k. But smaller cities like Spokane or the Tri-Cities offer more space and sunshine without completely unplugging you from the economy.



**Who’s Moving to Colorado?**

- Tech folks chasing jobs at Amazon, Microsoft, and the sprawl of startups. The Eastside suburbs — Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish — are full of transplants figuring out the PNW way.

- Families looking for good schools, parks, and the rare suburban neighborhood where you can still walk to a coffee shop (Issaquah and North Bend, looking at you).

- Outdoor types — climbers, paddlers, skiers — folks who want a job and mountains in their backyard. Bellingham and Wenatchee both punch above their weight for this crowd.

- Healthcare and education workers — UW, WSU, major hospital systems, and growing biotech hubs keep the state anchored beyond tech.

- And increasingly, people just looking for a lifestyle shift — artists, remote workers, folks burned out on California or Texas sprawl — are finding their way here.



**Worklife**

The job market stays solid, especially if you’re in:

- Tech: Seattle’s core, Bellevue’s new skyscrapers, and a growing remote scene

- Aerospace: Boeing’s still big, even if quieter than it once was

- Healthcare: especially in Seattle and Spokane

- Agriculture: apples, cherries, hops, and wine rule Eastern Washington

- Shipping and trade: major ports in Seattle and Tacoma keep global goods moving

The interesting thing is how the economy balances — world-class tech and scrappy farming towns coexist, sometimes uneasily, but it works.



**Why Move Here Now?**

Washington’s still growing, but in ways that give you choices. Yes, Seattle’s pricey, but places like Spokane, Bellingham, and even Bremerton are growing fast without feeling like polished suburbs yet. The access to nature is unbeatable, but what might surprise people is how distinct each region feels.
You could live where you’re skiing before work, or where you’re sipping wine on your porch at sunset. You could be downtown for an Amazon meeting or out in the San Juans watching orcas. Washington has range — that’s the real sell.


Chicago, Illinois

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