**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. 



Chicago

Italian Beef

**The Best Thing About Naperville?** - The Pinnacle Of Suburban Experience

The U.S. has plenty of suburbs to choose from. It does, however, have a shortage of suburban areas with everything Naperville has to offer. Cheaper than Chicago, but with the city still well within reach, Naperville has a lot going on in town. Beautiful walks and shops by the river and some of the best public schools in the nation are the most obvious attributes of the city, but it also has local museums and good beaches that provide culture and play to people of all ages. Naperville also has a number of big companies in town ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to research and tech for those who want a short drive to work.

**The Worst Thing About Naperville** - Lack of Diversity

With all of the good things that come with living in the epitome of a boujee suburb come all of the bad things as well. Naperville is a bit notorious for being the home of entitled upper-middle class white people with little exposure to the outside world, an understandable turnoff for many. If you’ve lived in cities your whole life, watch American Beauty before coming here if you want context for the potential downsides of suburban lifestyle. 
	
**How You Living?** - It’s a Nice Suburb, That’s How You’re Living

While cheaper than living in the big city, the average cost of living is almost 50% higher than the national average. Living “downtown” in Naperville is considered pretty cool, with easy access to lots of restaurants, in addition to a surprisingly active nightlife . Being a nice and growing suburb, there are a lot of great housing options for families. Neighborhoods like Still Water and Cress Creek offer tons of homes with backyards, front yards, easy access to parks, and great public schools that are a walk or short bike ride away. 

**Why You Should Move Here Now?** - The American Dream

With more and more Americans trying to escape claustrophobic city life as more jobs move remote, places like Naperville are target destinations for a reason. Chicagoans who now have more in-office flexibility have been relocating to Naperville, with all of the room, education, and family friendly niceties a major draw. 


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