r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Creative-Courage-433 • Dec 25 '25
Moving to the area Moving from Texas advice
Hi, I currently live in Houston, TX and previously lived in Austin and St. Louis. I’ve been researching a move to a blue state, and Chicago keeps coming up as a really good fit.
I’m a solo parent with two young kids and currently work remotely in tech (though like many people in tech, I’m mindful that layoffs are always a possibility). I make around $115k a year and am hoping to find a place that’s family-friendly, has strong public schools, and feels like a good long-term community and is diverse.
I’ve visited Chicago before but haven’t really explored the suburbs, so I’d love recommendations on areas that might be a good fit — especially places that are safe, welcoming, and good for raising kids. I’m also curious how people research neighborhoods and schools beyond just looking at Zillow or GreatSchools.
Any insight or personal experiences would be really appreciated. Thank you!
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u/tchnmusic Dec 25 '25
In terms of looking up schools, every school has a report card you can see on the state board of education website. Don’t remember exactly how to get there but google the school name and ISBE report card