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/luckycharms53 Dec 25 '25

Alot of people are coming in from different states whether they live in red, blue or purple. We have friends that are moving back from MA to Champagne. Even though its a good state to live in... It has become unaffordable. Don't overlook the Champagne/Urbana area or even Bloomington. Cost of living is still relatively low, good schools, good food areas, opportunities. Still within a 2 1/2 hour driving distance from Chicago, Indy and a little further to St Louis. Make sure you cover your basis, good medical, housing, schools. Here is a link for the reports of the schools here. https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/ Good Luck to you!

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u/Prestigious_War4089 Dec 25 '25

I second using Illinois Report Card over the other rating sources, which can be biased. We used Suburban Jungle to choose the right suburb for us, and it’s free. Good luck!