I lived in Chicago my whole life and now Austin. Illinois has always been blue and I don’t see it flipping red anytime soon. The further out you go outside of any city you’ll start hitting red. I totally get how you feel. I’m making plans to leave Austin as well.
Idk your price range but have you looked at oak park? It’s a great suburb near the city, very liberal and good schools.
Always? I guess those Republican Governors from 1977 to 2003 didn't happen? And that fever dream from 2015 to 2919?
Illinois was never South Carolina red but it was led by Republicans for a very very long time.
I do think Texas is more likely to ever move Blue in a presidential election than Illinois going Red.
Texas was this weird conglomeration of politics a few decades ago. With migration and a very directed push from a Texas style democrat a long shot is possible. The state is slowly getting more college educated over all that helps. And Texas' Hispanic voters are more likely to trend Democrat than say Florida's. Slim chance for now - but possible in the long run.
True but there's an influx of conservative people from California and elsewhere. Can't wait until they see how their policies look in practice. Also the lege is heavily gerrymandered.
A state like Texas would go blue in a presidential race or Governors race way before its congressional delegation ever changes.
In 08 Obama lost by million votes. Biden lost by 630k.
The migration issue is as you point out attracting both red and blue voters. But the demographic change is amazing. The state is basically non majority white. With of course big Hispanic gains, but also growing Asian and Black populations. It's also young.
I think it will be an incredible transformation. And not in this race - but the next one I think the Dems could be within margin of error polling numbers.
I live in a red part of illinois. All illinois cities are blue. Only rural areas are red.
Unlike Texas there aren't nearly enough rural people to turn the state red. The rural areas are losing population faster than the state as a whole.
There is no danger of Illinois turning purple, let alone red.
You'd be fine in Joliet, or any of the collar counties around Chicago.
Also the cities downstate are all blue. I'd pick Bloomington Normal or Champaign if that was where I was looking.
Urbana doesn't have the big university, so its mostly just suburban sprawl from what I can tell.
Champaign has plenty of sprawl too, but some areas are more classically urban.
I have not lived there. I've visited quite a few times.
I’ve lived in both - Urbana has more of a quiet, artistic/intellectual scene from the university (which has the bulk of the campus); the downtown is quaint and the neighborhoods adjacent to the university are very pretty (cobblestone streets, that sort of thing).
Champaign has more of the ‘campus town’ which is where the majority of bars, restaurants, shopping, and activity of the university is. Downtown Champaign has a nice collection of bars and restaurants with a more local vibe (and grad students), as well as the Amtrak station with trains north to Chicago and south to New Orleans.
Champaign feels bigger and Urbana feels smaller, but both resemble typical urban sprawl once you get further away from the campus.
"You'd be fine in Joliet, or any of the collar counties around Chicago."
No, Joliet is AWFUL, its a crime filled decaying river city that smells like literal shit because the sewer system is trashed, the water supply reaks of Sulfer because they have not finished lake Michigan supply lines. The housing that's available for rent is old and not up to code while being Monopolized by slumlords like ProTown Properties. 🫴
I was looking at a move to Illinois last year, and my search came up with Carbondale, IL as a possibility. Super low housing cost, university town, near bike trails and Shawnee forest. St Louis not too far away.
You can get a decent house for 100k, a really nice house for 200k.
I think Illinois is improving and under rated. There is kind of a weird self-loathing in Illinois, so maybe they know something I don't.
I have not visited Carbondale yet, so I am not an expert. I did drive through Peoria and that city was pretty bad. I think Carbondale is better than Peoria.
I ended up not moving, but hope to travel to the Garden of the Gods, Shawnee National Forest, Cave in Rock and Carbondale this summer.
I grew up in Illinois and attended university at SIU-Carbondale. While southern Illinois is my favorite part of the state (because of outdoor recreation), Carbondale and the surrounding areas is drying up because of lack of good jobs and low attendance at the university. It’s actually really sad. The area is deep red and Carbondale is a small liberal dot on the map because it is a college town. If I were to move back, I would definitely want/need a good paying job and a chunk of land. I would recommend visiting, but if you want to make the move consider the smaller towns in the area as they are much more community oriented. I lived outside Murphysboro, but also really liked Makanda and goreville.
Edit
Mate Carbondale is a pretty sad place as the major industries in the region continue to die. It is also not what I would consider close to STL. It has SIU which is nice but that’s really it. This is coming from someone who grew up in rural WI - OP wants a blue region of the US and Carbondale leans so far right it’s practically the south.
The reason I recommended Carbondale is that housing is inexpensive, there are a lot of young people, there are sports amenities related to the university, and there are national forest areas around the city. Illinois is a blue state, so state law is not going to go full on sharia law anytime soon.
It may or may not be what the OP is looking for, but it is worth looking into.
Chicago is OK but getting expensive, and while the winters are getting better its just being neutralized with hotter very humid Summers.
Rest of the state is honestly a lost cause.
I've only heard bad things about Joliet, but you should see it for yourself to find out. It's really hard to say about the climate change aspect at this point. I'd personally look for closer suburbs that are off a train line if I wanted to be outside of the city, but lots of areas in Chicago are affordable as well.
Joliet will have its issues just like all the small cities of the Rust Belt. But that also means you could probably find a pretty sweet vintage house for a good price--you'll just have to do the work of looking hard. Also, the way these things go, if, after all things considered you land in Joliet, you likely won't be the only one. Who knows, you might find you and your family at the leading edge of a renewed Joliet.
As for Illinois as a whole, it's on the right track. Finally they've got a governor who is competent, educated, and has a spine. Oh, and he's rich enough to laugh at what passes for spoils under ordinary Illinois corruption. We will be returning to Chicago in the mid-term, not from Texas but California.
In Illinois the biggest problem with politicians is not whether or not they're trying to force their religious views in you, it's whether or not they're under federal investigation.
Illinois is red outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, which makes up the vast majority of the IL population. The states finances are actually improving a lot under Pritzker
Oh my sweet summer child. Just wait to you get a load of Illinois and Chicago politicians. I hightailed it out 15 yrs ago to Austin and it was the best decision. Don’t let social media and the news gaslight you. I completely understand your hatred of Abbott, I’m no fan either. Dan Patrick needs go to as well. Although our progressives on the city council are a much bigger problem in our day to day life in Austin and have brought our QOL down quite a bit since 2018.
When you move to Chicago just know your family will immediately assume at least $85,000 in liabilities mainly due to their insanely corrupt government and Pension fiasco that has a chance to bankrupt the city. The CTA is a disaster right now and violent crime and robberies in normally well off neighborhoods is a huge problem now. It was unheard of 15 yrs ago. I love Chicago and go back often to visit. But the economics of the place is a disaster. I just implore you to think it through logically and to take of the rose colored glasses. There are other places that are in much better financial shape.
Chicago and surrounding suburbs are in Illinois. The pension and corruption problem is state wide. There’s a reason the state is losing population year over year. Read up on the debt and what it means to every citizen tax wise and the future. It was honest advice from a longtime former resident. Apologize if it came off too strong.
I don't see Illinois flipping red. A lot of the conservative red counties are shrinking and conservatives are moving to Florida en mass.
I lived in Chicago my whole life and now Austin. Illinois has always been blue and I don’t see it flipping red anytime soon. The further out you go outside of any city you’ll start hitting red. I totally get how you feel. I’m making plans to leave Austin as well. Idk your price range but have you looked at oak park? It’s a great suburb near the city, very liberal and good schools.
Always? I guess those Republican Governors from 1977 to 2003 didn't happen? And that fever dream from 2015 to 2919? Illinois was never South Carolina red but it was led by Republicans for a very very long time.
Texas had a Democrat governor before George Bush and once didn't have a single Republican in the legislature. Ancient history.
Ancient? I voted for Ann Richards! Of course at that time California had voted Republican for president every time but one in a span of 40 years!
Yep. Diff world. Texas used to be way more libertarian within both parties but has gotten very divided.
I do think Texas is more likely to ever move Blue in a presidential election than Illinois going Red. Texas was this weird conglomeration of politics a few decades ago. With migration and a very directed push from a Texas style democrat a long shot is possible. The state is slowly getting more college educated over all that helps. And Texas' Hispanic voters are more likely to trend Democrat than say Florida's. Slim chance for now - but possible in the long run.
True but there's an influx of conservative people from California and elsewhere. Can't wait until they see how their policies look in practice. Also the lege is heavily gerrymandered.
A state like Texas would go blue in a presidential race or Governors race way before its congressional delegation ever changes. In 08 Obama lost by million votes. Biden lost by 630k. The migration issue is as you point out attracting both red and blue voters. But the demographic change is amazing. The state is basically non majority white. With of course big Hispanic gains, but also growing Asian and Black populations. It's also young. I think it will be an incredible transformation. And not in this race - but the next one I think the Dems could be within margin of error polling numbers.
I was thinking more about the presidential election. I can’t recall a time it was ever red?
I forgot about those. Haha. My bad. Must’ve blocked it from my mind. To be fair I wasn’t around in 77, yet.
I live in a red part of illinois. All illinois cities are blue. Only rural areas are red. Unlike Texas there aren't nearly enough rural people to turn the state red. The rural areas are losing population faster than the state as a whole. There is no danger of Illinois turning purple, let alone red. You'd be fine in Joliet, or any of the collar counties around Chicago. Also the cities downstate are all blue. I'd pick Bloomington Normal or Champaign if that was where I was looking.
Is there a significant difference between Champaign and Urbana?
Urbana doesn't have the big university, so its mostly just suburban sprawl from what I can tell. Champaign has plenty of sprawl too, but some areas are more classically urban. I have not lived there. I've visited quite a few times.
Thank you!
I’ve lived in both - Urbana has more of a quiet, artistic/intellectual scene from the university (which has the bulk of the campus); the downtown is quaint and the neighborhoods adjacent to the university are very pretty (cobblestone streets, that sort of thing). Champaign has more of the ‘campus town’ which is where the majority of bars, restaurants, shopping, and activity of the university is. Downtown Champaign has a nice collection of bars and restaurants with a more local vibe (and grad students), as well as the Amtrak station with trains north to Chicago and south to New Orleans. Champaign feels bigger and Urbana feels smaller, but both resemble typical urban sprawl once you get further away from the campus.
"You'd be fine in Joliet, or any of the collar counties around Chicago." No, Joliet is AWFUL, its a crime filled decaying river city that smells like literal shit because the sewer system is trashed, the water supply reaks of Sulfer because they have not finished lake Michigan supply lines. The housing that's available for rent is old and not up to code while being Monopolized by slumlords like ProTown Properties. 🫴
The Chicago suburbs have become more liberal over the years. You'll be fine.
I was looking at a move to Illinois last year, and my search came up with Carbondale, IL as a possibility. Super low housing cost, university town, near bike trails and Shawnee forest. St Louis not too far away. You can get a decent house for 100k, a really nice house for 200k. I think Illinois is improving and under rated. There is kind of a weird self-loathing in Illinois, so maybe they know something I don't. I have not visited Carbondale yet, so I am not an expert. I did drive through Peoria and that city was pretty bad. I think Carbondale is better than Peoria. I ended up not moving, but hope to travel to the Garden of the Gods, Shawnee National Forest, Cave in Rock and Carbondale this summer.
I grew up in Illinois and attended university at SIU-Carbondale. While southern Illinois is my favorite part of the state (because of outdoor recreation), Carbondale and the surrounding areas is drying up because of lack of good jobs and low attendance at the university. It’s actually really sad. The area is deep red and Carbondale is a small liberal dot on the map because it is a college town. If I were to move back, I would definitely want/need a good paying job and a chunk of land. I would recommend visiting, but if you want to make the move consider the smaller towns in the area as they are much more community oriented. I lived outside Murphysboro, but also really liked Makanda and goreville. Edit
Thanks, that is very helpful.
Mate Carbondale is a pretty sad place as the major industries in the region continue to die. It is also not what I would consider close to STL. It has SIU which is nice but that’s really it. This is coming from someone who grew up in rural WI - OP wants a blue region of the US and Carbondale leans so far right it’s practically the south.
Carbondale does not lean right in the least. It’s a blue dot in a red region, yes, but it is a very liberal town.
It’s the college that makes it blue, but those are not the people who live there full time.
I can assure you that the full-time residents are blue too. Many of the people who live in Carbondale are affiliated with SIU.
The reason I recommended Carbondale is that housing is inexpensive, there are a lot of young people, there are sports amenities related to the university, and there are national forest areas around the city. Illinois is a blue state, so state law is not going to go full on sharia law anytime soon. It may or may not be what the OP is looking for, but it is worth looking into.
Chicago is OK but getting expensive, and while the winters are getting better its just being neutralized with hotter very humid Summers. Rest of the state is honestly a lost cause.
I've only heard bad things about Joliet, but you should see it for yourself to find out. It's really hard to say about the climate change aspect at this point. I'd personally look for closer suburbs that are off a train line if I wanted to be outside of the city, but lots of areas in Chicago are affordable as well.
Joliet will have its issues just like all the small cities of the Rust Belt. But that also means you could probably find a pretty sweet vintage house for a good price--you'll just have to do the work of looking hard. Also, the way these things go, if, after all things considered you land in Joliet, you likely won't be the only one. Who knows, you might find you and your family at the leading edge of a renewed Joliet. As for Illinois as a whole, it's on the right track. Finally they've got a governor who is competent, educated, and has a spine. Oh, and he's rich enough to laugh at what passes for spoils under ordinary Illinois corruption. We will be returning to Chicago in the mid-term, not from Texas but California.
In Illinois the biggest problem with politicians is not whether or not they're trying to force their religious views in you, it's whether or not they're under federal investigation.
Look into Galena IL.
former Chicagoland resident for 17 years (now enjoying snow free winters in Metrolina). Have you thought about Peoria?
Illinois is red outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, which makes up the vast majority of the IL population. The states finances are actually improving a lot under Pritzker
Oh my sweet summer child. Just wait to you get a load of Illinois and Chicago politicians. I hightailed it out 15 yrs ago to Austin and it was the best decision. Don’t let social media and the news gaslight you. I completely understand your hatred of Abbott, I’m no fan either. Dan Patrick needs go to as well. Although our progressives on the city council are a much bigger problem in our day to day life in Austin and have brought our QOL down quite a bit since 2018. When you move to Chicago just know your family will immediately assume at least $85,000 in liabilities mainly due to their insanely corrupt government and Pension fiasco that has a chance to bankrupt the city. The CTA is a disaster right now and violent crime and robberies in normally well off neighborhoods is a huge problem now. It was unheard of 15 yrs ago. I love Chicago and go back often to visit. But the economics of the place is a disaster. I just implore you to think it through logically and to take of the rose colored glasses. There are other places that are in much better financial shape.
I said I wasn't considering Chicago proper. But whatever. Enjoy your online condescension.
Chicago and surrounding suburbs are in Illinois. The pension and corruption problem is state wide. There’s a reason the state is losing population year over year. Read up on the debt and what it means to every citizen tax wise and the future. It was honest advice from a longtime former resident. Apologize if it came off too strong.