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| What Chicago is like for active adults |
| Living in Chicago as a retirement community has many advantages for active adults 55+ with the means to do it. You get a walkable downtown with great public transportation. Many apartments overlook beaches or harbors on Lake Michigan. Great boating is at your doorstep, as are many lifetimes worth of cultural programs. Downtown public parks provide stunning views of the Lake. Opportunities of every description for paid work or volunteering are all around you. And you hardly ever need to drive anywhere.
Chicago (population 3.0 million) draws in retirees from suburbs and all over the mid-west because it such a manageable, picturesque, and bustling community. For a major city, it retains a mid-western friendliness, even on the dazzling commercial center of Michigan Avenue.
There are many neighborhoods to live in. The North Side has long been gentrified and tends to be the most expensive and charming. High rises along the lake provide wonderful views.
Real estate in the Windy City is obviously expensive, with 2 bedroom condos going from $500,000 to $1 million or more. According to Yahoo Real Estate the MLS median asking price of 29,387 Chicago homes offered for sale in late 2006 was $305,000. There were 5443 homes listed in real estate classifieds with a median price of $329,000. These prices should be viewed with caution because they undoubtedly are mixing in single family homes that are not in the downtown area.
Chicago is the seat of Cook County. The metro area (10.0 million people) includes parts of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. |
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| What is special about this community |
| • A major city that remains manageable
• Great parks and views of Lake Michigan
• Michigan Avenue shopping
• Neighborhoods
• Sports teams
• Chicago Art Institute |
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| What is not special about this community |
| • have to be ready for an urban environment
• It might be hard to make new friends
• It is expensive |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
| As a retirement community adults like living here because it is one of the world’s great cities in a beautiful natural setting. There is a strong economic base with ample opportunities for work – paid and volunteer. There is always something to do |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| Big business, Ttourism, Services, retail |
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| Physical environment |
| Chicago is located on the southwestern edge of Lake Michigan. Several rivers flow through here, including the Chicago River. From this port a ship can get to any harbor in the world. Winters are cold and summers are beautiful. |
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| Cultural environment |
| Chicago has a cultural scene that befits one of the world’s great cities. Its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago are first rate. The Chicago Theatre presents a continuing schedule of plays and musicals. The Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, and several modern and jazz dance troupes are just a small sampling of the cultural resources here. |
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| Medical facilities |
| There is an array of major hospitals |
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| Transportation |
| O’Hare Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. Southwest Airlines operates out of the more conveniently located Midway. Amtrak has a major station here, and the El and buses provides excellent public transportation around town. |
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Active Adult Communities in Chicago |
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| Chicago Active Communities |
| Facts about CHICAGO | | State | : IL | | Environment | : Urban,Suburban,College Town,Lake, | | City Population | : 100,001+ | | Median age of Population | : 25-44 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 0 -20 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $300,001-$500,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : NA | | Total Crime Index | : 111-120 (high) | | Cost of Living Index | : 121+ (very high) | | Culture Index | : 121+ (very high) | | State Sales Tax | : | | State Income Tax | : | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Chicago |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 3 votes cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 0.0/5 ( 0 votes cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 5.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 3.7/5 ( 3 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 1 vote cast)
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