Quote:
Originally Posted by badrunner
I guess we can sort of reverse the question and ask - are the positive attributes of Chicago, the high density, prewar urban bones, great architecture, transit orientation - are these things that normal everyday people (outside of urbanist forums) really care about?
|
It depends on age.
For people under 40. Absolutely.
The only way to enjoy nearby vibrant commercial districts is with density and lots of affordable apartments. Also dating opportunities. Only the most boring and reclusive young people prefer the suburbs.
After age 40, most people don’t care one bit. Schools and jobs rank highest, but there’s often a reluctance to switch metros after a certain point. It’s not until retirement that most normies consider moving.
That’s why the OP’s observation of friends from the West Coast thinking about the sunbelt instead of Chicago is more of a “duh” observation than a meaningful economic trend. Unless they somehow happen to be friends with
lots of college students, it makes no sense for them to interact with people who move to Chicago.
If the choices are exurban McMansion in the snow vs exurban McMansion in the heat, the choice is obvious. Chicago has never in its history been a leading destination for middle-aged and elderly.
Looking at the age pyramids of Chicago and Austin (unfortunately older data, but trends are still the same), you can see right away that the cities are home to completely different people.
Chicago
Cook County
Tarrant County (Austin, TX)
