> Perhaps the people and companies are doing OK This. Chicago is a bit of a paradox. The city and county are definitely struggling financially due to debt lo

> Perhaps the people and companies are doing OK This. Chicago is a bit of a paradox. The city and county are definitely struggling financially due to debt load from crushing pension obligations and historic entitlements (along with a dose of financial mismanagement and corruption -- I mean, this is Illinois). But its economy is actually doing OK. Unlike Detroit, many corporate headquarters are still moving to the city (McDonald's and Discover, for instance, recently moved their HQs to Chicago because of corporate incentives). Chicago is still a major draw for young talent especially around the midwest. The city of Chicago itself is vibrant and has a great deal of creative energy, and despite all the bad press, many people still want to live there. The cultural and intellectual life in the city far surpasses most US metro areas outside of Boston, SF, NY and DC. It is also home to great universities like Northwestern and the University of Chicago. I would say if one doesn't aspire to home ownership, Chicago remains a very attractive destination and a very affordable big city. Renters are mostly doing fine. That said, if you do choose to settle down long term, there are challenges. There's a deep sense that you aren't going to seeing your money's worth in services, and Cook County taxes are going to keep going up.