Relocating to another home is an exciting prospect. But it is also one that can be complicated and complex. If you are going to be moving from Chicago to NYC, you need to prepare accordingly. This means that you need to do some research on your new neighborhood, as well as sever the ties that hold you to your old home. Then there’s the relocation process, for which you may want to enlist the help of a moving company. The easiest way to find great movers to relocate your household is to utilize the services that Verified Movers offer. We will help you find an ideal moving partner in a fraction of the time it would otherwise take. But there are also other considerations, which we will explore in this article.
Moving from Chicago to NYC – Preparation stage
Before you get to the moving process itself, there are a few things to do:
- Research your new area
- Say your farewells
- Get hyped
It is important that you get in a proper mental state before you relocate, as it will make adjusting to your new home a lot easier. After all, New York City is amazing, but also a chaotic place. Settling in will require some time, so it’s best that you do it with a calm mind. Let the long distance movers NYC take care of your belongings so you can take care of yourself. Therefore, you will need to:
Research your new area
To start with, you will want to know where to do your shopping, where to go to have fun, where to exercise, etc. It is a lot better to figure these things out before you arrive at your new home, as you will have plenty to do once you do. Start with the essential things, such as local grocery stores, gyms, and any other place you normally frequent.
Lots of people are moving from Chicago to NYC, so a great idea is to ask the moving company if they have a few tips to share. Ask your movers about any places of interest near your new home, as long distance moving companies Chicago get similar questions on a daily basis. They are a great source of information, one that you might want to utilize to their full potential. Furthermore, you may want to look into the statistics of both cities before you make the decision. To make it easier for you, we have prepared some of the more important ones.
The financial situation of both places before moving from Chicago to NYC
NYC and Chicago are vastly different in many aspects, and financial differences aren’t an exception. The cold truth is that NYC is more expensive. To be precise, New York is 57.0% more expensive than Chicago. However, you have to keep in mind that NYC also offers a myriad of advantages and possibilities for individuals, both young and old, professional or not. If you are moving from Chicago to NYC, you can expect a boost in your income, new employment opportunities, and access to top-notch institutions. However, moving to NYC won’t be an easy task. Hiring movers with the help of Verified Movers will definitely help, but it is still good to know some basic living cost differences:
Sure, these numbers might not seem favorable at first, but you should also think of the increase in your income. After some time, when you are fully settled in, you will see that these living costs, compared to your income, aren’t so discouraging after all.
Chicago statistics
Chicago, one of the largest cities in Illinois, has a population of around 2,710,000 people. It is a very urban city, where most people rent their homes. However, the median home value is actually quite low for a city of this size, at around $260,000. As for rent, it is above the national average, with median rent standing at about $1,900. While the median home value has stayed pretty much the same when compared to the prior years, the same cannot be said for the median rent. Compared to prior years, the price has gone up by $800. While these numbers might seem quite low (especially in comparison to NYC numbers), the main issue with Chicago is the low median household income.
On average, Chicago households earn around $65,781 annually. If you are set on relocating, this might be a thing worthy to consider before hiring any of the top movers in Chicago. Furthermore, when you realize that the national average is $71,186, you start to see the issue. However, this also means that the overall costs are lower. But with the lower costs, there are other concessions that you will have to make, living in Chicago. Public schools in the city are nothing to write home about, and crime rates are not exactly ideal. In fact, many of the Chicago neighborhoods have a problem with high crime rates.
Chicago crime rates
For example, you are twice as likely to get assaulted in Chicago than the national average. The reports show that the city has around 565 assault charges per 100,000 residents, where the national average is 282. Murder charges are 18.2 in Chicago, where the national average is 6.1. All of the other crimes follow a similar pattern, as well. The only crime that is similar to the national average is theft, which happens 2,293 times in Chicago, as opposed to 2,042 which is the national average.
There are safe neighborhoods in the city, yes, but they tend to be much more expensive than the median price. For most of the Chicago residents, the abovementioned numbers are quite real. This is one of the main reasons why cross country moving companies Chicago are usually completely booked when the relocation season arrives. Moving from Chicago to NYC will give you a chance to live in a safer environment, though. But let’s take a look at what the statistics say.
NYC statistics
As one of the largest cities in the country, with a population of almost 8.5 million, New York City is one of the best places to live. While Chicago offers an urban environment, NYC will provide you with a dense urban feeling. This means that wherever you go, you can expect a crowd of people to be there with you. Some may find this occurrence uneasy at first, but with some time, after moving from Chicago to NYC, you will get used to it. Most people rent their homes in NYC, due to almost prohibitively expensive housing costs.
When moving from Chicago to NYC, the first thing you will notice is that the median home value in NYC is standing at $622,026, which is up 3.4% over the past year. On the other hand, the median rent of all currently available listings is $4,200. While these prices might seem ludicrous, there is one thing that makes up for them: Median household income. However, before you can even get to move, you will need to set aside quite a hefty sum of money. Luckily, if you do some research about tips for moving cheaply, then you will increase the odds of having a successful move from Chicago to NYC.
With a median household income of about $70,663, NYC is a great place to find a job. While you may not think this to be a very high number, you have to realize that with so many people, being above the national average is extremely good. While you can’t really purchase a home easily on this income, the opportunities for high-income jobs are plentiful in NYC.
Crime rates in NYC
To put it simply, NYC is safer than Chicago, if not by a huge margin. The fact of the matter is that large cities are going to experience an increased number of criminal activities, so it only stands to reason. But for the most part, NYC is not a “crime den” as you might imagine it to be. To put it into statistics, there are 374 assault crimes per 100,000 residents in NYC, as opposed to the national average of 282. When it comes to rape crimes, they don’t happen in NYC as frequently as in most other places in the country. Where the national average is 40.7 per 100,000 residents, in NYC is 33.1.
NYC residents also put great stock in protecting their homes and businesses. The city has managed to reduce burglary crimes to 117.5 per 100k residents. When you consider that the national average is 500, this is quite an achievement. Furthermore, theft crimes are counted at 1,276, where the national average is 2,042. Motor vehicle theft is even lower, at 66 versus 284. Based on the crime statistics alone, it is no wonder why cross country moving companies New York City has to offer have no shortage of business.
The only crime that is more frequent in NYC than in the rest of the country is robbery, and even that is not by a large margin. There have been 160 reported robberies in NYC, as opposed to 135 which is the national average.
All these statistics clearly show that moving from Chicago to NYC will bring you into a safer environment. Especially if you are planning on owning property or starting a business.
When it comes to housing solutions, renting is the most popular option in both cities
Before moving from Chicago to NYC, you should realize that finding a place to live, especially in the beginning, can be quite hard. Especially if you are looking to buy a property. Because of this, lots of people chose to rent as a housing option. To help you move in more efficiently, here are some average rents in Chicago and NYC, respectively.
NYC’s strong job market is redefying moving trends
To some, New York Coty is the central point of the entire country. Whether you agree with this or not, you have to admit that NYC is one of the best places in the US for a change in lifestyle and career advancements. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that so many are moving from Chicago to NYC. To Chicagoans, NYC is the 8th favorite place to move to. On a yearly bases, around 1,300 people move to NYC every year from Chicago.
We have already mentioned how New York has much better career options and greatly higher salaries. So, it is only natural that the largest percentage of people that move to NYC do it in search of work. To be exact, of all the people that moved to NYC last year, 35.32% said they moved because of their job. On the other hand, when it comes to Chicago and Illinois as a whole, 33.85% of people who left the state did it because of employment reasons. Another fact that solidifies this is that employers usually offer 10.5% higher salaries than those in Chicago.
Safest neighborhoods in NYC
While NYC is a safer place relative to Chicago, it is still a large city, and with that, undoubtedly prone to higher crime rates. However, if you choose the neighborhood and the community carefully, you won’t have anything to worry about. Luckily, New York City offers a wide choice of places to live, so your job is to find and get to know NYC neighborhoods. Here are some of the safest neighborhoods in NYC that are worth moving into. We have also put the percentage of being a victim of a crime compared to the national average:
- Battery Park City – 83%
- Roosevelt Island – 56%
- Bellerose – 42%
- Fresh Meadows – 41%
- Inwood – 32%
- Prospect Heights – 24%
- Upper East Side – 6%
Say your farewells
Before you can truly leave a place behind, you need to say a proper goodbye to it and the people that made it your home. The best way to do so is to organize gatherings with your friends at the places you liked to hang out. When preparing for moving from Chicago to NYC, you can easily get caught up with relocation-related tasks and lose much precious time. You may even want to set things into motion even before you contact one of the interstate moving companies Illinois. However, this can take quite a bit of time to do and schedule, so it is best to start as early as possible.
Moving from Chicago to NYC – Get hyped!
Moving into another area can be really exciting. You are going to be able to see new things, partake in new activities, etc. It is important to focus on all the fun stuff that you can do in your new city, and get yourself hyped for trying them out. Living in NYC will provide you with unlimited discovery potential, as every street has something unique to offer. It is a fast-paced environment and there is something new every day. Get yourself into the mood by focusing on the fun stuff. That will enable you to transition to your new life much more smoother.
Places to visit in NYC
There is no shortage of amazing places in NYC. While you can basically find just about anything, we have prepared a few of the more interesting activities for you to anticipate.
Indoor Skydiving
At iFLY Westchester, you can experience the thrill of skydiving without putting yourself in any danger. This is a thematic wind tunnel for indoor skydiving, one that does not involve any jumping, danger, bad weather, or anything of the sort. Take your family to iFLY and be ready for an amazing time!
Helicopter tours
If you have just arrived in NYC and still getting your bearings, a helicopter tour might be just “what the doctor ordered“. This is an amazing way to see all of NYC’s landmarks, as well as the Hudson River and the bay. You will be able to take to the skies, soar above this grand city, and enjoy the views.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
NYC is a cultural wonder overall, but there are some places that you will want to visit first. The art exhibition named “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” should be your starting point. You will be able to view the universe that Vincent Van Gogh created in 360 degrees. This is a unique experience augmented with sound and visual effects, as well as virtual reality features.
Moving from Chicago to NYC – Relocation process
You will need to go through a long-distance relocation process before you can settle in your new home. To make the most out of your time, here are the things that you may want to focus on:
- Create a moving checklist
- Plan your budget
- Hire a moving company
- Go through a decluttering process
Of course, every relocation is unique and you may have to deal with other matters as well. But for the most part, going through the above steps will form a solid base and allow for an efficient process.
Create a moving checklist
Speaking of efficiency, the first thing you will want to do is organize your efforts. Every move will have numerous tasks to complete and it might be hard to keep track of them. That is where a moving checklist comes in handy, as it will provide you with an easy way to organize your relocation. Simply write down every single task that comes to mind, updating as necessary. Furthermore, once you start completing the tasks and checking them off the list, you will experience a “morale boost” of sorts.
Plan your budget
With your checklist in hand, it is time to allocate funds to the relocation process. Setting a moving budget is important as it will allow you to know which services you can and cannot hire. This will save you a lot of time when comparing the top NYC movers and their services. While some deviations are usually necessary, you will want to stick to the budget as much as possible. Ideally, you will never stray from it but don’t be afraid to stretch it out a bit.
Hire a moving company when moving from Chicago to NYC
Long-distance relocations all but necessitate the use of a moving company and its services. However, there are hundreds of movers out there, all claiming to be the best ones for the job at hand. What you need to do is either conduct extensive research or get in touch with your moving matchmaker. That way, you will be sure that the moving assistance you hire is the right one for your situation. You will also want to book your movers as early as possible, as that has the potential to lower the price as well as guarantee the moving date of your choice.
Go through a decluttering process
Chances are that moving to NYC means moving into a smaller apartment. Even if that is not the case, you will still want to go through a decluttering process and not bring any items that will not see any use. Every house has plenty of those, items that are simply lying around “collecting dust”. You will want to identify them and donate, sell, or throw them away before you relocate. Not only will they inflate the cost of your move if you bring them with you, but they will also clutter your new home as well! Therefore, deal with them before moving from Chicago to NYC and you will have a much easier time.
Remember, with some help from Verified Movers, your relocation can be smooth and stress-free
Just like any interstate relocation, moving from Chicago to NYC can be troublesome and tiring if you are not prepared adequately. However, with some organizational skills and good movers at your side, you won’t have to lose a night’s sleep. Whether you are moving to NYC for a career change, a change in lifestyle, or another reason, we wish you the best of luck!