Moving from one state to another is always a challenging prospect. Moving from Georgia to Illinois is no different and you need to know what you’re “getting into” by undergoing such a relocation. To be able to make the best choice, you will need to observe the overall rankings of each state, climate differences, and the differences in the cost of living. Of course, you will also need to read up on interstate moving companies reviews Georgia has on offer to be able to select the best moving company for the job. Finally, you will need to prepare for the moving process itself. You can find all the necessary information right here, in this article!
Moving from Georgia to Illinois – State Rankings
Knowing the state rankings is quite important, as that will provide you with a general overview of what each state has to offer, its strengths, and potential weaknesses. You may even find that hiring one of the interstate moving companies Illinois has to offer might be in your best interest, due to economical differences between the states. It is always best to compare all the options at your disposal, after all.
Georgia rankings
The state of Georgia holds the #18 position in the overall state rankings, according to usnews.com. Georgia spans an area of 59,423 square miles, has a GDP of $626 Billion, with a population of around 10,620,000 people. Its capital is Atlanta and the median income in the state is about $31,000. Here are the full rankings:
- Health Care – #43
- Education – #26
- Economy – #12
- Infrastructure – #11
- Opportunity – #13
- Fiscal Stability – #11
- Crime/Corrections – #29
- Natural Environment – #25
Furthermore, more than 40% of Georgia citizens are college educated. Now, let’s take a look at Illinois.
Illinois rankings
The first thing that we notice is that Illinois is lagging behind Georgia in overall rankings, taking the #30 spot. Illinois spans a similar area to Georgia, at almost 58,000 square miles. However, Illinois “beats” Georgia in both the GDP ($886 Billion), population (12,670,000), and median income ($35,000). The capital of Illinois is Springfield. Here are the full rankings for Illinois:
- Health Care – #23
- Education – #11
- Economy – #39
- Infrastructure – #26
- Opportunity – #12
- Fiscal Stability – #50
- Crime/Corrections – #16
- Natural Environment – #43
As you can see from the individual rankings, the worst issues in Illinois are fiscal stability, infrastructure, and the economy. However, the possibility of a higher median income and a larger GDP serve as a strong counterbalance. The fact that there is a higher income potential in Illinois is what makes most people want to relocate to the state. Thus, it is no wonder that Verified Movers get requests for moving from Georgia to Illinois on a daily basis. Now that you are familiar with the rankings, let’s move on to the second point: Climate differences.
Moving from Georgia to Illinois – Climate differences
On average, you can expect Georgia to be a bit hotter than Illinois. The average temperature in Georgia is around 64°F whereas the average temperature in Illinois is closer to 52°F. The largest differences are in the winter months (January and December in particular) while the temperatures in July are almost the same between both states. For example, the maximum temperature in Georgia is 91°F while it is 86°F in Illinois. Overall, you will want to prepare a bit more for the winter while you can expect your summer wardrobe to remain more or less the same. This may allow you to deduct moving expenses on clothing, as you are not going to need any significant changes. Next up, let’s take a look at the differences in the cost of living.
Cost of living differences
Overall, you will be happy to know that living in Illinois is about 3.7% cheaper than living in Georgia, on average. But there are some things that are more expensive in Illinois. For example, you can expect to pay about 1.5% more for restaurants, about 7.7% more for transportation, and around 9% more for sports and entertainment.
But you will find significant savings in groceries (9.1%), housing (12.8%), childcare (14%), and clothing (8.2%). Depending on your lifestyle, these differences can amount to quite a significant amount. It is always best if you do your research beforehand, though, as prices in individual cities within the state of Illinois may vary. This leads us to our next point.
Finding an ideal neighborhood
Every state has a plethora of places that you can relocate to. It may not be ideal to relocate to the capital city or even one of the largest cities. What you need to do is spend some time figuring out what your needs and requirements are and then apply them to each neighborhood you are considering. The more time you are able to devote to this task, the better. Some of the things you will want to pay close attention to are the safety ratings, economical potential, proximity to large trade centers, and general “vibe” of the area. Ideally, you will also want to visit your new home-to-be at least once before the relocation. Talk to some of the locals and see what they have to say about your new neighborhood.
If you really want to make sure that your new neighborhood is an ideal fit, try living there for a week or two.
The moving process
Once you do decide that moving from Georgia to Illinois is going to happen, you will need to prepare for the relocation process. The first thing to do is to find the best moving company for the job, something that Verified Movers can help you with. After that, you will need to prepare a moving checklist, obtain packing supplies, pack fragile items for the move, etc. If you need any additional information on the moving process, check out the rest of our website or talk to your movers directly. The more tips and tricks you can learn, the easier the relocation will become! Good luck!