Illinois has it all. If you love the outdoors, big cities, or both, you are sure to find a place that’s perfect for you within the state. It’s a great place for sports fans, hikers and urbanites alike. Whether the spread of available Chicago Apartments or all the great state parks on offer have you curious about moving to the state, here’s some information to know before you get there.

The Climate

They call Chicago the Windy City for a reason. Many parts of the state are like that as well. The breeze blowing off Lake Michigan is the cause of the wind, but don’t think that stops the people of Illinois from enjoying themselves outside as many of the state’s parks, such as Beaver Dam or Castle Rock.

Here you’ll find the typical warm summers and cold winters you’d expect. Spring and Fall are considered the nicest times of year for outside activities but remember, as they say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. 

There are more thunderstorms than the U.S. average, so you keep a raincoat in the car or close by on the hiking trails.

Taxes

Not a fun subject but something important for everyone to consider when moving to another state. Sad to report, but taxes, on average, are higher than what you might find elsewhere. Property tax and income tax are both some of the highest in the country with property taxes alone being nearly double the U.S. average.

Some better news with taxes is that retirement income is almost completely exempt from taxes which could be a great benefit depending on what part of life you are in when you are planning your move to the Prairie State.

It’s A State Known for Sports

Regardless of sport, there’s often a rural/urban divide for who you root for and it often doesn’t follow state lines. For baseball, the White Sox get most of their attention from those living in Chicago while the Cubs get much of their love from the northern Illinoisians. The southerners in Illinois themselves tend to love the St. Louis Cardinals.

Hockey is also more popular here than it is in other midwestern states. Those in the north love the Blackhawks, as you’d expect, and those in the south follow the same trend as baseball and often root for the St. Louis Blues.

They Are Known For Their Local Delicacies

When looking at what to eat in Chicago, two things come to everyone’s mind, the pizza and the hot dogs. Chicago Deep Dish is a style known worldwide and a pizza like nothing else. Don’t think it’s just something in the city either, wherever you are in Illinois, if you see it on the menu, order it. 

Getting a hotdog Chicago-style means something to the locals. It’s a classic and served a certain way, with no ketchup. Typically the normal Chicago-style fixings include mustard (most importantly), onions, relish, and more.