lol no it's not. It's 38 min on the purple line express alone from evanston, before including walking/wait time. Takes me about a half hour to take the red line from lakeview once wait and wait time are taken in.

Getting in and out of chicago from the burbs is pure aids. Traffic is ****ing terrible.

NOLA COL seems way less than Chicago, especially if you're going to live in uptown instead of the french quarter.

Uptown seemed like a great spot for a young family, but the only way I end up in NOLA is if I get into Tulane but not UIC. Kids maybe 3rd or 4th year and with an MD I'll be able to live wherever I please.

And if you haven't been here in a year or two, the CBD (Downtown), Warehouse District, and various areas Uptown have improved immeasurably. Just a lot more business and redevelopment going on all over the place in high profile areas.

lets not get too optimistic. city is still below sea level and the mississippi river.

The city is very affordable for 20 somethings or young families as far as major US cities go though.

OK, Metra's 20-30 to-and-from Evanston, 18-25 relative to Oak Park. Shoot me.

Beats a lot of good school districts with diversity's access to more recreational portions of cities without taking out a $750k+ mortgage.

Don't get me wrong. I'd much rather raise a family in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square or even Hyde Park than the burbs. OP/Evanston will be absolute last resorts, whereas staying in another city I love, NOLA proper, would be much more difficult with pre-teens.

I am sort of curious about his wife's family who lives in a $750k house but doesn't make enough to really enjoy living here apparently.

Edit: Nvm, he said the pothole was in a nice neighorhood not that it was his family's place.

On a train that runs every 40 minutes to an hour after 7pm. That train is for commuting and not much else. Purple line is the standard way to get from evanston to chicago.

And my cursory glances into NOLA + living in chicago with makes it really, REALLY hard to believe it's cheaper to live in chicago.

Salary.com says 100k in Chicago is the same as 79k in New Orleans, so I have no idea where the 750k mortgage and not happy is coming from.

Regardless, the only way I'm staying in New Orleans if I like it there as a student, so w/e.

I think you're confusing a sentence or two of mine with pvn's posts.

I said: "NOLA is suuuuuuuper cheap to live and have quite a leisurely life. But I'm in Chicago, so maybe changes my outlook"; adding "but now that I'm within two or three years of hopefully being a father, [crappy schools are] my concern."

So what was once a dream of living in NOLA is now a place where I would feel more limited in my options to raise a family and enjoy what love so much about NOLA. My future sister-in-law lives a block from Washington Square Park. If I were a good 3+ years from marriage, I'd live there in a heartbeat because it's more fun with more convenience for less money without the consequence of dealing with the school system. Five months from marriage, I wouldn't invest any money in a primary residence there.

Just gotta be a baws and ship em on up to boarding school in New England

why did elt.b.us leave?

i liked him

Youtube is awesome

he self banned during horrible sports months

maybe he wants to do crazy stuff like work on his career or strengthen interpersonal relationships

The presence of Bourbon Street, super lax liquor laws and every vice imaginable does not correlate well with a city that is good for raising a family imo. But maybe that is just me. GOAT to visit and/or live as a 20-something though.

Vegas tho

Never in a million years would I have thought NOLA was an expensive place to live. I completely assume a 50k salary goes a long way there.

In Memphis you could probably buy a 3000 square foot home with that salary since its a cess pit.

People sleep on the Midwest in these discussions. Places like Indianapolis, Columbus and Pittsburgh all have strong economies and great quality of life. A nice 4 bedroom house in a nice neighborhood costs like $300k. There are plenty of great schools. Restaurants aren't NYC quality but there are plenty of great places to eat. Taxes are pretty low and transportation is not a problem.

You mean the flyovers?

I have enjoyed this discussion of all cities a few empty tiers below Portland

I grew up in a 4500 sq/ft. 22k lot 5br 6.5 bath 325k house that sold for 400 5yrs ago in a virtual crime free top10 public school system in the country

If you can get over the lol weather and lack of mountains/lakes/oceans I think you are insane not to consider midwest to raise a family

My #1 for various reasons would be a circle with a 20 min radius around ann arbor.

Obviously biased but the Midwest is pretty great in terms of COL.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/59...turbo-1297725/

NOLA is pretty gross.