Chicago's rising unemployment rate, expensive gas, high population density and relatively poor air quality create a perfect storm of stress, according to Forbes magazine, which has ranked the city the most stressful in the United States. New York is No.2.
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I can well believe this finding. Most of the people in Chicago either are or know someone who is a member of the New 4 H Club -- bankrupted by Hospital costs, Housing costs, Health care costs or Higher education costs.
And the worst of these problems is Housing costs. The total lack of affordable housing is not only what has driven many working people to virtual bankruptcy. It also has prevented the jobs that the city so desperately needs from being created. Nobody can afford to hire a work force that will have to live in high cost housing. This is what is putting so many of us out of our jobs and just one temporary assignment away from being on the street.
It seems that it will not matter who is elected -- there is no apparent way to push aside the men of money who have managed to buy all of the influence there is to be had in our country. We might be the worst now but soon everyone is going to be in the same boat that we are -- it just might take them a little longer to get there because they have a little less corruption.
In the city of Chicago, where the developers rule and ridiculous high rises for foreign millionaires take precedence over modest middle and low income housing construction for the city's people, the conversion from democracy to plutocracy seems to be both complete and irreversible.
Yes I agree, this city is very stressful. I am a white male married to a black woman and we are constantly threaten and harassed by black men. My life has been threatened at least 40 times in the last ten years and its always by an angry racist black man. We have never once had a problem with whites being racist, whites are very polite. I am going to leave this city, its only a matter of time before a racist black man kills me because of my marriage and because I am a strong white man. I ve noticed black men hate strong white men who are not afraid of them and are physically bigger and stronger than them. Yes, I ve also already been shot at because of my skin color, I ve had a gun pulled on me at least time times. Why do black men have so much hate in them directed at white men?
Regards
I read the article. It says, "... in a city where everybody drives to get around...". That's not true. I almost never drive. Most people I know in the city don't drive much either. I guess they must be thinking of the suburbs?
If New York wasn't the most stressfull city when Forbes did their survey, what about now with the hit on its leading industry "financial services"? Or how about the brush fires and high gas prices and dwindling house values in L.A., the hurricane damage in Houston or the cratering of the auto industry in Detroit?
Chicago seems positively serene by comparison.
Hey let's not forget the "out of control crime" in the city, all the patronage jobs that the city and county doll out...but hey, here's the upside (our Alderman are working for the people) foi gras is now back on the menu, yee haa!!!
Hey let's not forget the "out of control crime" in the city, all the patronage jobs that the city and county doll out...but hey, here's the upside (our Alderman are working for the people) foi gras is now back on the menu, yee haa!!!
Dont forget thanks to Cook County, we also have the highest taxes in the country.
Chicago is a great city but it seems like I am always stressed out about something. The majority of the time I am stressed out about the CTA. Like yesterday for example. I had to wait for 45 minutes in the Loop for a Brown Line train that wasn't crammed to the hilt with people in every single car. To make matters worse they were only running trains with 4 stinking cars. What are all the delays and construction for to improve capacity if they're not going to take advantage of it? And during a busy travel time? I just don't get it. Thank God for Ipods or I would be in jail because of my temper. If the flipping CTA was improved I think I would be a lot more calm.
Was that a typo? NYC was second in stress and Chicago #1?
Impossible. We live in Manhattan and frequently visit Chicago to get away from this place. For us, O'Hare is a destination, not a layover point.
NYC is totally uncivilized and unlivable, and seems to get worse each day. The place is overcrowded, dirty, expensive and pervaded with many other issues that I can't put in print. True, we are in Chicago as visitors and cannot speak firsthand about rush hours and other daily problems. However, we would live in Chicago if our careers would permit us to relocate.
Hang in there.
I do not agree with this at all, especially with New York coming in at #2. Come on, the cost of housing in Chicago is no where near that of New York. Shouldn't this also be a significant factor to happiness?
I'm happy because I can afford a 2 bedroom condo in a good area, (Andersonville), for $275K - and I don't drive, so gas prices are a mute point. This seems like a doomsday observation with very limited significant statistics behind it.
I Disagree! Most stressful?? Seriously? Has anyone stepped into Manhattan lately? Their streets are littered, overtaken by rats at night and the air quality leaves much to be desired. Relatively poor air quality...relative to where?? Tuscon? Admitted, the gas here is ridiculously expensive and the sales tax is near robbery, the traffic congestion is a nightmare, but I'm still not convinced we're a more stressful city to live in than NYC. Also, maybe another poll is due, after the news of the past few days of bloodshed on Wall St. Sunny days, relative air quality, home prices and the price of a gallon of gasoline are all good measures but don't adequately reflect the relative merits of living in each of the cities cited in the study. But that's just like..my opinion. ~ Ambrish
Not to mention: High Sales Tax, Increased Crime, and Police and Political scandals.
I love the city, but can't disagree this year.
Yes, chicago can be a stressful city, especially when you finished school in 2005 and have been looking for a job non-stop for the last 5 straight months. This economy has gone insane, i have never thought it was going to be this hard when you reach your adult age.
Yes, I would have to agree Chicago is a stressful place. It used to be nice but not with the high taxes, expensive gas, gangs, graffiti, panhandlers, and unemployment rates.
I completely agree. It costs my husband and I $600 a month to drive back and forth to work in gas and we spend at least 2 hrs a day communting to work due to all the construction projects and congested highways. Public transportation is slow and unreliable. Don't forget the 10.25% sales tax we saddled with. Thanks Todd Stroger for that one.
Silly me! And all this time I've been thinking Chicago was a great place to live.
Of course I believe this. Over the years I have seen things change - and not really for the better.
Over population, lack of parking, cameras everywhere, stop signs every block or 2, loss of apartment dwellings(except for the well off), increased taxes,
police monitoring, shootings, closing of businesses(except in the well off areas), public transportation.
ALL of these things have increased in negative issues in the last 30 years.
I am sure others have increased happiness with the changes that were geared toward these persons. Guess it all depends on which side of the coin you are on.
How could a city in the midwest, with its laid back people, be more stressful than NYC? I travel to New York regularly, and just the buzz and energy of the city is much higher (in good and bad ways). Definitely more stressful.
I consider Chicago to be New York without the hassle and without New Yorkers. There is an abundance of things to do, places to visit, and foods to eat. Too much government, for sure, and taxes are out of hand, but take away government, and this is a great place.
At last ... a validation ... now I know it's not just my imagination.
I'm from NYC growing up was very tuff. I'm now on the southside and the crime here is just crazy people are afriad of the kids no jobs and public service is worst than anything I've taken in NY. But the mayor get's very little heat, and jobs are still given to the big shot kids. The midwest is the jewel of the country you have oil here coal, corn trains the main airport. What going on?
Hey just got back from New York city and I can tell You now that New Yorkers walk alot more there.Which is the reason I feel less stressed Now. I'm wondering how long it will be before I get back into the Windy City (Chi-town)stress land ?
I love these articles, the sort of crap you see everyday on MSN; what cities are fattest, what cities have the greasiest food, what cities are cheapest, healthiest and on and on. Its a bunch of useless criteria and basically infer we should all move. Its almost as valid as when they talk about most accidents happening within 5 miles of your home. As for me, I question the value of Forbes magazine. Surely there must be something more relevant they can be writing. How about a feature about the stupidest and most irrelevant magazines....hey, Forbes could win that distinction...and how much better is the Tribune for publishing un-newsworthy bs like this?
I spent a few days in lower Manhattan (hotel directly across the street from Twin Towers former site). I found NYC to be dirty, traffic was crowded, sidewalks were crowded, it felt like a stressful place to live/work. I don't experience Chicago like that at all, except for the area around the financial district/prison, where the energy is stifling, just walking through the area.
Something about knowing you cannt defend yourself make life in Chicago stressful. On top of that you have leaders who are well protected who will not give you to right to protect yourself.
I recently retired from my job in Chicago and moved to Wisconsin. While I miss friends and all the activities that the city has to offer, the relief from stress was almost instantaneous. Every trip in the car was an excursion into terror, avoiding cabs and people behind the wheel fueled on caffeine or alcohol and talking on cell phones. On every block you were stepping over homeless people, being accosted by homeless people soliciting money or mentally ill people screaming at everything and anyone. City politics were frustrating and at times infuriating. I have still not forgiven Mayor Daley for treating me and other Chicaoans like imbeciles in declaring that Cook County President Stroger (Sr.) was just fine after his stroke! Add to all that the daily shootings and violent crimes. Life here in Green Acres is less exciting but it is, without question, much calmer. Somehow, a soccer mom running over my mailbox doesn't match up to the daily challenges of life in Chicago.
I'm not stressed.
IMHO this is a pretty shallow article. So the only criteria that matter in determining "stress" are gas prices, housing prices, population density and pollution? Seriously?
I agree with gas prices, but their description of Chicago as a "city where everyone drives" just shows that whomever wrote this has obviously never even been here. Ever hear of the CTA? I guess no one who writes for Forbes takes the train.....
And population density? Why exactly is that a bad thing? What is the "ideal" population density, a cottage in the woods? Some people (myself included) prefer a dense urban environment.
Bad, bad article. 4 parameters are not enough to rate something as nebulous as "stress."
"House Passes Rules Easing D.C. Gun Restriction.
The bill passed easily, 266-152, with supporters saying they were determined to give D.C. residents the same Second Amendment right of self-defense that has been available to other Americans."
Hey! Maybe one day Chicago will be part of America too! I'll be a lot less stressed then.
I'll agree to that and highest tax 10.25%. Il gov. is a mess and I voted Whitney -Independent, for Gov.as both parties are a let down. Daley's great but far too fouced on 2016. The rest are letting Com Ed. and taxes drive us under. CTA is always a mess as well.
As usual, the sum of (dubious) factors does not equal the correct conclusion.
I can't imagine how Chicago or any other Midwest city could be close to being as stressful as New York City, which has a palpapble energy and buzz (for good and bad) that cannot be matched by anywhere else I have ever been. I travel to NYC quite often and would not compare the stress level there to anywhere else. The friendly, open, more laid back attitude of people in Chicago is more significant than any other factor.(Are gas prices really a significiant stress factor? If we paid .30 less per gallon would our stress level be lower? No. Quality of air? No.) Density, noise, concept of personal space, friendliness, patience of residents. These are much more significant factors.
This will really help the olympics coming to Chicago! Stress, wow.
Clearly Forbes has never been to Detroit, D.C., Philly or any where in Southern California.
Rising unemployment, gang wars and violence, school and political wars and-- depending upon your community-blatant poverty, Chicago sure seems like the nations most stressful city, to me.
I have travelled in the past to many metropolitan cities. Throughout my travels, I continued to exercise--runnining and powerwalking--freely, as if I was a resident of those communities. In retrospect, noone harassed, harangued, physically assaulted or threatened me to "stay out" of their community, or away form their turf, like many Chicagoans do here.
"Turf?", I thought we lived in a free country. CTA ridership has become so stressful that the REDEYE devotes an entire daily column to it. Apparently, CTA's customers are dissatisfied with certain elements who patronize its buses and trains. Life in the fastlane is, apparently, no paradise. The pressure of surviving in this big city seems to be stressing out practically everyone--children, as well as adults!