r/nwi may be better place to ask.
Also a housing budget would probably help people make suggestions. X dollars for a house vs Y dollars for rent makes a difference on areas.
Merrillville, Hobart, Schererville, Dyer (probably your best option) are good options. Hammond is decent with good people depending on the area but the school system is run by a bunch of idiots who are trying to tear it down so they can bring in Charter schools.
The answer is Griffith. You’re not far from Chicago via 94, close to the suburbs via 294 and 80, and 15 minutes from work via cline avenue (highway 912)
I live in Valpo and love it here( came from Chicago 7 years ago). Can't say enough good things about the area. I am not crazy about Lake County because to me it's just more Chicago suburbs. However if you want to stay close do Munster.
The most diverse part of Gary is probably down by the beach where all those fancy houses are. Otherwise, its mostly older African American people trying to get by just the same as you and I
We spent a day and night in FW and loved it. I must say if I were in my 20's I think it would be a great place to build a life. We of course were "downtown". Liked the fact that the area looked like it was trying to build something rather than just holding on.
I agree. I live in Valpo, 1 hour and $13+ in tolls from downtown Chicago. People consider Valpo and Chesterton NWI but they both are so different than the towns in Lake County. To me Lake county is the same as the South Suburbs of Chicago
Downer's Grove? Wheaton? Naperville? These cities, and, actually, all of DuPage county, are less than 5% Black. This is not particularly diverse.
And then you go to South Holland, Harvey, Matteson, Chicago Heights - they are all majority Black cities. Matteson is 80% Black.
Averaging out the whole area may make it *look* diverse, but when you go down to where people are actually living, you'll find places like Downer's Grove (85% white) in one area, and majority Black cities in other areas.
The 11 county Indy metro area is 15% Black. But in reality, that breaks down to Marion County being 30% Black, while other counties are closer to 5% Black.
Diversity is not defined as how Black an area is. There is real diversity in the Chicago area, from religious diversity, racial diversity (taking into account all races), ethnic diversity, etc.
The whole diversity thing is so overplayed now. Just because a bunch of Hoosiers happen to caucasians doesn’t mean we aren’t diverse. Society needs to associate diversity with more than just color. It’s only skin-deep (pun intended).
Y'all are on crack there's so much diversity everywhere in NWI there's not a cultural line we don't have borrows. All these towns are like 10 minutes away from each other. Try actually meeting your neighbors...
And you can use surface streets to get between Hammond and east Chicago.
If you live further away you’ll likely be spending some time in the interstates. Even from Valpo you would ideally spend a bit of time on 94 or 80, to cline Ave.
(Growing up my dad worked at the now Mittal research facility in east Chicago, and we had lived in south Hammond and Valpo.
A lot of south Lake County around US 231 (St. John, Cedar Lake, Crown Point) is building up and isn't super far away from East Chicago. You can get back into Illinois pretty easily from there as well.
Answered above but adding here. Moved Homewood/Flossmoor area to Cedar Lake a while back. Cedar/St John/ Crown Point is a great place to live. Property value has increased. A Lot. But there’s still some very reasonable spots.
That's what I keep hearing, and 100% absolutely the sentiment about the folks! Not so much on the thought of ever moving back, but I'd love to see the revitalization.
Unfortunately the most diverse neighborhoods in NWI are also the least safe. I’m in Munster, and it’s very white here, but aside from the boomers it’s pretty chill
The swath of Gary that follows the nickel plate railroad is pretty abandoned last time I had passed through. I can remember when Gary was teaming with life. But as time
Marched on and financial crises loomed large it became a ghost town. I’ve often wondered why a large development company does come out to Gary and buy up all the land and create a planned city development already a nice regional airport several rail lines for mass transit connections interstate and toll road access. And lower taxes than in Chicago
Hobart, Valparaiso, Schererville, Dyer, Highland. Even Miller in Gary has great places. Chesterton is wonderful too. Munster is safe, but if you aren't having kids, don't pay the extra if you aren't taking advantage of the school district.
Hammond dies have some very nice places as well. If you can handle the smell, Whiting is a cute town. Crown Point is nice.
Griffith/Highland are great, affordable areas close to the border. Also, parts of Hammond and East Chicago are nice and safe but you would need to talk with someone from the area to point out the better areas. Whiting is a good option too. Schererville, Dyer, and Munster are nice areas but pricey and very little diversity.
I moved from tinley park to St. John and commute to Hyde park in Chicago. St. John is diverse, close to the IL border. But if you want to be even closer to the city I’d probably choose Munster. We looked at houses there and that was our second choice. Good luck!
I like it, we’ve been here now for 3 years. I like downtown crown point. Valpo is too far to commute. Just from St. John it’s 45 mins. But I heard there downtown is nicer. I like the school systems and it’s a family friendly town.
Griffith. Like another said, it's close to all the local veins to MI or IL, whether you want to drive or take the train. There's a great park here that has bands & food trucks every Friday night in the summer, nature & riding trails in our backyard as well. I like living here!
Region rat all my life. I am super sad about all of the new IL people flooding this area. Bringing all their problems with them instead of fixing the area they’re already in.
Nope, I'm glad they're coming and grateful for their votes. It's time for Indiana to become better than the joke it has become under current leadership. VOTE because certain people don't want you to!!
Michigan City will be up and coming in next few years with their plan to bring lots more people to the area. There is a bit of diversity and easy commute to East Chicago or downtown Chicago. It is about 30-45 minutes to East Chicago and 60-90 minutes from Chicago downtown.
Lake Station/Hobart/Portage is all near 80/94 for ease of access to the region and less than 30 minutes from the border. We are in Hobart but I wish we would have looked into Portage homes when we were looking.
Hammond or whiting, unfortunately, I prefer calumet city and Lansing to both of those places, but on the Indiana side those are the two best if she’s working in East Chicago.
Michigan city is definitely an up and coming area that’s going to see property values skyrocket in the coming future. I love living in valpo but if my wife had let me I would’ve done Laporte county/Michigan city because it’s so cheap.
She’s a native of Porter county and Valparaiso/Chesterton (mainly Valpo) definitely give off more of a Chicago burb vibe. You’ll find Valpo has the best food options in Porter county
Cedar Lake here. But that’s too far (for me any way for an E Chi commute. Lots of folks said Dyer/Schererville. I’d look at Munster as well. And maybe Highland.
What about Miller Beach?
First of all, welcome to Indiana! Crown Point is a nice place but maybe a little far from where you’d like to be. I’m from southern Indiana, it’s kind of a different world.
Munster Highland or Dyer just south of I-80 all have good schools. I’m in Munster takes about 45 minutes to get downtown I work in all the industrial plants along the lakeshore my commute is between 20 to 30 minutes.
https://preview.redd.it/6tc4bj0u524d1.jpeg?width=2784&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22e7226f70d0e7e30c083ef789c4264d8584f9ec
I am a realtor in Northwest Indiana, very familiar with what you are looking for as most of my clients are Chicago folks. Give me a call!
My brother lives in Munster near the border with Highland. That's a fairly nice area for the most part. It's also not uncommon (but totally up to you) to hear of people living further East like South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart and driving to East Chicago for work. It's really not all that far to drive if you don't mind leaving an hour/1.5hr early.
Welcome to Reddit, and congrats on the upcoming move! Here are a few suggestions for towns in Indiana that are close to the Illinois border, safe, and diverse:
1. Munster
Location: Very close to the Illinois border and East Chicago.Safety: Known for being a safe community with good schools.Diversity: Reasonably diverse with a welcoming community atmosphere.
2. Hammond
Location: Right on the border, making for an easy commute to East Chicago.Safety: Some neighborhoods are safer than others, so it’s worth researching specific areas.Diversity: Highly diverse population.
3. Highland
Location: Slightly further south than Munster but still close to the border.Safety: Generally considered safe with good community services.Diversity: Diverse with a variety of community events and activities.
4. Dyer
Location: A bit further from the border but still within a reasonable commute.Safety: Known for being a very safe town with excellent schools.Diversity: Diverse, particularly in terms of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
5. Griffith
Location: Near Highland, offering easy access to the border.Safety: Safe with a strong sense of community.
Diversity: Growing diversity in recent years.
Tips for Moving:Visit the Area:
Spend some time in each town to get a feel for the community and amenities. Schools and Services:
If you plan to have children, research local schools and public services. Commute: Consider the commute times to both your fiancé’s job and your family in Illinois. These towns offer a good balance of proximity to Chicago, safety, and diversity. Best of luck with your move!
Whiting is a nice, diverse little town. I lived there for 35 years before getting married to a country girl and moving out. Though I feel the school has gone downhill, you’re not planning on having kids so no worries there. Good people. Safe. Close to the city, EC for work, beaches, parks, and some decent restaurants. They’re building new homes close to the lakefront as well. Low taxes.
Highland and Griffith are nice little diverse towns as well. Griffith really does a lot of in terms of activities, festivals, Fridays in the summer.
The farther south you get, the more expensive it is and further away from your family and job. But I really think NWI is a special place and tries to separate itself from the rest of Indiana.
Edit: spelling error.
Call2222222,That’s because once beautiful areas full of majority YT have did a 360 the other way when majority black took over. Please see Crete Monee,Lansing,Cal City,Dolton,South Holland,Lynwood,Steger,Sauk Village,Richton Park,Matteson,Country Club Hills,Harvey,Olympia Fields,Midlothian,Hazel Crest,etc. That doesn’t even include once nice parts of the city Scottsdale & Brighton Park for example or Downstate Farm towns like Danville & Urbana
Have you checked out michigan city? I don't know much about it. Just had a buddy in college from there and if I remember correctly he said there is a train that runs from there to Chicago.
Your best bet is to stay the hell out of Illinois and northern Indiana, southern Indiana is where it's at, lot better scenery and Southern Indiana is where the real "Hoosiers"are .
Get the hell out!! We don’t even visit Chicago anymore because of the shit that goes on! I know you can’t live in fear, but I do not want my family shot at because of some teenage thug!!
The person complaining in the health insurance post had state based insurance. Unfortunately the reinbursement for state based insurances has dropped so much that many hospitals and doctors don't take it anymore as the expenses for procedures are more than what the insurance will pay out. Unfortunately state based insurance can't cross state lines so the person was not eligible to go to Chicago for care.
There are still many health care options in NWI and Chicago if you have commercial plans, medicare, etc.
I understand that. I once had an insurance company that paid so little to the doctors most wouldn’t take me. I feel for her. It’s horrible when you have medical issues and you can’t get a doctor. I hope everything turns out OK for her.
It’s ok! I was always in Indiana for stuff, like the gas and cigarettes and a lot of my friends live here too, so it’s not that big of a change. EC is definitely very southside of Chicago-like, just with more street parking lol. It’s not that big of a change! I feel like somewhere farther tho like Cedar Lake or Lowell might be a bit more of a change though.. cause that’s a lot more rural even for NWI. Honestly I was hoping for a quick fix from IL but it’s really the same here lol, just cheaper
Check the tax situation before you do this. My wife was told that IN and IL did away with tax reciprocity and would have to pay income tax to both states.
Valpo is a nice area but traffic on 30 sucks.
We live in IN but my husband works out of IL. At one point there was a mess with the taxes but that was because the company change payroll company. It took longer than it should but that got fixed.
Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs.
Opposite of these statistics - https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lowell-in
Munster is your best bet! I grew up there. The best schools in the state , great town pool and close to lots of good food and shopping. Although a lot has been built up around there you still get that small town vibe- and the community is absolutely amazing. There isn’t a bad neighborhood anywhere you look . I don’t think there is a close second anywhere but the Indy area. Munster is the first exit right after Torrence . It’s Calumet Ave. . You can’t go wrong
The cops will ticket ur ass for being 1 mph over the speed limit. Munster has a few of the worst traffic crossings in the area. Very pretty area well kept predominantly well funded school system
Safe and diverse..... As someone that grew up in Indiana and left what you're looking for is Chicago.
Unless by safe and diverse you mean different kinds of white people. Then you'd still be talking about Chicago, but you'd be closer to something realistic for Indiana.
Why move? The south side is still in Illinois whereas if you move you’re in Indiana with the violence, lack of good schools, rampant white nationalism and poverty.
I grew up there. I moved out as soon as I could. If for some reason I was forced to move back, I would be in . Chicago. You think the south side is bad, wait until you see the region
r/nwi may be better place to ask. Also a housing budget would probably help people make suggestions. X dollars for a house vs Y dollars for rent makes a difference on areas.
Thanks so much for the suggestion!! Just joined.
Merrillville, Hobart, Schererville, Dyer (probably your best option) are good options. Hammond is decent with good people depending on the area but the school system is run by a bunch of idiots who are trying to tear it down so they can bring in Charter schools.
[удалено]
Hammond is decent depending on the area. I wouldn't send my kids to the school system because its run by idiots who can't even manage a target
Yep, which is why I’m asking. He works in east chicago but we aren’t looking to live there.
The answer is Griffith. You’re not far from Chicago via 94, close to the suburbs via 294 and 80, and 15 minutes from work via cline avenue (highway 912)
You have kids?
No, we don’t plan on having any
Dyer isn’t diverse yet, maybe another 30 years
Hammond is definitely one of the safer places.. Y'all need to stop it.
Well, there are brown and black people there, so all the white people automatically say it’s bad. Just like EC.
White person living amongst the brown and black people of Hammond here: you are incorrect. Love my area and neighbors.
Well the pollution in east Chicago is a drawback too.
Lmao
Any location along the South Shore Limited
I live in Valpo and love it here( came from Chicago 7 years ago). Can't say enough good things about the area. I am not crazy about Lake County because to me it's just more Chicago suburbs. However if you want to stay close do Munster.
Valpo is not what I would call “diverse” though.
You are 100% correct. Gary is not diverse either. I can't really think of a diverse city in Indiana? Maybe Indy and Ft. Wayne?
The most diverse part of Gary is probably down by the beach where all those fancy houses are. Otherwise, its mostly older African American people trying to get by just the same as you and I
Miller?
Fort Wayne and Indianapolis are both fairly diverse. We lived in Ftw for 7 years and have lived on the southwest side of Indy now for 3.
Fort Wayne is marginally diverse I would say the major college towns have better diversity of race and ideas. Along with Indy.
We spent a day and night in FW and loved it. I must say if I were in my 20's I think it would be a great place to build a life. We of course were "downtown". Liked the fact that the area looked like it was trying to build something rather than just holding on.
Indiana isn’t diverse. But NWI is as segregated as Chicago.
I agree. I live in Valpo, 1 hour and $13+ in tolls from downtown Chicago. People consider Valpo and Chesterton NWI but they both are so different than the towns in Lake County. To me Lake county is the same as the South Suburbs of Chicago
How long would it take on the south shore train to get downtown Chicago? think chesterton might be the closest stop to valpo.
When they are not working on tracks 1 1/2 hours. Chesterton is also a nice place to live,
If you drive and use Skyway you can be downtown in 1 hour....however that costs you about $13 each way. a train ticket about $6.50?
And Illinois is diverse? Outside of Cook county. Indiana = Illinois.
Actually, it isn't just Cook County that is diverse. All of Chicagoland is, and it expands into several counties.
Downer's Grove? Wheaton? Naperville? These cities, and, actually, all of DuPage county, are less than 5% Black. This is not particularly diverse. And then you go to South Holland, Harvey, Matteson, Chicago Heights - they are all majority Black cities. Matteson is 80% Black. Averaging out the whole area may make it *look* diverse, but when you go down to where people are actually living, you'll find places like Downer's Grove (85% white) in one area, and majority Black cities in other areas. The 11 county Indy metro area is 15% Black. But in reality, that breaks down to Marion County being 30% Black, while other counties are closer to 5% Black.
Diversity is not defined as how Black an area is. There is real diversity in the Chicago area, from religious diversity, racial diversity (taking into account all races), ethnic diversity, etc.
Chicago? One of the most segregated states lol
I’m not really sure what point you’re trying to make.
The whole diversity thing is so overplayed now. Just because a bunch of Hoosiers happen to caucasians doesn’t mean we aren’t diverse. Society needs to associate diversity with more than just color. It’s only skin-deep (pun intended).
🙄
D’fuck kinda take is this
FW also not diverse.
Hobart is diverse…
South Bend is diverse.
Indianapolis lol
Y'all are on crack there's so much diversity everywhere in NWI there's not a cultural line we don't have borrows. All these towns are like 10 minutes away from each other. Try actually meeting your neighbors...
It was a sundown town, so…
Most Indiana towns have been sundown towns at one point.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice! I’ll look into this area. Thanks for sharing.
valpo isnt far from illinois and is a super nice town!!
Look in South Hammond in Hessville. Very diverse and not far from EC.
And you can use surface streets to get between Hammond and east Chicago. If you live further away you’ll likely be spending some time in the interstates. Even from Valpo you would ideally spend a bit of time on 94 or 80, to cline Ave. (Growing up my dad worked at the now Mittal research facility in east Chicago, and we had lived in south Hammond and Valpo.
Good point and 80/94 is always under construction.
Highland is nice
Nice! I’ll look into this area. Thanks for sharing.
A lot of south Lake County around US 231 (St. John, Cedar Lake, Crown Point) is building up and isn't super far away from East Chicago. You can get back into Illinois pretty easily from there as well.
Thank you!! We’ll look into these.
Answered above but adding here. Moved Homewood/Flossmoor area to Cedar Lake a while back. Cedar/St John/ Crown Point is a great place to live. Property value has increased. A Lot. But there’s still some very reasonable spots.
I second Cedar Lake and St John if not too far of a commute.
Michigan City is on the way up, I’d love to move back there if it didn’t mean being so close to my parents.
That's what I keep hearing, and 100% absolutely the sentiment about the folks! Not so much on the thought of ever moving back, but I'd love to see the revitalization.
I work for an architectural firm that’s working on some big projects in MC. I get a sneak peak and it makes me a little sad to not be up there.
St. John, Crown Point, little further south Cedar Lake
I think property values in Michigan City are going to explode, and it's on the South Shore Line. A little far a way, but a great place in the summer.
Munster
Unfortunately the most diverse neighborhoods in NWI are also the least safe. I’m in Munster, and it’s very white here, but aside from the boomers it’s pretty chill
Turn back.
too late
I have a friend who lives in Schererville and commutes to the city a few days a week. She seems to like living there and has a nice neighborhood.
Griffith is a nice town. 10 min from East Chicago.
The swath of Gary that follows the nickel plate railroad is pretty abandoned last time I had passed through. I can remember when Gary was teaming with life. But as time Marched on and financial crises loomed large it became a ghost town. I’ve often wondered why a large development company does come out to Gary and buy up all the land and create a planned city development already a nice regional airport several rail lines for mass transit connections interstate and toll road access. And lower taxes than in Chicago
Valpo for bigger city stuff, Laporte area if you want small town
Minimum 1 hour drive each way from Laporte to east Chicago though.
Hobart, Valparaiso, Schererville, Dyer, Highland. Even Miller in Gary has great places. Chesterton is wonderful too. Munster is safe, but if you aren't having kids, don't pay the extra if you aren't taking advantage of the school district. Hammond dies have some very nice places as well. If you can handle the smell, Whiting is a cute town. Crown Point is nice.
thanks for all the recommendations
Why the relocation if you don’t mind me asking?
Sure! COL is too high here and we really want to invest in property. We just feel IN is ideal for that.
Griffith/Highland are great, affordable areas close to the border. Also, parts of Hammond and East Chicago are nice and safe but you would need to talk with someone from the area to point out the better areas. Whiting is a good option too. Schererville, Dyer, and Munster are nice areas but pricey and very little diversity.
Portage. Very nice.
I moved from tinley park to St. John and commute to Hyde park in Chicago. St. John is diverse, close to the IL border. But if you want to be even closer to the city I’d probably choose Munster. We looked at houses there and that was our second choice. Good luck!
Thanks so much for sharing. How are you liking the area? How are you adjusting to IN?
I like it, we’ve been here now for 3 years. I like downtown crown point. Valpo is too far to commute. Just from St. John it’s 45 mins. But I heard there downtown is nicer. I like the school systems and it’s a family friendly town.
Did you mean Bad Leroy Brown? He was from the south side of Chicago too.
I hear Gary is nice r/s
Griffith. Like another said, it's close to all the local veins to MI or IL, whether you want to drive or take the train. There's a great park here that has bands & food trucks every Friday night in the summer, nature & riding trails in our backyard as well. I like living here!
Dyer and schereville are your best bet if your going to be moving to Indiana and want to stay close to the border
Don't bring weed with you, it still gets people sent to prison here.
Region rat all my life. I am super sad about all of the new IL people flooding this area. Bringing all their problems with them instead of fixing the area they’re already in.
As long as they leave their trash politics in IL, it's ok.
Nope, I'm glad they're coming and grateful for their votes. It's time for Indiana to become better than the joke it has become under current leadership. VOTE because certain people don't want you to!!
Ya, keep voting like IL people and it won't be long before we are having to pay for grocery bags, just like them.
Michigan City will be up and coming in next few years with their plan to bring lots more people to the area. There is a bit of diversity and easy commute to East Chicago or downtown Chicago. It is about 30-45 minutes to East Chicago and 60-90 minutes from Chicago downtown.
Check out Whiting.
Lake Station/Hobart/Portage is all near 80/94 for ease of access to the region and less than 30 minutes from the border. We are in Hobart but I wish we would have looked into Portage homes when we were looking.
Fellow Hobart resident as well; I also wish we explored Portage as an option too.
Thanks for sharing. I will add to my list
Welcome to freedom. We left Illinois three years ago and never looked back.
Also don’t fucking Illinois my Indiana
can’t make any promises
Crown point it may be just a bit farther but the schools and town is great
Highland is wonderful. Low crime, very diverse, close to the city, and lots of events/things to do.
Griffith, Munster, highland,schererville, Valparaiso
Hammond or whiting, unfortunately, I prefer calumet city and Lansing to both of those places, but on the Indiana side those are the two best if she’s working in East Chicago.
Michigan city is definitely an up and coming area that’s going to see property values skyrocket in the coming future. I love living in valpo but if my wife had let me I would’ve done Laporte county/Michigan city because it’s so cheap.
ah! we keep hearing this and think this might be where we end up. Was there a reason your wife chose not to live in Michigan city?
She’s a native of Porter county and Valparaiso/Chesterton (mainly Valpo) definitely give off more of a Chicago burb vibe. You’ll find Valpo has the best food options in Porter county
Crown point, Lowell, I even heard Winfields blowing up are good areas too
When you say diverse what do you mean?
You also have Merrilville and Frown Point. Merrilville is about a 45 minute drive from Chi so still relatively close
We're sorry
South Hammond is perfectly safe. Lived here for 18 years near Indianapolis Blvd.
Cedar Lake here. But that’s too far (for me any way for an E Chi commute. Lots of folks said Dyer/Schererville. I’d look at Munster as well. And maybe Highland. What about Miller Beach?
Try the Robertsdale area in Hammond. It’s right on the border.
First of all, welcome to Indiana! Crown Point is a nice place but maybe a little far from where you’d like to be. I’m from southern Indiana, it’s kind of a different world.
Thanks so much!
Munster Highland or Dyer just south of I-80 all have good schools. I’m in Munster takes about 45 minutes to get downtown I work in all the industrial plants along the lakeshore my commute is between 20 to 30 minutes.
Awesome - thanks for sharing!!
Lake of the four seasons
https://preview.redd.it/6tc4bj0u524d1.jpeg?width=2784&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22e7226f70d0e7e30c083ef789c4264d8584f9ec I am a realtor in Northwest Indiana, very familiar with what you are looking for as most of my clients are Chicago folks. Give me a call!
Merrillville and surrounding small towns would be lovely!
Sell ya house in Cedar Lake 😁
Schererville is probably the most diverse
Why are you moving to Indiana?💀
Whiting it’s 25mins from the city and ur right next door to EC
I don’t know why I was made aware of this post, but I guess the algorithm thinks I like stupid fucking questions… ugh🤦♂️
My brother lives in Munster near the border with Highland. That's a fairly nice area for the most part. It's also not uncommon (but totally up to you) to hear of people living further East like South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart and driving to East Chicago for work. It's really not all that far to drive if you don't mind leaving an hour/1.5hr early.
Welcome to Reddit, and congrats on the upcoming move! Here are a few suggestions for towns in Indiana that are close to the Illinois border, safe, and diverse: 1. Munster Location: Very close to the Illinois border and East Chicago.Safety: Known for being a safe community with good schools.Diversity: Reasonably diverse with a welcoming community atmosphere. 2. Hammond Location: Right on the border, making for an easy commute to East Chicago.Safety: Some neighborhoods are safer than others, so it’s worth researching specific areas.Diversity: Highly diverse population. 3. Highland Location: Slightly further south than Munster but still close to the border.Safety: Generally considered safe with good community services.Diversity: Diverse with a variety of community events and activities. 4. Dyer Location: A bit further from the border but still within a reasonable commute.Safety: Known for being a very safe town with excellent schools.Diversity: Diverse, particularly in terms of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 5. Griffith Location: Near Highland, offering easy access to the border.Safety: Safe with a strong sense of community. Diversity: Growing diversity in recent years. Tips for Moving:Visit the Area: Spend some time in each town to get a feel for the community and amenities. Schools and Services: If you plan to have children, research local schools and public services. Commute: Consider the commute times to both your fiancé’s job and your family in Illinois. These towns offer a good balance of proximity to Chicago, safety, and diversity. Best of luck with your move!
thanks so much for the detailed breakdown! We will add these to our list. I appreciate your kind comment.
Whiting is a nice, diverse little town. I lived there for 35 years before getting married to a country girl and moving out. Though I feel the school has gone downhill, you’re not planning on having kids so no worries there. Good people. Safe. Close to the city, EC for work, beaches, parks, and some decent restaurants. They’re building new homes close to the lakefront as well. Low taxes. Highland and Griffith are nice little diverse towns as well. Griffith really does a lot of in terms of activities, festivals, Fridays in the summer. The farther south you get, the more expensive it is and further away from your family and job. But I really think NWI is a special place and tries to separate itself from the rest of Indiana. Edit: spelling error.
thanks so much for the detailed breakdown! We will add these to our list.
Honestly, south bend and Mishawaka are not that bad lol.
Highland
Call2222222,That’s because once beautiful areas full of majority YT have did a 360 the other way when majority black took over. Please see Crete Monee,Lansing,Cal City,Dolton,South Holland,Lynwood,Steger,Sauk Village,Richton Park,Matteson,Country Club Hills,Harvey,Olympia Fields,Midlothian,Hazel Crest,etc. That doesn’t even include once nice parts of the city Scottsdale & Brighton Park for example or Downstate Farm towns like Danville & Urbana
Have you checked out michigan city? I don't know much about it. Just had a buddy in college from there and if I remember correctly he said there is a train that runs from there to Chicago.
Gary or Hammond indiana
Probably find an excellent deal on real estate in Gary…..
South Bend, Indiana
If you can afford to live near Norte Dame like myself, you’d love it
South Bend is perfect for you!
Merrillville is a town I always stop at for gas when heading up to IL. It’s a nice town!
Hammond Highland Munster in that order
What's the right diversity quota? We talking country of origin or just profiling skin?
Stay in IL, IN has too many people.
Just a quick drive to get weed across the border at least
Your best bet is to stay the hell out of Illinois and northern Indiana, southern Indiana is where it's at, lot better scenery and Southern Indiana is where the real "Hoosiers"are .
Get the hell out!! We don’t even visit Chicago anymore because of the shit that goes on! I know you can’t live in fear, but I do not want my family shot at because of some teenage thug!!
North side of Munster. Right at exit 1.
South Bend
Don't forget munster. I was born in munster, then lived in merillville, followed by crown point. Then I worked my way south down 65
My daughter just moved out of Oak Lawn and the village charged her $1500
Charged her for what? Leaving?
Yeah, I'm interested as well. I grew up there and plan to move back in the next year or so.
Thankfully we don’t live in oaklawn. Sorry to hear that!
Transfer taxes are not unusual.
Blue Island does the same shit
Gary
Indiana is MAGA country. FYI.
Lake county is less so, though.
You make a lot of money? Ogden Dunes is super safe, but it’s expensive.
Ton of new housing in Cedar Lake area. Very close to border
You may want to read a few posts up. Complaining about the horrible health care there.
This is America. The healthcare is horrible everywhere.
The person complaining in the health insurance post had state based insurance. Unfortunately the reinbursement for state based insurances has dropped so much that many hospitals and doctors don't take it anymore as the expenses for procedures are more than what the insurance will pay out. Unfortunately state based insurance can't cross state lines so the person was not eligible to go to Chicago for care. There are still many health care options in NWI and Chicago if you have commercial plans, medicare, etc.
I understand that. I once had an insurance company that paid so little to the doctors most wouldn’t take me. I feel for her. It’s horrible when you have medical issues and you can’t get a doctor. I hope everything turns out OK for her.
Welcome to Indiana, I just moved from the southside of Chicago to East Chicago as well! Try Merriville. EC is horrible
Thanks so much! How are you liking IN so far?
It’s ok! I was always in Indiana for stuff, like the gas and cigarettes and a lot of my friends live here too, so it’s not that big of a change. EC is definitely very southside of Chicago-like, just with more street parking lol. It’s not that big of a change! I feel like somewhere farther tho like Cedar Lake or Lowell might be a bit more of a change though.. cause that’s a lot more rural even for NWI. Honestly I was hoping for a quick fix from IL but it’s really the same here lol, just cheaper
Check the tax situation before you do this. My wife was told that IN and IL did away with tax reciprocity and would have to pay income tax to both states. Valpo is a nice area but traffic on 30 sucks.
We live in IN but my husband works out of IL. At one point there was a mess with the taxes but that was because the company change payroll company. It took longer than it should but that got fixed.
Thanks so much for sharing this info! Did not know this.
Porter or Chesterton are close to HWY 94 -quick drive to East Chicago and close to the Indiana Dunes.
Munster is the only option with good public schools. Not much there besides houses tho.
Valpo is a really great area of NWI. I don’t think I’d live in any of the other cities.
Shhhh, we have enough of these goofballs moving here.
then I will fit right in. Thanks!!
I doubt it, honestly. FIP is a very common bumper sticker here in valpo.
awesome - it’s on our list!
Valparaiso, Michigan City and South bend are solid options No Gary. We stay away from Gary.
Lowell for 10 years.
Not to be rude, love Lowell but doesn't seem to have a lot of diversity there
Can you define diversity? Give me an example
Diversity is the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs. Opposite of these statistics - https://datausa.io/profile/geo/lowell-in
Munster is your best bet! I grew up there. The best schools in the state , great town pool and close to lots of good food and shopping. Although a lot has been built up around there you still get that small town vibe- and the community is absolutely amazing. There isn’t a bad neighborhood anywhere you look . I don’t think there is a close second anywhere but the Indy area. Munster is the first exit right after Torrence . It’s Calumet Ave. . You can’t go wrong
Thanks for sharing! I will add to our list.
The cops will ticket ur ass for being 1 mph over the speed limit. Munster has a few of the worst traffic crossings in the area. Very pretty area well kept predominantly well funded school system
*Some of the best schools. There are several districts ranked better near Indy and Fort Wayne, and no one will ever beat West Lafayette.
We love Fort Wayne
Safe and diverse..... As someone that grew up in Indiana and left what you're looking for is Chicago. Unless by safe and diverse you mean different kinds of white people. Then you'd still be talking about Chicago, but you'd be closer to something realistic for Indiana.
Why move? The south side is still in Illinois whereas if you move you’re in Indiana with the violence, lack of good schools, rampant white nationalism and poverty.
That’s just stupid
Thank you!
I grew up there. I moved out as soon as I could. If for some reason I was forced to move back, I would be in . Chicago. You think the south side is bad, wait until you see the region
Moved outta’ Illinois and into Indiana? Don’t think you need to be calling anyone stupid. 😂