Posted 12 months ago
3 MIN READ – An article recently published by Inc. points out that Chicago has remained the nation's top city for corporate relocation and expansions for ten years in a row. That fact alone should speak for itself, but the truth is there are many reasons why Chicago is a great place to work and live.
The following excerpt from Inc.'s article "What You Don't Know About Chicago: Chicago is ditching its reputation for crime, and becoming boss of the business world," counters the portrayal of Chicago crime that's often exacerbated in the media:
"The reality of crime in Chicago... is not what you might expect
Perception can contradict reality, especially when it comes to a city's reputation. Chicago is commonly associated with high levels of crime and considered a dangerous place to live, but recent FBI data reveals otherwise.
To illustrate this point, The New York Times ran a quiz in 2021 asking readers which part of the U.S. had the highest murder rates. Its article, "Why People Misperceive Crime Trends," revealed that more than half of respondents (53 percent) labeled Chicago as the country's murder capital. They were wrong--it was actually ranked seventh.
A study featured on Moneygeek.com ranked the most dangerous cities based on the cost of violent crime per capita. Chicago didn't even make the top 20.
While violent crime is still a significant problem in Chicago, as it is in other U.S. cities, Chicago has a lower violent crime rate than the national average, according to USNews.com
The reality is that Chicago is a safe place to live, and its crime rates are lower than those of many other rapidly-growing cities in the U.S. When business leaders are weighing their next move, it's wise to base decisions on actual data, rather than being swayed by reputation."
The article argues that there are many favorable reasons why Chicago is the place to be, and why its becoming the "boss of the business world":
- Chicago's economic muscle and access to world-class talent
- Accessibility to world-class transportation
- Cost of living affordability compared to most major U.S. cities
- Considered as a geographic safe-haven from natural disasters
- Attracts young graduates into a highly-educated workforce
All in all, Chicago rocks! It's an amazing city to thrive in, both on a professional and a personal level. The media often doesn't show the full picture, so we're here to spread the word: Chicago is a thriving metropolis full of brilliant things and brilliant people. Read the full Inc. article here.
