Moving from Washington D.C., to Chicago, IL

Making a home in “The Windy City” 

Relocating from the United States capital, Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, CA, takes you 700 miles away to the third-largest city in the U.S.

D.C. has around 690,000 people in the city and 6.4 million in the metro area. Chicago is significantly larger, with 2.7 million residents in the city and just over 9.4 million in the metropolitan area.

 Keep reading to learn more about life in “The Windy City.”

Prepare for colder, snowier winters

D.C.’s humid subtropical climate has annual temperatures ranging from 27 to 89 degrees. Chicago’s winters are colder, with lows around 19 degrees, and summer highs average 84 degrees.

Chicago receives slightly less rain than Washington, D.C., averaging 38 inches compared to 43 inches per year. However, snowfall in Chicago is significantly more, with 35 inches annually, compared to only 14 inches of snow in DC.

Don’t let the nickname of “The Windy City” fool you. Chicago is no windier than other U.S. cities. 

Chicago trivia

Brush up on some fun and interesting facts about your new hometown:

• Cloud Gate (The Bean) in Millennium Park has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the U.S. since its installation in 2006.
• The city was founded in 1833 as a small trading post near the Chicago River.
• The Great Chicago Fire destroyed over 17,000 buildings in 1871.
• The Home Insurance Building, built in 1885, was the first skyscraper, measuring 10 stories tall.
• The nickname of “The Windy City” came not from the weather but from the city’s boastful politicians in the late 1800s.
• Wrigley Field (1914), home to the Chicago Cubs, is one of the oldest ballparks in Major League Baseball.

Living and working in Chicago

Chicago has a robust public transportation system, similar to that of D.C. It connects people to work and entertainment 24/7 through a network of buses and commuter rails. There are also taxis and other rideshares available.

While Chicago is not an inexpensive city, it is generally more affordable to live there than in D.C. Housing prices are significantly cheaper in Chicago compared to the nation’s capital. 

Banking, education, government, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, technology and transportation are among the most prominent job industries in the city. 

Move to Illinois with U-Pack

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers and nearly 30 years of experience in long-distance moves. Our locations near D.C. and Chicago are ready to serve you. We’re a DIY moving service where you handle packing, loading, and unloading, and we take care of driving your belongings to your new home in Illinois. Get a free online quote today, or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.