Moving from Houston, TX, to Chicago, IL

Putting down roots in “The Windy City”

Houston, known as “Space City,” has over 2.3 million residents and 7.1 million in the metro. While your Texas home was not a small town, it might feel like one looking back once you arrive in Chicago.  

“The Windy City” is the largest city in Illinois and the third-largest in the U.S., trailing behind only New York City and Los Angeles. Chicago has over 2.7 million people in the city and over 9.6 million in the metro.

Brace for winter weather

Like Houston, Chicago experiences all four seasons, but its location near the shores of Lake Michigan means you can expect much colder winters.  

Although its “Windy City” nickname has nothing to do with the weather, Chicago typically drops to a low of 19 degrees in the winter, compared to only 43 degrees in Houston. With the lower temps in Chicago comes an average yearly snowfall of 35 inches, while snow is rare in Houston. 

Chicago's annual rainfall is around 38 inches, compared to 53 inches in Houston. Summer highs average 84 degrees, much cooler than Houston's typical highs in the 90s. 

Chicago trivia

Here are some fun and interesting facts about your new city: 

  • “The Windy City” nickname comes from boastful politicians in the late 19th century rather than the weather. 
  • Chicago has over 600 parks. 
  • Famous foods include Chicago-style hot dogs and deep-dish pizza. 
  • One of Chicago’s iconic tourist attractions is Cloud Gate, or “The Bean” sculpture located in Millennium Park. 
  • Route 66 starts in Chicago. 

Working and learning in Chicago

Business and finance are big industries in Chicago, with major corporations like Deloitte, Ford Motor Company, JPMorgan Chase, Nestle and United Airlines as leading employers. 

Other significant sectors include engineering, healthcare, government, pharmaceuticals and transportation. 

Over 100 public schools serve the city, with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. Multiple higher education institutions, including the University of Illinois Chicago, are also located in the Chicago area. 

Start a new life in Illinois easier with U-Pack

U-Pack® is a DIY moving service with over 25 years of experience. Through one of our nationwide service centers, we’ll help with your long-distance move to Chicago. You take care of packing, loading and unloading, and we’ll handle transporting your things. Request your free online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.