Yeah, I know IL is in big trouble. Moved away from there long ago with no regrets. To me, the place is just one big strip mall except for the Forest preserves. But my Sister lives in the NN suburbs and life for her seems to be good. She does not complain and her property taxes are still lower than mine. Certainly, it LOOKS healthy whenever I visit, but looks can be deceiving.
I’m in East Wilmette. So, I must be very close to your sister. However I live in Wisconsin too, 3 hours north. Here I pay very little taxes. Everything is cheaper, Trump signs everywhere but Milwaukee and Madison. No crime, no litter, very clean, low taxes, low prices and the state has a surplus. Here, houses, hospitals, and colleges are far less expensive too. But the greatest thing is that nobody locks their bikes, or their cars or their houses. In fact they leave their cars running in the winter when they run into the grocery store. There’s a gun in every other house but no shootings. Interesting.