| The reason Chicago is so "clean" is because it is has been almost entirely gentrified.
To give you the gist (based off of a friend who went to school there for a time): it is "cleaner" because it is much more gentrified than New York. That takes out some of the diversity and culture of a town (compared to New York for instance), but that is my opinion.
The public transportation is good, and Hyde Park is a nice area. If you're looking for more a urbane vibe go to Wicker Park. Don't go to Greater Grand Crossings, Washington Park, as well as a few others (after dark). However, the city has cut down on crime significantly. Most areas are fine, there are just a few troubled areas. |