Which Chicago Neighborhood Should You Move To?

Those who are even more or less intimate with our great metropolis will tell you Chicago is massive , just bafflingly Brobdingnagian , with a astounding array of different neighborhoods within said hugeness . For fresh fresh residents and even longtime Chicagoans it can be hard to get a handgrip on everything each unique corner has to put up , let alone bang the perfect part of township to live in that both beseem your lifestyle and budget . This fuze will give you a snapshot of 22 neighborhood you may need to have in the mix when considering your next housing move .

Albany Park

Dominated by the bustling commercial corridors along Lawrence and Kedzie , Albany Park is a vibrant center of immigrant culture on the Northwest Side . Median one - bedroom rent:$823Who lives here : While Latino migrants and their kid make up the gravid block of resident , if there is a oral communication that is spoken on Earth there is a good chance someone speaks it here . legal community and restaurant scene : legal community are a rare sight , but you will have so many Mediterranean , Korean , Mexican , Japanese , and Filipino standouts to hit you wo n’t have time to concern about . you could always pledge at home . Public transportation system : This is the end of the road for the Brown Line , on the plus side the stops are plenteous and trains less crowded than the Red Line . Quote from a resident:“Albany Park is a pretty neighbourhood , but what I love most is the sheer multifariousness . You will see sign with four or five language on them , and just having that many different people around is cool . ”

Avondale

This old industrial neighborhood is still low-cost and run grade , though an influx of new resident physician lured by Avondale ’s nifty culinary offer is threaten to change that tight . Median one - sleeping room rent:$875Who lives here : Once the center of the Polish Northwest Side , its backbone is now Hispanic immigrants and menage from Mexico and Central America , plus the aforementioned young artsy types . Bar and eatery scene : In increase to the stalwart expectant metal Warren Earl Burger joint Kuma ’s Corner , Avondale had made its name recently on up - and - comers like Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Parachute . night life is still scarce outdoors of some local saloon . Public transit : The Belmont bus and Blue Line stops will be your lifeline because you are a hike from most anything else . Quote from a resident:“I grew up in Avondale , and the vicinity has changed a lot , but it still has so many of the mamma and pop music type place that I have a go at it , although I ca n’t traverse a lot of the new position are great to have around . ”

Beverly

Historic Beverly on the Southwest Side is famous for its Irish gin mill and institutions and its collection of beautiful homes . medial one - bedroom rent:$875Who life here : Beverly is still very much a traditional kinfolk neighborhood with a motley of Irish and African - American occupant . Bar and eating house scene : Any locals will probably cue you that Western Ave is home to a huge compendium of honest-to-god south side Irish - style saloon , include Keegan ’s . Top Notch Beefburgers is accurately named and sweets lovers will have it skilful with the wonderful Original Rainbow Cone and Jimmy Jamm Sweet Potato Pies . Public transit : While there is no nearby L stop , Beverly is well stocked with Metra stops for commuters , and there is the occasional bus on 95th to take over to the Red Line . Quote from a resident:“This is a close - crumple community like you wo n’t find anywhere else in Chicago . Everybody have it off and count out for each other . It ’s the kind of position where masses greet you on the street , and if you are in problem someone is always unforced to lend a friendly hand . ”

Bridgeport

Gritty , naughty - collar , and home to 68 yr worth of Chicago mayors , Bridgeport has a long - standing report as the unofficial center of the urban center ’s working - class universe . Median one - bedchamber rent:$975Who lifetime here : Older Italian , Irish , African - American , and Polish workers now portion out Bridgeport with a untried generation seeking out the area ’s strong culture and tinny rent , as well as the expand Chinese residential area in the compass north . Bar and restaurant scene : Schaller ’s Pump is among the most storeyed bars in the city , date back to 1881 . While old - schooling eating place abound , Bridgeport welcomes new additions like The Duck Inn and Nana , with Chinatown also tantalizingly close . Public transportation : The Halsted bus runs down the spine of the neighborhood , or you’re able to grab the Orange Line in the far north and Red Line to the due east . Quote from a resident:“I’m from a small townsfolk originally , and this is like a small town in the handsome city which I roll in the hay . Everyone seems to bonk each other and go to the same places . It just has that true neighborhood feel . ”

Edgewater

secretive to the lake ( patently ) , and fill with some of Chicago ’s prettiest streets in the Lakewood Balmoral and Bryn Mawr historical districts , Edgewater is an eclectic neighbourhood that offers variety , affordability , and some great food . Median one - bedchamber rent:$1,085Who lives here : There are plenty of long - condition residents still around , get together by younger transplants and an expanding LGBT community , plus pocket of Asian , Latino , and mediate Eastern immigrants . legal profession and restaurant scene : Andersonville , along Clark St , has one of the most telling array of food on the North Side : beer and Belgian eat at Hopleaf , southern comfort food at Big Jones , tatty halfway Eastern at Taste of Lebanon , brunch at m.henry , and on and on . Broadway is no slouch , either , with plenty of low-cost spots cater to local immigrant and unseasoned foodies likewise . Public transit : The Red Line and Clark busbar make it easy to get around the North Side but spark to the Loop or West Side vicinity can start run towards an hour . Quote from a resident:“Edgewater is exactly what I desire out of a Chicago neighborhood : close to the lake and the Red Line , with some of the dear , most low-cost apartments on the North Side . Bars and restaurants to keep me quenched for class , but still still and magical . ”

Humboldt Park

A locality full of contrasts , Humboldt Park is anchored by its beautiful namesake Mungo Park and great historical homes , though some areas in the westward are still notoriously crime - ridden . medial one - bedchamber rent:$1,000Who hold up here : An incorporate intermixture of African - American and Latino workings - class residents , with the first sprinklings of Logan Square and Ukrainian Village rent casualty . streak and eating house scene : heap of good , inexpensive , costa - stay options dose North and California . Try Diana ’s for veritable Puerto Rican , or Feed , down on Chicago Ave , for some southern - style mortal preparation . Public transit : Not a luck to work with . You ’re go to have to rely on the North , Division , and Chicago bus quite a fleck . Quote from a resident physician : " Humboldt is dwelling to one of the most unbelievable park in Chicago – with flower gardens , pond , playgrounds , and more – not to mention the brand raw 606 trail , which is just two blocks away . There are plenty of hidden gem eating house , and everyone who lives east of Ashland Ave think it ’s dangerous which keeps the rents lowly , so do n’t spoil it . "

Hyde Park

Nestled between Washington and Jackson Park , and home to the University of Chicago , Hyde Park may be the gullible neighborhood in the total metropolis . medial one - bedroom rent:$1,200Who live here : Students from the University are the most visible mathematical group alongside a universe diverse in age and culture , especially as you get farther from campus . saloon and restaurant scene : The bar fit is jolly subdued for a college ' strong-armer , but there are estimable affair to be had along 53rd St , like the vegan B’gabs delicacy , breakfast at Valois , and sandwiches at Windy’s . Public transit : Unless you desire to stroll through Washington Park to the Green Line , the Metra stops along the east side are your connectedness to the rest of the urban center . Quote from a resident:“Hyde Park is a very quaint , picturesque area , set of charming apartment buildings , tree diagram , gardens , and parks , a corking position to just take the air around . And there are plenty of local businesses , buffet car , and coffee shops that add to the cozy feel . ”

Lakeview

The quintessential North Side neighborhood offer a salmagundi of different bread and butter experiences within its borders . Chicago ’s gay mecca is Boystown , along Halsted , right next door to Wrigley Field , with its row of frat guys and sportsman bars , while the West Side of the neighbourhood offers a quieter , more family line - point lifestyle . average one - bedroom rent:$1,400Who lives here : hoi polloi who think Lincoln Park is too bougie , people who ca n’t open to live in Lincoln Park any longer , people who just moved to Chicago . Bar and eating house scene : Like the neighborhood itself , Lakeview is all over the single-valued function . Every human being on Earth should be able to come up a bar they wish somewhere , whether it be a sports bar on Clark , a gay - well-disposed neck of the woods articulation or a tucked away dive bar . It ’s a lilliputian lacking in higher - remnant dining if that ’s your thing , but offers stack of mid - range form and great take - out places like the fried chicken masters at Crisp , or Cozy , one of the dear attic joint in the city . Public transit : The Belmont L stop is the busiest in the city , so get quick for that . But no matter where you dwell , you should be within walking distance of a few major transportation option . Quote from a resident:“Lakeview has all the amenities of neighbor Lincoln Park but with a more laid - back attitude and budget - friendly damage tag . Between the cheery shot in Boystown and the bar in Wrigleyville , I sense like there is unfeignedly something for everyone . "

Lincoln Park

With its picturesque streets , charismatic brick and Harlan Fiske Stone townhouses , and of course the park right next doorway , Lincoln Park has a well - earned reputation as a suitable , if preppy , urban haven . Median one - sleeping room rent:$1,563Who lives here : Like its neighbors to the north and south a large amount of professional 20- and 30 - somethings , but with a few more ( productive ) kinsfolk and a mix of students from DePaul to give it its own lineament . Bar and eating house view : Although it does n’t have the bragging name draw of a Randolph St or the pelvic girdle factor of a Logan Square , Lincoln Park is still brim with options along Halsted , Clark , and Armitage . You ’ll grow particularly lovesome of longtime locality darling in the vein of Sapori Trattoria , the Athenian Room , or RJ Grunts , but with no shortfall of more modern-day predilection like the immaculate Korean greaser at Del Seoul . Public passage : One of the best marketing points about the area , there ’s easy access to a bevy of power train line and buses that will hold you almost anywhere in the metropolis , although the " L " can be a march if you subsist right on next to the park ( you ’ll manage).Quote from a resident:“Lincoln Park has the appeal of dark-green grass and tree diagram in what ’s otherwise a sea of steel , glass , and concrete . It ’s home for the wealthy , unseasoned kinfolk , and young professionals likewise . And it ’s not too hard to snag a gratifying skyline view from your flat ’s rooftop . ”

Lincoln Square

A pleasant , mostly residential and diminished line of work domain that still boast a strong German inheritance , Lincoln Square has oblige on to its old - schooling neighborhood - y charm and affordable rents while still invite in the new waves of immigrants and young trendsetters . medial one - bedroom rent:$1,063Who aliveness here : Middle - class families and pro , with a growing Latino residential district and some originative type escape the higher rents to the south . prevention and restaurant scene : Lincoln Square has plenty of under - appreciated ( to people who do n’t exist there ) spots . You have Gather holding down the new school bunch along with Bang Bang Pie ’s sister bread workshop Baker Miller . What really polish are low-priced local spots like Monti ’s cheesesteaks and the double meat nirvana of Gene ’s Sausage Shop and Lincoln Quality Meats . Public transportation : You’re pop to get a niggling further from the Loop here , but batch of Brown Line occlusive mean a short walkway , and the Damen double-decker can sway you down to the west side easy enough . Quote from a resident:“To me , Lincoln Square is the student body President of the United States of North Side neighbourhood . It ’s earnest , eager to please , and strives to offer something for everyone . It over performs in civic spirit , with an abundance of Rosa Parks , concerts , festival , farmer ’s market , the Old Town School of Folk Music , and plenty of spots for out-of-door boozing from Memorial Day through October . It might be a fiddling straight ( no pun intend ) , but that only sum up to its charms . ”

Logan Square

What is there to say about Logan Square that has n’t been said in a thousand think pieces about hipsters and gentrification ? rent ’s just say the charming boulevards and top - notch taproom scene are as salutary a ground as any to get fired up . Median one - bedroom rent:$1,295Who inhabit here : Contrary to reputation , the Mexican and Puerto Rican family that made this such a desirable locale in the first berth are still in the area . But yeah lots of hippies and post - hipster young professionals , too . Bar and restaurant scene : A doozy on both the drink and food front take a lookhereandhereto get start up . well a top five strong-armer for Browning automatic rifle - hopping or eating out . Public passage : somewhat hearty , the Blue Line links you to the Loop while motorbus on Fullerton and Diversey can conduct you east to Lincoln Park and the lake . Quote from a resident:“It seems like there is always another swell eating house or bar hatchway in Logan Square , but the neighbourhood rest a mix of vernal masses and families . There ’s a lot to do but you may still enjoy a smooth weekend afternoon walk along the avenue . "

North Center

Once a major name and address for the wave of European immigrant working in the factories along Ravenswood and the Chicago River , North Center has held on through the years as a welcoming low-priced locality with mountain of old Chicago charm . average one - bedroom rent:$1,273Who lives here : untried refugees who either do n’t like the noise or the toll of Lakeview and Lincoln Park , mixed with older midway - course of instruction local anaesthetic . Bar and eating place scene : Lincoln Ave is lined with intellectual nourishment and drinking option , with a heavy emphasis on good bar / pub food . And we would be remiss if we did n’t say you to take hold of some of the sound brick - oven pizza in the metropolis at Spacca Napoli . Public transit : peck of Brown Line cease at Addison , Irving , and Montrose or the buses along Lincoln and Western will bear you anywhere you need to go . Quote from a resident:“North Center does have the great German cultural choice like Oktoberfest , but my best-loved thing is how easy it is to get places . I can get down to Lakeview or Bucktown in a flash , but I still get to live in a quiet area . ”

Old Town

Chicago ’s bohemian enclave of the ' sixty and ' seventy , Old Town ’s charming historic streets , cultural institutions , and well-to-do parking lot access made it one of the first metropolis neighbourhood to succumb to the forces of gentrification . But tincture of its former part outlast in place like Second City and some historic bars . average one - bedchamber rent:$1,800Who lives here : flush young professional , wealthier young kinsfolk , and a fair amount of older homeowners . Bar and restaurant scene : Old Town ’s hub is the bustling Wells St , packed with trendy bro - bars like Benchmark and Old Town Pour House , and higher goal dining , plus a few lingering sometime - schooltime spots like the original Nookies dining compartment . Outside of there things get a little thin , but you’re able to still find some jewel like Twin Anchors Pub if you adjudicate . Public transit : The Brown Line stop at Sedgwick is the only convenient place to grab the " L , " especially if you live above North Ave , but plenty of buses like the 22 and 36 serve well the area , and make permute pretty simple . Quote from a resident:“Old Town is great since it ’s so close to the Loop . I can walk to work on nice days , there ’s a ton of bang-up eating place nearby , and there ’s eternal roaming drove of trixies whose job titles always seem to check ‘ report . ’ ”

Pilsen

The freshly coin home to Chicago artist and hipsters is vibrant beyond the coffee shops and veranda , with the hispanic majority ’s strong cultural presence still the driving military force in this thrive community . Median one - bedchamber rent:$1,050Who lives here : Several coevals of Mexican - Americans dating back to the area ’s transformation in the ' 60s , with the episodic money - conscious originative or UIC student . Bar and restaurant scene : While there are a few tasty new places like Dusek ’s ( contiguous to the beautiful Thalia Hall hosting some awesome show ) , what you should be doing is walking up and down 18th St , take in the glorious assortment of Mexican eating house and bakeries that serve the local . Public transit : The 18 omnibus is the main way of getting around with no existent train access in the east . Once you hit Ashland the Pink Line will make a commute easygoing . Quote from a resident:“Pilsen ’s a great place to live that ’s a little removed from the busier and ‘ hipper ’ neighborhood above the closed circuit but very easily connected to both business district and more northerly areas ( the Halsted bus will be your best booster ) . Plus there ’s a cracking motley of restaurants and bars . ”

River North

Chicago ’s answer to every other innovational , happening - right - now , dapper urban region in America , this is the center of the metropolis ’s art scene and high - end night life . The former storage warehouse district has been fill up with workspace for decorator and software engineer , glassy new high - end condominium , and more artistic creation galleries than anywhere outside of Manhattan . average one - bedroom rent:$2,000Who lives here : Trendy originative professionals , opulence - condominium - dwelling businessmen . Bar and eatery setting : Three Dots and a Dash , Bavette ’s , XOCO , Doughnut Vault . Packed , jam , packed with something for everyone as long as you may afford it . Public transportation system : You do n’t need to go anywhere else , unless you care public security and quiet or spending less than $ 50 on your dinner , but if you do the Brown Line discontinue at Chicago and Merchandise Mart , and a small rise will carry you to the Red Line at Grand . Quote from a resident:“I love living in River North for all the food options and essay new trendy places . It ’s also great for walking to work in the Loop or escaping the business with a short walk to the lake . ”

Rogers Park

Sitting on the far northerly border of the city , Rogers Park has a mostly unruffled residential good luck charm and also happens to be one of Chicago ’s most diverse and integrated neighborhoods . medial one - bedchamber rent:$895Who lives here : Anyone from anywhere who likes cheap flat with easy train and lake admittance . The major exclusion being the southeasterly corner , which is dominated by students from Loyola University . Bar and restaurant panorama : Not as abundant as other places on this list , befitting the neighborhood , but still good deal of good hooey . bopNgrill ’s kimchi Burger have been drag people here for yr , and Ward Eight has an atmosphere 10 time more laid back and comfortable than any place you will determine with craftsmanship cocktail that upright . Public theodolite : It ’s hard to deny you are pretty far out of the style up here , but four Red Line stops and the selection to grab the express Purple Line at Howard help . Quote from a resident:“Rogers Park is great because there ’s amazing food , is quiet but spanking enough for young people , you ’re undertake a seat on the railroad train when heading Downtown , and the rent is really low-cost for the Brobdingnagian spaces you’re able to get . We ’ve also found out there ’s more dog - favorable trapping usable . ”

South Loop

The South Loop is one of Chicago ’s most interesting places to call dwelling house . Once hard industrial , it became one of a rebounding city ’s first condo boomtowns in the late ' 90 and 2000s only to be brought to a halt by the caparison crash , and has only lately start up again . Now it is a intermixture of luxury high rises alongside individual story industrial buildings and previous ontogeny . average one - chamber rent:$1,725Who lives here : Older workings - class African - Americans still make up a sizable lot of the residents with a condominium crowd that is rapidly expanding . saloon and eating place picture : At the top of South Loop Printer ’s dustup pop the question a nice mix of affordable dining and some local bars . As you move south of Roosevelt things get a little thin , but not hopeless with eminent quality Italian sandwich at Ameritalia , and easygoing tapa at Tapas Valencia . Public transit : Getting around will not be a problem , with the Red , Orange , and Green Line running through the area in a summation to all the bus from the Loop . Quote from a resident:“Depending on where you ’re at in the ‘ sloop , ’ your front M is Grant Park and the lake , river , museums , and all CTA lines are in walking distance . Our neighborhood has its own block party , a book fair , and if you do n’t consider Buddy Guy ’s or Jazz Showcase good night life then I just experience sorry for you . "

Ukrainian Village

Close to the loop and Wicker Park to the north , the slightly game Ukrainian Village has see a late surge in rent and development as the Eastern European enclave becomes one of the next blistering touch for young Chicagoans . Median one - bedroom rent:$1,050Who be here : An older crowd of Ukrainians , Russians , and Mexicans are slowly but surely giving way to the kids from the due north and east looking to feel more bash for the dollar on their apartment . measure and eating house shot : Breaking out left and correct with groundbreaking genre - turn away plates at Ruxbin and new American done right at The Cotton Duck . Do n’t sleep on older neighbor gems like Kasia ’s Delicatessen or Fiore ’s Deli for timeless Ukrainian and Italian fare . Public transit : Unfortunately far from the Blue Line , you ’ll have to trust on the double-decker service Chicago and Damen to get around . Quote from a occupier : " Ukrainian Village is a big , underrated , diachronic neighborhood . What I wish effective is that the street themselves are still and picturesque , and yet you ’re only a quick walk away from trendy bar , gravid brunch spots , good coffee berry , and nice shop class . Division St , Western Ave , Damen Ave , and Chicago Ave are all really close and wedge - full of stuff to do , but my street itself has a peaceful , neighborly vibe . "

University Village/Little Italy

The machinations of the old ( like from the ' 60 ) Mayor Daley plant UIC dead center of the historic Maxwell St district , crush half the neighborhood and altering the full landscape painting of the West Side . What has risen in its place is a student city within the city , with the remaining residential expanse of Little Italy and raw condo development draw in an increasing number of professional . medial one - bedroom rent:$1,400Who lives here : The region is dominated by students , grad students , and doctors from the nearby medical district , but the amenities in the area have started to overhear the eye of a wider variety of immature urban center dwellers . legal community and restaurant scene : Most of the Italian occupier may be go but Taylor St does not disappoint as a destination for lovers of their food , with plenty of classics to take from like Rosebud , Francesca ’s , and the original locating of Al ’s Italian Beef . Public transit : You’ve got a couple Blue Line hold back to grab on the N closing of the neighborhood , and the Halsted and Ashland buses will serve you well . Quote from a resident:“It ’s home to college student and family line alike . Rent is certainly more affordable than its business district neighbors , with culinary offerings admit the crowd - pleasing Mario ’s Italian Lemonade , delicious Fontano ’s Subs , and the mysterious , but terrific , Al ’s Italian Beef . "

Uptown

The glittering 1920s - epoch amusement mecca of Chicago may seem like it has seen better times , but it still has great architecture , plenty of theatre of operations , and one of the most divers universe in the city . Median one - chamber rent:$1,250Who lives here : A big mix of income levels and cultures , with a strong African - American universe , young commuter , and a tumid Asian ( mostly Vietnamese ) community around Argyle St. Bar and restaurant scenery : citizenry from outside the neighborhood know Argyle for its great Asiatic cuisine but there are mint of other great blot or all smorgasbord . lucre and pastry dough lovers wo n’t want to pull up stakes Baker & Nosh , and if you ’ve never had Ethiopian before do yourself a favor and stop in at Demera . Public transit : The Red Line bisects Uptown with three nearby stops . you’re able to also grab the 22 , 36 , or 151 buses if a five minute walk is too much for you . Quote from a resident : “ As a theater mortal it ’s great being around such a big performance scene outside the Loop , and it ’s really commodious to a mess of different transportation . Uptown also just has that vivacious free energy of a locality on the rise . ”

West Loop

Home to the city ’s you - absolutely - have - to - eat - here intellectual nourishment epicenter on Randolph St and Fulton Market , the old storage warehouse and industrial strips of the West Loop have been transformed over the last decade into one of Chicago ’s most expensive and worthy vicinity , with luxury loft condominium , trendy bar , and humans class restaurants galore . Median one - bedroom rent:$1,900Who endure here : Anyone who loves to rust , booze , party , and still afford to really live here , which means mostly the white collar young professional bunch . Bar and restaurant scene : If you exist here no doubt someone has already raved to you about Girl & the Goat or The Publican but check out thislistto make certain you do n’t miss anything . Public passage : You’re basically within walk distance of the Loop anyway but the Green Line will get you there even quicker and the Halsted bus can hold you north . Quote from a resident:“West Loop beneficial loop . It ’s a perfect portmanteau of industrial living and neighborhood spots , and it has all the best restaurant in Chicago . "

Wicker Park/Bucktown

Wicker Park and Bucktown were once the cutting edge of Chicago ’s artwork and counterculture scenes . The artists moved on long ago , but that feel still infests the area with a broad potpourri of sovereign shops and unique bar and dining options . medial one - bedroom rent:$1,575Who lives here : Young professionals and fresh married couples who favor the arena ’s more alternative vibe to Lincoln Park or Lakeview . Bar and restaurant view : Piece is a staple for undeniable thin crust pizza as is nearby Big Star for greaser . Excellent asian fusion maculation like Bento Box or En Hakkore abound . As for the barroom , there are too many to weigh , so just do yourself a favor andread up . Public theodolite : The Blue Line stop at six corners is notoriously a crowded slew but it is close . On the sharpness you ’ve got the Western and Division occlusion , or grab the North Ave bus if you ’re manoeuver east . Quote from a resident:“The best thing about Wicker Park and Bucktown are that you never have to leave . Check any Chicago Top 10 list , and you ’ll find establishment that are right around the turning point . Top - rated restaurants and dive taproom , room decorator dogs and manageable street parking : it ’s Chicago in all its glory . Also , Bucktown is bring up for goats . ”

Matt Spinais a Chicago writer who has moved around Chicago too many times to count . face and see for yourself what Chicago has done to him@MR_spina .

Overhead shot of Chicago