Debunking Chicago Neighborhood Stereotypes
The neighborhoods of Chicago have distinct personalities, which are often a point of pride for residents. In a city with hundreds of communities (official and unofficial), a neighborhood’s reputation often precedes it—and those reputations can reach mythical proportions. Yet, there is more to these five Chicago neighborhoods than you might expect.
The Loop - All Business, All the Time
The Loop is the central locale of Chicago’s business district. It’s full of office buildings and alive with busy professionals during the week, so much so that it has gained a reputation for strictly business. Yet, this neighborhood is not all work and no play.
The entire eastern half of the Loop is taken up by park space. Maggie Daley Park, Millennium Park, and Grant Park offer a welcome respite from the daily grind. Maggie Daley Park has a climbing wall, mini golf, a skating ribbon, and more. Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion puts on a diverse collection of free performances, and Grant Park plays host to the ever-popular Lollapalooza. Plus, the Loop is home to the renowned Art Institute and the Theatre District.
Despite the proliferation of office buildings and entertainment options, the Loop still has a thriving residential element. Its glassy high-rise buildings can offer a surprisingly affordable price; while some of the penthouses inside can stretch into the millions, there are many condo units in the high $100s and $200s range, according to Neighborhoods.com listings.
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Logan Square - Only for Hipsters
The term “hipster” is so broad it can be applied in a myriad of ways. It has certainly attached itself to Logan Square, a neighborhood typically referred to as a haven for a hip, young crowd and trendy coffee shops and bars. While the neighborhood has both (younger, artsy residents and coffee shops aplenty), you neither need to be an artist nor a lover of caffeine to live in Logan Square.
Those who only know Logan Square by reputation may be surprised to find a large part of the neighborhood is characterized by Logan Boulevard, a stately stretch of elegant homes (some apartments, some two-flats) shaded by trees. Part of the boulevard is even a designated historic district.
A surge of new development serves as a counterpoint to Logan Square’s historic character. Brand new condos and the revitalization of buildings like the Congress Theater are attracting professionals and families to this North Side neighborhood. Logan Square’s meteoric popularity has been matched by rising home prices. While it's still possible to find reasonably priced options, the median sale price in the neighborhood is $437,500.
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Avondale - The Boring Version of Logan Square
Logan Square is known for its young vibe and nightlife, and next-door neighbor Avondale often stands in its shadow. Avondale certainly does feel more residential in much of its space, but those quiet pockets are interspersed with a delightful blend of places to eat and things to do.
You can get wildly popular fried chicken, one of the city’s best burgers, and dishes from a Michelin-starred restaurant all in Avondale. You won’t catch avid foodies calling this neighborhood boring. Avondale also has an outpost of the climbing gym First Ascent, Revolution Brewing Brewery & Taproom, and the used books and record shop Bucket O’ Blood.
Avondale’s delights aren’t exactly a secret, but it can feel that way compared to Logan Square. Avondale residents are actively trying to control how new development rewrites the neighborhood’s character.
The neighborhood does have some new condos, but you are more likely to find single-family homes and two-flats here. The median home sale price in Avondale is $409,450.
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Wrigleyville- Only for Cubs Fans
Sure, wearing a White Sox jersey around Wrigley Field in the heat of baseball season may result in some ribbing, but Wrigleyville is not all baseball all the time. Raucous crowds and all-night parties may be the neighborhood’s most well-known hallmarks, but it has a surprisingly sophisticated side.
Wrigleyville has its own small historic district (Alta Vista Terrace) and a restaurant scene that doesn’t revolve entirely around game-day hot dogs. You can get brunch at Dutch and Doc’s (contemporary American fare) or treat yourself to a steak at the Argentinian Tango Sur. You can also catch a cult classic or new independent film at the neighborhood’s Music Box Theatre.
The neighborhood does have homes close to the ball field and the many bars in its orbit. But, Wrigley Field is in the southeast corner of the neighborhood. There are plenty of other places to live that do not revolve around the Cubs. The median home sale price in Wrigleyville is $525,000.
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Lincoln Park - Too Expensive for the Average Homebuyer
Don’t let the lavish mansions of Lincoln Park fool you into thinking the neighborhood is entirely unaffordable. The neighborhood spans all the way from the lake to the Chicago River, creating plenty of space to find a home that fits your budget.
The median home sale price in Lincoln Park is $589,000, but current prices start as low as $149,900. If you’re looking for a large greystone or new condo overlooking the lake, the price is likely going to be at that median point or well above. On the more affordable end, Lincoln Park has moderately priced condos and two-flats.
Thanks to the CTA’s Brown and Purple Line stops at Armitage and Diversey, as well as a solid network of CTA bus routes, residents have easy access to Lincoln Park’s amazing amenities, whether they live in a multimillion-dollar mansion or a more affordable condo.