Meet the Neighborhoods by Chicago's Two Major Airports
Chicago is the biggest transportation hub in the Midwest—thousands of people fly in and out of O’Hare and Midway every day. And, these urban airports are very much a part of the city. Both are located in the middle of unique residential areas that are a part of the city’s larger fabric of neighborhoods.
O’Hare International Airport
On the Northwestern edge of the city, the neighborhoods clustered around O’Hare feel more suburban than the denser communities of downtown Chicago, and the concrete expanse of the airport is balanced by large swaths of forest preserves.
Norwood Park
Without traffic, Norwood Park is less than a 10-minute drive away from O’Hare. The neighborhood is largely populated by single-family homes with yards. The distance from the city center helps contribute to the neighborhood’s reasonable home prices—a median sale price of in the low $300s, according to Neighborhoods.com data.
Residents also enjoy access to plenty of transit options. I-90 cuts through the center of Norwood Park, offering drivers convenient access to the rest of the city and the surrounding suburbs. Also, the Harlem Blue Line station and the Norwood Park Metra stop serve as convenient public transit options.
Though within the city’s bounds, Norwood Park has ample space to roam. People with dogs can exercise their pups at the Norwood Dog-Friendly Area and enjoy a slice of nature at Caldwell Woods—located at the northeastern edge of the neighborhood.
O’Hare
Frequent fliers won’t get any closer to the airport than this. O’Hare is just east of the airport that shares its name. Just a few minutes in the car will take you to the airports’ terminals. Comprised of many no-frills condos, the neighborhood caters to homeowners who travel often. O’Hare also has plenty of smaller, single-family homes, and the median sale price is in the high $100s.
Residents can catch the Metra at the Rosemont station or the Blue Line at the Rosemont and Cumberland stops. O’Hare is also a highly convenient spot for drivers. There’s more space for parking, and I-90, I-294, and I-190 all converge in this Chicago community.
The proximity to Rosemont means people can easily catch a show at Rosemont Theatre and shop the stores at the massive Fashion Outlets of Chicago. For those looking for open space, approximately half of the neighborhood is taken up by Indian Boundary Golf Course, Schiller Woods South, and Catherine Chevalier Woods.
Oriole Park
Oriole Park, a pocket neighborhood of Norwood Park, has a mix of condos and single-family homes. Most of the condo buildings are gathered in the eastern part of the neighborhood, while single-family homes proliferate to the west. The median sale price in this neighborhood is in the high $200s.
Getting to the airport and the rest of the city is a simple matter in Oriole Park. I-90 forms the northern border of the neighborhood, while the Harlem Blue Line station is right at the northeastern corner of Oriole Park.
The neighborhood’s largest amenity is a park that shares its name. Oriole Park, nearly 20 acres in size, has a playground, tennis courts, sports fields, and a path for runners, walkers, and bicyclists. The neighborhood also has its own library branch right by the park.
Midway International Airport
Located on the Southwestern side of the city, Midway’s neighborhoods are far from the crowded nightlife of more central neighborhoods. Yet, these communities are highly accessible for commuters headed to the interior of the city or the suburbs.
Archer Heights
Archer Heights is just north of Midway—it takes about 10 minutes to drive between the two. It’s a relatively small neighborhood, but its diverse collection of homes and convenient location make it a popular spot for homebuyers. Archer Heights has streets lined with both condo buildings and single-family homes, and the median sale price is in the low $200s.
I-55 runs along the northern edge of the neighborhood, a convenient interstate for residents who drive. On the south side of the neighborhood, people can hop on the CTA Orange Line at the Pulaski stop.
Pulaski Road and Archer Avenue are lined with local businesses and restaurants, making these two stretches the most popular spots for going out in Archer Heights. The neighborhood also has quite a few parks, including Archer Park and Curie Park.
Garfield Ridge
Midway Airport is located within Garfield Ridge, making this a convenient neighborhood for travelers to settle. The area is known for its single-family homes, many of them in the classic and recognizable Chicago bungalow style. Like the other airport neighborhoods, Garfield Ridge has a reasonable median sale price in the mid $200s.
In addition to the airport, Garfield Ridge has access to I-55 and the Midway Orange Line station. The major roads of Harlem Avenue and Cicero Avenue are also convenient points for accessing the rest of the city.
While Midway Airport occupies a fair portion of the neighborhood, residents still have opportunities to go out. Archer Avenue is lined with spots to eat, and Garfield Ridge has a number of small, neighborhood parks including Wentwork Park and Normandy Park.
Vittum Park
Vittum Park, next to Archer Heights and just north of Midway Airport, is another neighborhood comprised largely of single-family homes. Homebuyers will find plenty of options when it comes to price point and size in this South Side neighborhood. The median sale price is in the mid $200s, and homes range from 720 to 3,780 square feet.
Vittum Park is a small neighborhood that’s more convenient for drivers than those who take public transit. Residential streets and homes with garages make parking easy, while Archer Avenue and Cicero Avenue make it easy to access main interstates in the city.
The neighborhood’s park has amenities for individuals and families including a field house, a playground, and sports fields. Vittum Park also has a solid collection of pizza joints and stores that line Archer and Cicero avenues.