Portage Park is just four square miles, but you’ll find the residential streets of this community are interspersed with plenty of things to do and places to eat. Take a look at what makes this neighborhood an enviable place to live and explore.  

A Place to Call Home

Homes in Portage Park

The median sale price of a home in Portage Park is in the mid-$30s, but you can find homes priced below $100,000, or even as high as nearly $800,000.

You will mostly find single-family homes in this neighborhood, some even more upscale and contemporary. If you’re looking for your own yard (probably even a garage) with a little more space, you might just fall in love with Portage Park. Also, if you’re looking for a condo, there’s a smattering of condo buildings in the community. 

The Six Corners

Six corners in Portage Park

The Six Corners—the intersection of Irving Park Road, Cicero Avenue, and Milwaukee Avenue—is easily Portage Park’s biggest claim to fame. The opening of a Sears department store in 1938 made the area a major shopping destination. Now, that Sears—the last one Chicago—closed its doors in the summer of 2018. A developer broke ground on a 100,000-square-foot shopping center in the Six Corners area, but the site remains empty. 

While the closing of Sears and the uncertainty surrounding new development certainly affects the Six Corners, it still has plenty of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Ask any of the neighborhood residents, and they’ll tell you the real Six Corners is in Portage Park, not Wicker Park—a frequent argument, according to DNAinfo. 

New Development

Rendering courtesy of perkins + will

Portage Park has some new projects underway. Just a little over a block from the Six Corners, a developer is busily putting up a new group of single-family homes: Enclave Portage Park. Plus, the Portage Park Neighborhood Association is working on bringing a riverside project to the neighborhood, according to Curbed Chicago. The Portage Park Walking Museum would be a ring shape that encircles the Chicago and Des Plaines rivers not far from Irving Park Road, according to the report.

Eating and Drinking

Photo courtesy of Cochinita Taco Co

Portage Park isn’t the first name in Chicago’s restaurant scene, but it’s starting to garner some well-earned attention. Forbes has singled out the neighborhood for restaurants like ERIS Brewery and Cider House and Community Tavern. For the go-to taco shop in Portage Park, head to Tata’s Tacos. 

When you’re in need of a caffeine fix, you won’t have to look far. The neighborhood is home to Portage Grounds for coffee drinkers and Portage Park Tea for those who prefer tea. 

Getting Around

Photo courtesy of Graham Garfield

Walk Score gives Portage Park a 74 for walkability and a solid public transit score of 59. These rankings mean you can easily accomplish most of your neighborhood errands on foot, and you have good access to public transit options.

The neighborhood has about nine bus lines running through it, including the No. 80 Irving Park Bus. Plus, you have access to nearby ‘L’ stops including the Irving Park and Montrose Blue Line and the Kimble Brown Line. Anyone who drives to and from work will appreciate ready access to the Kennedy Expressway. 

What To Do

Photo courtesy of Daniel X. O'Neil

Although Portage Park has a slower, more residential ambience, there’s still plenty to do. The neighborhood is home to two parks: the 36.5-acre Portage Park and eight-acre Chopin Park.

You might be surprised to find out the neighborhood also has lively theater scene. Catch shows at the Patio Theater and Filament Theatre.

You can also explore the National Veterans Art Museum, located on Milwaukee Avenue.