Irving Park

Irving Park

Chicago, Illinois Homes for Sale

About Irving Park

On the northwest side of Chicago stands Irving Park, a neighborhood with an incredibly rich history that you can still see traces of today. New York developers bought up the land from a farmer and allowed the Northwestern Railroad to make a stop within their suburb. With the railroad came more life: large housing developments popped up and, of course, people filled them. As time went on and the city grew, Irving Park has become a bona fide neighborhood of Chicago, shucking its suburban roots while blending the best of city and family life.

Quick Facts

Current Prices: $129,900 to $1,899,500

Closed Prices: $95,000 to $2,500,000

Median Sale Price: $379,499

Average $ per sq ft: $245

Association Fee Ranges: $30 to $1350, $0 to $485/mo, $0 to $243

Type: Attached Home (Condo, Townhouse, Loft, etc.), Single-Family Home

Age: 1886 to 2022

Sq. Ft.: 600 to 7900 Sq. Ft.

Bedrooms: 0 to 7 Bedrooms

Bathrooms: 1 to 6 Bathrooms

Around Irving Park

Since Irving Park has some of Chicago's oldest homes, the prices can drastically vary. Most of the neighborhood is very affordable but in areas such as The Villa, which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, home prices can reach well into the millions. Even so, the median home price is significantly less than you will find in North Side neighborhoods like North Center and more comparable to what you'll see in areas like Avondale.

Far from the high-rise buildings of downtown Chicago, Irving Park housing revolves around, well, houses. Many historic homes still stand, either restored to their former splendor or showing just a hint of the original design. If you want to get your hands dirty, there are still plenty of homes that need renovating, too. And, of course, many single-family homes in the area have been converted into duplexes and apartments to fit more residents' lifestyles and budgets.

Perhaps not surprisingly, much of the culinary scene in Irving Park revolves around Irving Park Road. It's not only one of the neighborhood's main thoroughfares, but also one of the city's major east-to-west roads, too. On it, you'll find everything from casual American fare to Polish eats to Moroccan food. Pulaski Road has lots of culinary life as well.

Irving Park is quite removed from the fast pace of downtown. That distance, combined with an abundance of green space and single-family houses, means that you'll probably see lots of families, young and old, in this neighborhood. The lower cost also appeals to young residents and students. Everyone tends to convene in Irving Park's many parks; Independence and Homer Parks are two of the more popular locations for walking around, exercising or picnicking.

As it's a quieter, family neighborhood, Irving Park won't have the bustling nightlife scene that you might find in youth-centric or downtown areas. With that being said, Irving Park is by no means a boring place to live. Catch a play at one of the handful of neighborhood theaters or jam out to live music at a neighborhood lounge. You'll find an array of neighborhood bars and pubs, too; the busiest ones will be on streets like Irving Park, Pulaski, Kedzie and Milwaukee.

The Irving Park Historical Society has done a fine job at maintaining the homes and areas that best represent the neighborhood's turn-of-the-century beginnings. Therefore, a lazy Sunday is best spent taking a stroll around to admire their work. Check out the Villa District, which drew its architectural inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright's style. You'll see great examples of unique Craftsman and Prairie-style homes on your walk.

The Blue Line has two stations in Irving Park: Addison and Irving Park. Either of these will take you to O'Hare or to the Loop. The Grayland Metra station provides direct access to Union Station in the Loop. Milwaukee Avenue, Irving Park Road, and Montrose Avenue, and Addison Street all have bus routes running east/west, while you can travel north/south along the Kimball Avenue bus route. Kennedy expressway also cuts through this neighborhood, offering direct access to Downtown. While most of the neighborhood is fairly spread out, Horner Park features trails for running and biking and Old Irving Park boasts clusters of bars and restaurants along Milwaukee Avenue that are easily navigated by foot.

Locals Love

  • Safe and quiet
  • Rich history
  • Affordable housing
  • Access to CTA trains and buses and Kennedy Expressway

Locals Don't Love

  • Distance from city center
  • City traffic

Neighborhood Reviews

1 Review
5.0

Calm, affordable, and comfortable

Kelly H
I have been living in Irving Park for over a year now, and I can't believe how homey and amazing it has been! Not only has it been an affordable option for me, but it also has a low-key vibe that makes it relaxing while still providing access to fun bars and a variety of food and restaurants to choose from. And with the blue line, I have easy transportation and access to getting to any other neighborhood I'd like! It's always so nice to return after a long day in the bustling city to a calm neighborhood where everything is familiar and feels like home.
Our Irving Park real estate expert specializes in helping
buyers and sellers in this neighborhood.