Picking the best neighborhood when you’re new to a city can be a daunting task. Chicago doesn’t make things any easier with 77 (!) unique neighborhoods to choose from. It’s important to know what each hood has to offer; after all, if you moved to Chicago to hit the St. Patrick’s Day pub crawls and bottomless brunches on the weekends, you might not want to live in a family-friendly neighborhood (and vice versa).
We get it, you need to be with your people. Luckily, there’s a Chicago neighborhood for just about everyone.
Here are the 12 neighborhoods we consider Chicago’s best, and why.
- Lakeview
- Lincoln Park
- West Loop
- Logan Square
- Wicker Park
- Bucktown
- River North
- Edgewater
- Andersonville
- Ukrainian Village
- Humboldt Park
- Southport Corridor
Lakeview
Post college life was made for this hood! Nearby Boystown and Wrigleyville are also technically within the Lakeview borders, but you’ll find plenty of variety even throughout those three areas.
Lakeview offers people watching at the beach and breweries and restaurants along W Belmont Ave. and N. Clark Street. There’s always something happening here, but if you want to leave the neighborhood, there are plenty of L stations to connect you with the rest of the city.
Boystown is both at the center of Lakeview and the LGBTQ epicenter of the city. Expect drag brunches, queer dance parties, and LGBTQ-friendly bars in this colorful neighborhood. Just north of Boystown is the unofficial Wrigleyville. It’s home to the one-and-only Wrigley Field where the Cubs play. The bars that line Addison and Clark Streets, to put it lightly, accommodate fans on game days with cheap beers, pub food, and watch parties.
The outer edge of Lakeview, Lakeview East, is quieter if you don’t want to be in the middle of all the action.
Lincoln Park
One of city’s ritziest neighborhoods–as evidenced by the many high-end boutiques and homes that line its streets–Lincoln Park is also very family-friendly. Sure, there are lots of great restaurants and entertainment options, but they come with a more upscale feel. If you aren’t too keen on living in a high-rise and happen to want a yard, Lincoln Park and its brownstones will suit you perfectly. Transportation from this neighborhood is easy, with multiple train and bus lines servicing the area.
West Loop
Chicago’s culinary capital, the West Loop prides itself in all things hip and delicious. Living here means an appreciation for the arts, culture and always being on trend. If you’re looking for speakeasy sake bars, industrial beams, or all-night-long dinners to brag about for the rest of the year, this culture-lovers collective is where you want to be.
The Loop is technically within walking distance, but the Green Line is a quicker option, and can get you easily around the city. The good news is most people will be coming to you. Greektown is within the West Loop’s boundary and, although a bit commercial these days, still boasts locally-owned Greek pastry shops and restaurants.
Logan Square, Wicker Park, Bucktown
Logan Square, Bucktown, and Wicker park all used to be under the radar, hidden gems. Today, they’re some of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Chicago. You can expect to find young people strolling the streets, perusing art galleries, stumbling to their next bar of choice, or waiting in line for boozy brunch.
The majority of residents are in their late twenties and early thirties, and are what some might call hipsters. No less, the cool factor is alive and well in these hoods, and with multiple Blue line stops and the North Avenue bus line, it’s not hard to see why people want to live here.
River North
River North puts you in center of the action. This classic Chicago neighborhood is where those who hate commuting prefer to live. Along with the Gold Coast and Streeterville, River North keeps you in the center of everything while offering a taste of the high life. Most apartments in these neighborhoods are in high rise condos, many with views of Lake Michigan. The neighborhood is full of both transplants and locals, some of Chicago’s best kept secrets, and shopping in the Magnificent Mile.
Edgewater, Andersonville
Get away from it all but still be just a train ride away. The neighborhood bars in Edgewater and Andersonville are the type where everybody knows your name. You’ll get family friendly vibes from the Saturday farmers market, easy access to the Red Line and the lake, and your choice of restaurants that can satisfy any foodie. Andersonville is known to locals as a bona fide gayborhood, and its unique, locally-owned, kitschy shops and restaurants are a welcoming sight for the LGBTQ community.
Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park
These neighborhoods are both quite affordable, and offer a great variety of cheap ethnic food keep you happy and feed your bohemian soul. Indie Bookstores, a diverse community and parks with ample space for outdoor activities are all huge perks here. The one downside is that neither of them is very close to the ‘L’, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the bus lines if you don’t have a car.
The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art and Ukrainian Cultural Center are both located here, and bring the community together with events throughout the year. Humboldt Park, both the neighborhood and the green space, are vast and spread out. The neighborhood has a large Puerto Rican population and the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is located in the park itself.
Southport Corridor
If you’ve recently had a baby or are starting to think about a family, the Southport Corridor might just be your hood. It’s full of neighborhood bars and family-owned restaurants, but it’s outside of the rowdier parts of town. It’s also a burgeoning shopping district, perfect for strolling through with the family.
That said, Southport Corridor is still close to the more happening areas of town, with Lakeview and Wrigleyville just a few blocks away. This hood is a good first stop for those ready to make their way out of the city center and start shedding those “late twenties habits”. The area also has great public schools and quiet streets, plus a number of street festivals, parks, and family-friendly activities and restaurants to keep you and your family happy.
Think one of these neighborhoods is right for you, or do you need some more reading material? Wherever you decide to move, rest assured that you’ll be able to find the perfect apartment in that neighborhood.
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