Chicago is known to be a city of neighborhoods. In fact, the city has 77 designated community areas, some of which are divided into two or more neighborhoods. This can make finding a place to live in the Windy City overwhelming. This guide, though, will help you pick a place to call home.
A neighborhood within the community area known as Edgewater on Chicago's North Side, Andersonville is a fast-growing, liberal area with Swedish roots. Andersonville runs roughly from Foster Avenue to the south to Elmdale Avenue to the north and Ravenswood Avenue to the west and Broadway to the east. The community was originally heavily populated by Swedish immigrants, whose heritage still lingers today in the form of restaurants, such as Anne Sathers, as well as the iconic water tower, which is painted like the Swedish flag. In recent years, the neighborhood has had a sizable Middle Eastern population immigrate, establishing restaurants and shops that serve their native cuisine. Andersonville is also well-known for its gay and lesbian population. The area includes a number of gay establishments, including a restaurant called Hamburger Mary's. Housing in the area can be fairly expensive, with condo prices often falling within the $500,000 range, but rental properties can be found at fairly affordable costs. Overall, the neighborhood has a small-town feel, with small shops lining the main business strip, and is easily accessible by public transportation.
Located on the west side of Chicago, Wicker Park is a neighborhood that has quickly risen to affluence after going through a period of revitalization. It is technically part of the West Town community area and offers residents easy access to several main lines of public transportation, including the Chicago Transit Authority's Blue Line train, which takes commuters to the center of downtown. The area used to be the epicenter of bohemian life in the city, providing cheap housing and studio space for artists. Although upscale art galleries and funky restaurants still remain, many of the residents who occupy Wicker Park now are young professionals and families. The area is known for its many fashion boutiques, which specialize in upscale designer clothing. Housing in the neighborhood can be expensive, falling in the $500,000 range, but many condos are recently renovated, providing residents with top-of-the-line fixtures and maximum comfort.
A relatively new neighborhood that is brimming with new development is the South Loop. The South Loop is named for its relative location south of Chicago's downtown, known as the Loop. This area is perfect for residents looking to shorten their commutes to work, since the South Loop is a mere five-minute ride on public transportation to the center of downtown. Most of the housing in the neighborhood is new construction, guaranteeing residents upscale and clean condos and apartments. Home prices can be a little more expensive, due to the prime real estate, averaging closer to $600,000. For art aficionados, the neighborhood is located just a few blocks from Chicago's famed Art Institute, the largest museum of fine art in the city. Directly adjacent to the South Loop is Grant Park, a large, open park that features the iconic Buckingham Fountain and plays host to a number of annual events including outdoor concerts and festivals.
