Chicago, Illinois, is one of the largest and most influential cities in America. It’s any day more than just a lakefront city with Cubs and Bulls fans and deep-dish pizzas. It is a place where people build careers and get the finest education from world-renowned universities. The city of Chicago boasts a high standard of living with several luxurious and vibrant localities fit for people of all ages.
Top 10 Neighbourhoods in Chicago
Below is a list of the 10 best neighbourhoods in Chicago, carefully curated, giving preference to specific location attributes. Let’s dive and explore the fascinating, enticing and eccentric sentiments each neighbourhood possesses with its culinary, architectural and housing sences. Additionally, if you are looking for the most suitable student housing in Chicago, feel free to visit the amber website.
1. River North
Population: 39,347
Cost of Living: $1645-$2820
Nearby Universities: Kingston University USA, Northwestern University
Great For: Artists, Nightlife
Tourist Attractions: House of Blues, Beatnik On The River, Marble Palace
River North is easily one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Chicago, especially for youngsters and artists thriving to get a gig or recognition. This vibrant neighbourhood is in the spotlight due to its centralised location by the Chicago River and Loop. Residents have access to a bunch of magnificent art galleries, trendy restaurants and hyped-up clubs. The neighbourhood holds a mixture of modern to mid-century architecture housing. Harrington Housing River Northis a fine student housing by the Chicago River.
Pros
- Popular neighbourhood with a centralised location
- Easy access to grocery stores, etc.
- Good for Youngsters
Cons
- Crowded at times
- Rackety life at night
- High rents
2. The Loop
Population: 37,647
Cost of Living: $1814-$3156
Nearby Universities: Roosevelt University, DePaul University College of Law, Columbia College Chicago
Great For: Commuters, young professionals, tourists
Tourist Attractions: National Hellenic Museum, Shedd Aquarium, The Adler Planetarium
The Loop is one of the best neighbourhoods in Chicago; it’s a place for people of all ages, with balmy, wide green spaces like the Millennium Park, tourist attractions, museums, music events and many more. Additionally, it is the place where the beloved Lollapalooza event takes place every August. The place is fairly divided into a west and south region. Although the rents seem to be pretty steep in this locality, several apartments and condos render amazing views with modern architecture.
Pros
- Centralised Location
- Several tourist attractions and green spaces
- Modern Public Transport
Cons
- High Cost of Living
- Crowded and noisy
3. Logan Square
Population: 72,724
Cost of Living: $1,100-$3,300
Nearby Universities: Wright College Humboldt Park, Northeastern Illinois University
Great For: Young professionals, coffee shop frequenters, hipsters
Tourist Attractions: Illinois Centennial Monument, historic Logan Theatre,
The only reason to validate that Logan Square is one of the best Chicago neighbourhoods is because of its homely vibes and aesthetics. Being one of the most relaxed neighbourhoods in Chicago, Milwaukee Avenue, AKA the Hipster Highway, is the one spot for hipsters and bicyclists. This urban vibe place possesses a multicultural community with a great preference for art, music and cocktails. Logan Square is for people who are mainly inclined towards vintage settings. There is a farmers’ market open every Sunday, a vintage movie theatre and dozens of thrift shops. June Homes 60647 is a comfortable student housing in Logan Square with amazing amenities.
Pros
- Lively Neighbourhood
- Variety of residence options
- Efficient Public Transport
Cons
- Car centric neighbourhood
- No nearby grocery store, etc.
4. Lincoln Park
Population: 68,697
Cost of Living: $1,189-$2,859
Nearby Universities: DePaul University, Franklin University
Great For: Park enthusiastic, Shopping enthusiastic
Tourist Attractions: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, North Avenue Beach
Lincoln Park, hands down, can be considered the best neighbourhood to stay in Chicago. It is where one can find the locals and wide green spaces. With an overall friendly neighbourhood vibe, a lot of families, young professionals and students find it preferable to stay here. Lincoln Park is more than an enticing area with several beautiful botanical and lakefront parks; it also has some of the oldest free zoos and an acclaimed dining scene deemed to be one of the best on the planet.
Pros
- Several shopping and dining options
- Proximity to the Lakefront
- Multiple sidewalks
Cons
- High Cost of Living
5. Lakeview
Population: 1,00,087
Cost of Living: $1000-$2500
Nearby Universities: Truman College, Saint Louis University
Great For: Artists, Young professionals
Tourist Attractions: Historic Music Box Theatre, Lakefront Trail
Lakeview is another best neighbourhood to stay in Chicago, located north of Lincoln Park with a beautiful lakefront view and tons of outdoor activities. Lakeview covers a wide area of land and is broken down into west, central and east areas. There are several local restaurants, bars and pub joints in the area. However, Lakeview is particularly known for outdoor activities near the lakefront, such as baseball. The historic music box theatre in the area is famous for screening indie and foreign films.
Pros
- Safe Neighbourhood
- Lakefront location
- Modern Public Transport
Cons
- Far from the Downtown
6. Lincoln Square
Population: 41,713
Cost of Living: $1,277-$2,805
Nearby Universities: DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus, American Northwest University
Great For: Foodies, Artists, Young Professionals
Tourist Attractions: Toy Emporium Timeless Toys, The Chopping Block
Lincoln Square is a small town-like area with a calm and friendly vibe. It has a vast amount of culturally diverse population. Lincoln Square is one of those Neighbourhoods in Chicago where one can find several old-architecture buildings and residences. It is a great place for couples and families. Furthermore, Lincoln Square has a little bit of a German aura referring to a few of the buildings and shops. Apart from that, there are several restaurants, pubs and clubs ranging from high-end to pocket-friendly.
Pros
- Friendly Neighbourhood
- Accessible Transport
Cons
- Far from the Downtown
7. Old Town
Population: 42,422
Cost of Living: $1,975- $2,500
Nearby Universities: University of Chicago Professional Education
Great For: Comedy lovers, green space, families
Tourist Attractions: Old Town Art Fair
Tagging along as one of the best neighbourhood to stay in Chicago, Old Town is situated between Lincoln Park and River North. It is a vibrant place fit for people of all ages, especially the young crowd. It is surprisingly a hub for comedians adding up to be one of the most livest places around the neighbourhood. Along with that, the place boasts a number of green spaces and an entrance to the Michigan lake. One must totally visit the Old Town School of Folk Music; this school has successfully accelerated many careers in music. Old Town is one of the best neighbourhoods in Chicago for the young crowd; dance your way through our blog on the best clubs in Chicago.
Pros
- Friendly Neighbourhood
- Proximity to Michigan Lake
- Accessible Transport
Cons
- Noisy areas
8. Roscoe Village
Population: 10,983
Cost of Living: $1,992-$2,892
Nearby Universities: Chamberlain University College of Nursing – Chicago, DePaul College Prep
Great For: Families, Artists, Young Professionals
Tourist Attractions: Kitsch’n on Roscoe, Le Sud’s rooftop patio
In search of one of the most peaceful and best neighbourhoods in Chicago? Look no more; Roscoe Village is a quiet, vintage bookstore with a hot brew and kind of a neighbourhood. It’s a great place for families, students and senior citizens since it captures a very warm and charming essence away from the city noise. They have accessible sidewalks, amazing cafes, joints, local shops and brick homes. Kitsch’n on Roscoe is a well-known comfort food restaurant where you may have breakfast, a must visit in the area.
Pros
- Local Charm
- Several Grocery stores and shops in proximity
- Pleasant area
Cons
- Far from the downtown
9. Wicker Park and Bucktown
Population: 23,728
Cost of Living: $2000-$2500
Nearby Universities: Chicago Urban Skills Institute, North Park University
Great For: Young professionals, vintage shopping, hipsters, nightlife
Tourist Attractions: ‘L’ train at Escape Artistry, 606 line
Wicker Park and Buck Town is a hip, artistic neighbourhood with excellent eateries, retail marts, and coffee shops. Being one of the best Chicago neighbourhoods, the area emits an eccentric atmosphere with bustling hubs that attract shoppers seeking out unusual catches and food enthusiasts seeking out the newest culinary trends. The centre of the area is also known as the ‘six corners.’ It falls at a point where North, Milwaukee, and Damen Avenues intersect. The 606 is a repurposed rail line that offers a raised view of Chicago’s unique neighbourhoods, and it’s a good way to tour the area.
Pros
- Several hangout spots
- Friendly neighbourhood
- Nearby Green Areas
Cons
- It might get a little bit noisy
10. University Village & Little Italy
Population: 23,346
Cost of Living: $2,400 -$2,900
Nearby Universities: University of Illinois at Chicago
Great For: Young Professionals, Families
Tourist Attractions: Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, Notre Dame de Chicago
Situated south of the West Loop, University Village and Little Italy are two of the Near West Side of Chicago’s smaller neighbourhoods. This youthful and lively place can undoubtedly be considered one of the best neighbourhoods in Chicago. The University of Illinois at Chicago is located there as well, which gives the neighbourhood a youthful vibe. With that being said, also gain insights on the universities in Chicago, If you’re considering pursuing higher education in top colleges in Chicago. There is also striking architecture and history lining the streets of University Village and Little Italy. The neighbourhood is renowned for having numerous churches, including Holy Family and Saint Basil. The Letterman is another convenient student housing near Little Italy, perfect for students studying at the University of Illinois.
Pros
- Safe Neighbourhood
- Dog Friendly
Cons
- Limited Train Access
All the neighbourhoods in Chicago exhibit their own sets of pros and cons. Still, the only thing common among all is how the people embrace cultural diversity and accept all kinds of nationalities. Overall, Chicago is a modern city with an amazing skyline and opportunities higher than that. Along with the best neighbourhoods in Chicago, explore our blog on Chicago student housing guide on moving as a student to answer all your questions.