Note: this post is for the Chicago novice; already live here? Check out previous posts!
“I’m moving to Chicago from out-of-town; which neighborhood do you recommend?”
With a seemingly endless list of neighborhoods to pick from, choosing the right fit can quickly turn a mere move into a citywide research mission.
When considering locations, it’s best to understand how you’ll navigate through the city on a daily basis. As a future Chicagoan, you’ll have a few ways to get around via The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The Big Three are: Red, Blue, and Brown. There are also Pink, Green, Yellow, and Purple Line trains among innumerable bus routes.
While using your own car to get around is always an option – one of the best things about living in a big city is not having to be financially responsible for a personal vehicle. To give you a little more insight, below are my personal takes on train transit.
Red Line: the main artery of the CTA, this line runs from Howard St in Rogers Park, all the way down to 95th on the South Side. Running 24 hours a day, you can expect to grab a ride about every 5-7 mins on lengthy, eight car trains.
Blue Line: arguably the most important train line in the city, this 24-hour route runs in a path similar to the ‘greater than’ symbol (>), beginning at O’Hare, and ending in a west side neighborhood called Oak Park.
Brown Line: a North side favorite, the Brown Line runs at all hours except between 2AM-4AM. This stretch of track services the area between the Red and Blue Line trains running Northwest from The Loop, out to Albany Park. If you catch this train at the right time, it switches to an Orange Line train in The Loop, which quickly takes passengers to Midway airport.
Of course, no matter where you live, a bus route is typically just around the corner – these can be great to help navigate the distances between train stops where walking would otherwise just take too long. Plus, a transfer is only twenty five cents!
Once you have a good understanding of how you’ll navigate each day, you can start honing in on the neighborhood that makes sense for you. Is work near a specific stop? Do you need to get to a nearby family member with ease? The answers to these types of questions will quickly narrow down your target neighborhoods.
Using the Red Line? Try Lincoln Park, Lakeview, or Uptown. Studios here will run from about $995 to $1500, depending on amenities, location, and finishes. One beds are usually about $1200-$2000. Two beds roughly $1750-$3000.
Using the Blue Line? Fan favorites are Logan Square, Wicker Park, and West Town. Similarly priced to the above.
Using the Brown Line? Check out Southport Corridor, Ravenswood, or Albany Park. The most affordable on the North Side. Studios can start under $900, one beds around $1100-$1800; two bedrooms run between $1600-$2000 or so.
So, why not just live in the epicenter of the city? While it can seem tempting to move right in to the heart of the action when coming from out of town, there are some key drawbacks. Most notably, sky-high prices. A studio in The Loop could run the same as a two bedroom just outside of it. On top of astronomical pricing, The Loop is known to shut down after retail hours, which can feel erie at night. Livelier, nearby River North is spotted with restaurants and nightlife, but still doesn’t offer a solace from the bustle of city life–which can begin to feel like a bubble when work and home are too close together. Consider also, these are the areas littered with tourists passing through, crowding your favorite coffee shops and boutiques.
Ultimately, only you can make that important decision, but with an expert on your side, the decision can be much easier.
Ready to jump start your search? Contact me below!
xx
Cory
According to Cory 