Areas and Suburbs in Chicago

Chicago is divided into five main sections:

• Downtown
• North side
• Northwest Side
• South Side
• West Side

For the purposes of residential areas the city is actually divided into two parts: the North (wealthy) and the South (poor). The residential areas expats will be interested in lie up North.

Choosing the right neighbourhood

• Avoid South Side where the violence and the crime rate is higher than in the rest of the city.
• Choose your children’s school first and then start house hunting. This is especially true if you choose a Chicago Public School, as address dictates which schools you can apply to.
• Commute or to not commute, that is the main question! The answer will have a large effect on your way of life.
• If you choose not to commute, take your time and explore the different areas. Chicago has 210 neighbourhoods, and each has its own ambience.

Recommended Northside neighbourhoods

Lakeview

• Lakeview is the home of very different communities such as families and young professionals. A gay and lesbian community is concentrated in Boystown.

• Located four miles from the Loop, Lakeview also includes Wrigleyville and the Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Therefore, it is also a nightlife destination with tons of restaurants and bars.

• Close to the bank of Lake Michigan, Lakeview also offers outdoor activities with a golf course, running and biking paths and a direct access to Lincoln Park. With streets lined with trees and small buildings, Lakeview is a beautiful place to live.

• Accommodations range fromlarge brick houses to the high rises closer to Lake Michigan.

Lincoln Park

• Lincoln Park is located two miles from downtown Chicago. Families with children of all ages live in this neighbourhood. Lots of expatriates choose this area because there are good public and private schools not too far away.

• Lincoln Park is a big garden in the middle of urban civilization, and boasts the largest free zoo in the nation(Lincoln Park Zoo), a farm, the Nature Museum, the shore of Lake Michigan, running and biking trails, and lots of playgrounds.

• The housing options are going from vintage houses to mid-range condos to towering high-rises.

Recommended Northwest neighbourhoods

Lincoln Square

• Lincoln Square is a former German neighbourhood. Some German businesses are still located in the area but new cultures have settled in, specifically an Asian community.

• Families and young couples are attracted to this area tue to the large amount of single family homes and 2-3 bedroom flat buildings.

• Lincoln Square is rich in outdoor activities. Three main parks are located around the community area (East River Park, Winnemac Park and Welles Park). The rich ecosystem of the Chicago River is also easily accessible on the West side of the community area.

• Lincoln Square is like a small village.

Roscoe Village

• The Roscoe Village neighborhood is a very quiet area located closed by Lakeview and Lincoln Park community areas. The most active street in Roscoe Village is Roscoe street where stand businesses and residencies.

• In Roscoe Village you will find either modern or vintage two-three flat buildings.

Recommended West Side neighbourhoods

Logan Square

• Logan Square is located mid-way between the O’Hare International Airport and downtown.

• The Logan Square population is composed of working-class people. There are communities of Latinos (Mexican, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans), African-Americans, Polish and Norwegian-American. Students and artists live also in Logan Square.

• This population is attracted to Logan Square by the low rents. The dwellings are made of old grey stone mansions and apartments.

• Numerous parks are located in Logan Square: Palmer Square, Mozart Park, Logan Square, Kosciuszko Park, Holstein Park, Senior Citizen Memorial Park.

Recommended South Side neighbourhoods

Hyde Park

• Home of the University of Chicago, Hyde Park might be the perfect place to settle for international students and scholars who have a short or medium term assignment.

• The local population is a blend of African American, white and international students and scholars. Hyde Park is one of the most diverse communities in Chicago.

• There is a huge amount of greenery with parks such as Kenwwood Park, Washington Park, Bixter Park, Jackson Park, Promontory Point Park, the 57th beach …

• In Hyde Park you can find accommodation such as mansions, courtyard buildings and towers on the lake front. It is both a sophisticated and progressive area to live in.

A great suburb to live in:

Evanston

• Evanston is located on the North side of Chicago and is the home of the private Northwestern University.

• Evanston attracts not only students but also families with children of all ages. Evanston is a family-friendly residential neighborhood with large, beautiful houses with gardens.