Young couple moving to Chicago?

Question

My fiance and I are looking into moving to Chicago. We are from New Orleans so we're not used to being in a city that is easy to navigate by foot. We are really looking for a neighborhood where everything we need will be within a short walking distance. We obviously want a safe, affordable neighborhood as well. We want lots of parks, markets, shopping, and things to do, but not an obnoxious amount of nightlife (i.e. tons of bars). Can anyone help us with this!?!?! Thanks so much.

Answer 1

I def. recommend Lincoln Park and Rogers Park. Also there's an area close to there called Sauganash, and it's very safe, and there's a huge nature center right across so it's pretty great. You don't really need to worry about bars and huge nightlife scenes, that mostly takes place in the heart of the city. This is just a normal, quiet family neighborhood. If you have kids the schooling in these areas, are really great, and the families are usually middle class, upper-middle class. Plenty of shopping and grocery stores such as Jewel-Osco, and Dominicks.  And if you're worried about getting places, there's plenty of public transportation in the Chicago area. CTA buses are always on the move, safe and cheap. Also there's plenty of taxis if you need to get somewhere fast. There's the El which is a train station not far from there either, so you have a pretty decent variety of public transportation.

Hope you enjoy moving to the Windy City!

good luck.

Answer 2

i say lincoln park area up north  

Answer 3

I would consider Rogers Park, which is still pretty cheap and is a walkable neighborhood.  It's on the far North Side of the city, so if you work downtown the commute can be a factor.  I also want to give a shout-out to Ukrainian village, which is where I live.  I used to live in Wicker Park until it got too full of chic bars and overpriced boutiques -- Ukrainian Village is a quieter neighborhood but I can walk to the market, the park, and a couple of cool bars, and I'm close enough to transit downtown that I can get to most places without much trouble.  Hyde Park is also very walkable and reasonably safe (it's surrounded by less safe neighborhoods, though.)  It's the home of the University of Chicago so housing prices vary greatly by how close you are to campus.

I suggest checking out the Not For Tourists guide -- they have maps of amenities by neighborhood, and little blurbs to give you an idea of what each neighborhood is like.  You can buy the book or the entire thing is up on the web (link below.)

Answer 4

Lincoln Park and Lakeview are the two most popular neighborhoods for young people in Chicago.  They are both on the North Side of the city and have most of the things you've outlined.  Lincoln Park is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city though and Lakeview can be pricey as well if you're looking to buy instead of rent.  

Other popular neighborhoods include Bucktown and Wicker Park, which are west instead of north.  These two neighborhoods have more of a hipster vibe.  Bucktown is more expensive than Wicker Park.  Andersonville is also a cool neighborhood.  It's not quite as expensive as Lakeview, Lincoln Park or Bucktown.  It's a little further north and has gotten tons of new shops and restaurants over the last few years.  Unfortunately, to get all the things you're looking for in terms of amenities, you're going to find yourself in some of the pricer neighborhoods in the city.  You'll definitely find real estate and rentals to be a lot more than New Orleans, but what you get in return are great neighborhoods with everything you need right outside your door. chicago.metromix.com and centerstagechicago.com have some good information about different city neighborhoods and things to do, as does liveherechicago.com where you can take a quiz to find your perfect Chicago neighborhood.