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Explore All Chicago Neighborhoods

Guide to Neighborhoods in Chicago

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Your Chicago apartment search might be shaped by the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, outdoor spaces, parking spaces, etc. But one thing you need to find: What will your Chicago neighborhood be? Please get to know the city and suburbs by using our guide to Chicago neighborhoods or viewing the Chicago neighborhood map.

Lincoln Park is awash in studio apartments, and convertibles, and you can find 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments for rent in refurbished brownstones, lofts, condos, single-family homes, and newer high-rise towers.
Apartments in the West Loop offer renters plentiful choices ranging from new luxury apartments, lofts for rent, and condos for rent that carry the “industrial chic” vibe contributing to the neighborhood’s popularity.
Lakeview apartments are among the most varied in the city, with new construction popping up amid the many vintage courtyard buildings and mid-century apartments.
Logan Square apartments come in various styles and sizes, from historic mansions to classic Chicago two flats. Some luxury apartments and condos have recently been on the scene in Logan Square for renters who want to spring for more comfort and amenities.
River North is the de facto nightlife district for visitors to Chicago but it offers plenty of comfortable living spaces that come in everything from studios up to multi-bedroom apartments.
Apartments for rent in Wicker Park Chicago can range in size, from studios to 1 bedroom to 3 bedrooms, but offer easy access to downtown Chicago with service on the CTA Blue line.
Apartments for rent in the Gold Coast Chicago put renters in great proximity to the Magnificent Mile, which includes Water Tower Place, the Drake Hotel, and the Four Seasons.
South Loop apartments range from studios to 3 bedrooms. They have proximity to the Loop with numerous brand new luxury apartments available with great city views or Lake Michigan views.
Edgewater apartments for rent are available in everything from vintage apartments, studios, and 1-, 2-, or 3-bedroom apartments near Lake Michigan. Every summer, Foster and Hollywood's beaches are magnets for sports enthusiasts and sun-bathers.
Apartments in Old Town provide easy access to downtown Chicago while still offering renters a neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, and unique retail shops.
Rogers Park Apartments tend to be in classic courtyard buildings, with the occasional mid-rise or two-flat apartment building thrown in for good measure. This is the northernmost neighborhood within Chicago’s city limits.
Apartments for rent in Hyde Park offer varied and interesting architecture, from newly constructed modern high-rise apartments to ornate vintage apartment buildings from the late 19th century.

If I’m Moving to Chicago, Which Chicago Neighborhoods Should I Explore?

First, congrats on moving to Chicago! Many renters are known to stay up late trying to crack the puzzle of “Which are the best neighborhoods in Chicago?” Heated debates have broken out in taverns, on street corners, in the national press, and even within some renters’ living rooms. But here’s the thing: renters should NOT lose sleep over this supposed conundrum -- the truth is that all Chicago neighborhoods have something to offer renters...it largely depends on what they’re looking for in a neighborhood.

Some Chicago neighborhoods are more densely populated than others. Here is a quick and easy breakdown of how many people live in Chicago and within a given neighborhood: Southside Chicago neighborhoods are usually less crowded than neighborhoods on the north side of Chicago. More than half of Chicago’s geographic footprint is south and west of downtown, aka the origin point of Chicago’s street grid system, so there’s a lot of land on the south side. There are more people on the north side and less land, so if renters want a place that allows them more space to go for walks, have a peaceful picnic or spend a day in the park, then the south side neighborhoods may be a good place to start browsing for apartments. If the density is the desired characteristic for a Chicago neighborhood, check out neighborhoods on the north side.  You can always view the Chicago neighborhood map to get started.

How Many Neighborhoods are in Chicago?

There are 77 Chicago neighborhoods. The number of official neighborhoods has grown over time, and it may be poised to grow again soon. Discussion about developing underutilized land and formerly industrial zones have picked up in recent years, so the number of Chicago neighborhoods could quickly add to 78. And renters in each of the distinct neighborhoods in Chicago can start their search for apartments here.

Not to confuse matters more, but some neighborhoods in Chicago are located within other neighborhoods. This can be unclear to newcomers, but there’s an essential distinction between Chicago's regions and neighborhoods. If renters look at the directory of Chicago neighborhoods on this page, they’ll see that each one is located within a region. The regions are designated by geographical names like North Side, South Side, Far North, Far South, Northwest, Southwest, etc.

Where Do Nicknames for Chicago Neighborhoods Come From?

Many Chicago neighborhoods are named for their location, e.g., River North, the West Loop, Lakeshore East, South Loop, Uptown, etc. Other nicknames point to a central gathering place, like Fulton Market, Logan Square, Lincoln Square, McKinley Park, etc.

Then what about interesting names like Streeterville, Pilsen, and Bronzeville? Unique names for neighborhoods in Chicago frequently denote the history, ethnic makeup, or population of those neighborhoods. The more idiosyncratic names for Chicago neighborhoods, though, often refer to the home region of immigrants who settled in the area many decades ago but no longer represented the predominant demographic for that community. Andersonville and Pilsen are two examples in this regard. Learn more about Chicago neighborhood history by clicking through one of the comprehensive neighborhood guides. 

Explore All Chicago Neighborhoods

Albany Park

Andersonville

Arcadia Terrace   

Archer Heights

Ashburn

Auburn Gresham

Austin

Avalon Park

Avondale

Back of the Yards

Belmont Cragin

Beverly

Bowmanville

Boystown

Bridgeport

Brighton Park

Bronzeville

Bucktown

Budlong Woods

Buena Park

Burnside

Calumet Heights

Chatham

Chicago Lawn

Chicago Loop

Chinatown

Clearing

Dearborn Park

DePaul

Douglas

Dunning

East Garfield Park

East Side

East Village

Edgebrook

Edgewater

Edison Park

Englewood

Forest Glen

Fuller Park

Fulton Market

Gage Park

Garfield Ridge

Gold Coast

Graceland West

Greater Grand Crossing

Hamlin Park

Harwood Heights

Hegewisch

Hermosa

Hollywood Park

Humboldt Park

Hyde Park

Irving Park

Jefferson Park 

Kenwood

Kilbourn Park

Lakeshore East

Lakeview

Lakewood Balmoral

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Square

Little Italy

Little Village

Logan Square

Margate Park

Mayfair

McKinley Park

Montclare

Morgan Park

Mount Greenwood

Near West Side

Noble Square

North Center

North Lawndale

North Mayfair

North Park

Norwood Park

O'Hare

Oakland

Old Irving Park

Old Town

Peterson Park

Peterson Woods

Pilsen

Portage Park

Printer's Row

Pullman

Ravenswood

Ravenswood Manor

River North

River West

Riverdale

Rogers Park

Roscoe Village

Roseland

Sauganash

Sheridan Park

South Chicago

South Deering

South Loop

South Shore

Southport Corridor

St. Ben's

Streeterville

Tri-Taylor

Ukrainian Village

University Village

Uptown

Washington Heights

Washington Park

West Elsdon

West Englewood

West Garfield Park

West Lawn

West Loop

West Pullman

West Ridge

West Town

Wicker Park

Woodlawn

Wrigleyville