Moving to Chicago with your family? The Windy City offers world-class dining, affordable housing options, plenty of family-friendly activities, and more! If you’re looking to live in Chicago, check out these five Chi-Town neighborhoods for families!
Neighborhood | Beverly | Edison Park | Forest Glen | Hyde Park | Lincoln Park |
Median Home Price | $300,525 | $446,771 | $429,400 | $351,294 | $702,485 |
Median Rent Price | $892 | $1,745 | $1,152 | $1,300 | $1,835 |
Median Household Income | $117,969 | $138,875 | $108,750 | $58,761 | $132,432 |
Home Appreciation Rate | 4% | 23% | 2% | 23% | 28% |
High School Graduation Rate | 96% | 95% | 93% | 96% | 97% |
Beverly
If you’re looking for one of the best places to buy a home in Chicago, look no further than Beverly! Located in Chicago’s South Side, Beverly is ideal for anyone looking for a suburban feel within the city. This great Chicago neighborhood offers a variety of spacious housing options—ranging from traditional brick bungalows to large Craftsman-style homes—with sizeable yards on safe streets. Parents in this area can send their children to great public and private schools in Chicago, like Beverly Montessori School, St. Barnabas School, and Kate Starr Kellogg Elementary School. This Chicago neighborhood is also known for its strong Irish roots, offering a great selection of Irish pubs and events like the South Side Irish Parade.
Things to Do in Beverly
Learn about Chicago history while visiting Givins’ Irish Castle, Chicago’s only castle! Attend events or sign the kids up for Summer Arts Camps at the Beverly Arts Center. Spend the day exploring more than 250 acres of forest preserve, sled during the winter, bike during the spring and summer months, and have a family picnic at Dan Ryan Woods. Practice your golf swing or take the family for a swim at the members-only Ridge Country Club. Check out the latest bestseller, a film screening, or Family Story Time at the Beverly Branch of the Chicago Public Library. Start your morning with a Lavender Latte paired with Old-Fashioned Donuts at AndySunflower Cafe. Enjoy a variety of dishes, from Italian Beef Sandwiches to Blackened Catfish, at Nicky’s of Beverly. Call a babysitter and enjoy a cold beer while catching up with friends in the beer garden at neighborhood Irish bar Cork & Kerry. Or enjoy Deep Dish Cheese Pizza, a Meatball Sandwich, or Lasagna at neighborhood favorite, Chuck’s Pizza.
Edison Park
Families looking for a safe neighborhood in Chicago should consider calling Edison Park home! Named after Thomas Edison, this Chicago North Side neighborhood offers families affordable housing options ranging from bungalows to Colonial-style homes, complete with garages and yards. This Chicago neighborhood is great for families wanting a close-knit community, since there are lots of community events held here, including the Annual Irish Sunday Funday, Edison Park Restaurant Week, and Edison Park Fest. When you’re ready to spend some time in the city, you can just hop on the nearby Metra at Edison Park Train Station. Plus, with close proximity to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, it’s easy to get away for family vacations!
Things to Do in Edison Park
Sign yourself or the kids up to learn the fundamentals of Irish Dancing at Saol Academy of Irish Dance. Play a game of basketball, join a volleyball league, or attend an Arts & Crafts event at Olympia Park. Let the little ones burn some energy on the playground at Brooks Park. Treat yourself to a spa day with a Detoxifying Seaweed Body Wrap, Deep Tissue Massage, and an Ultimate Hydration Facial at Allure De Vie Salon & Day Spa. Enjoy classic French fare with dishes such as Baked Brie or Poulet & Frites paired with a glass of Sparkling Rose at Café Touché. Try different types of hot dogs like the Cheese Dog, Chicago Hot Dog, or Corn Dog at Snappy Dog. Devour a plate full of Buffalo Chicken Fingers or a Caribbean Burger while playing a game of pool at neighborhood favorite Edison Park Inn. Order seafood and steakhouse classics like a Porterhouse Steak, Chilean Sea Bass, or Surf & Turf at Elliott’s Seafood Grille & Chop House. Or try different types of hot and cold soups off the Daily Soup Menu and complete your meal with a Cookie Dough Milkshake at Soup & Scoops!
Forest Glen
“Chicago’s Finest Community” of Forest Glen encompasses the areas of Edgebrook and Sauganash, and is one of the best Chicago neighborhoods for families to live in! Located on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Forest Glen offers families a suburban, secluded feeling without being removed from the city center. With more than 500 homes in the neighborhood, families can find a wide variety of single-family houses—including Victorian and Tudor-style homes—on tree-lined streets with spacious yards for the kids to play in. Here, you’re close to both public and private schools like Edgebrook Elementary School, Sauganash Montessori School, and Queen of All Saints School.
Things to Do in Forest Glen
Head over to Edgebrook Golf Course to play 18 holes, take a lesson with the resident pro, or try Footgolf. Watch the kids play on the playground, walk the trails, and end your day with a picnic at Bunker Hill. Take a picture while visiting “a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa,” the Leaning Tower of Niles. Check out the latest book, take the kids for homework help, or attend events like Hatters Story Time at the Chicago Public Library’s Edgebrook Branch. Sign the kids up for ukulele or voice lessons at Northside Music Academy. Make your way to Edgebrook Coffee Shop and Diner for a Breakfast Sandwich and a slice of Coffee Cake paired with an Iced Coffee. Savor Vietnamese favorites like Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi, Fried Rice with Pineapple, or Pho Brisket at King Pho. Order Indian and Nepalese dishes like Chicken Tikka, Lamb Tikka Masala, or Fish Masala at Himshikar Restaurant. Satisfy your hunger with classic comfort foods like a Ham & Cheese Sub, Chicken Tenders, or Fish & Chips at Eden’s – The Original.
Hyde Park
If you’re looking for a quiet, calm Chicago area where you can raise your family without breaking the bank, check out the Hyde Park neighborhood! This residential area offers tree-lined streets with affordable housing options, ranging from Tudor and Craftsman-style homes to nice apartments for rent. Hyde Park is also home to quality schools in Chicago like Ray Elementary School and University of Chicago Laboratory Schools—as well as the prestigious University of Chicago. The university’s presence in Hyde Park is part of why the neighborhood is known as the cultural hub of Chicago, in addition to alternative expo Hyde Park Art Center, the Frederick C. Robie House, and DuSable Museum of African American History. Families looking for things to do in this Chicago neighborhood can stay busy with fun community events like Hyde Park Holly-Day, Spring Hyde Park Garden Fair, and the Hyde Park Jazz Festival.
Things to Do in Hyde Park
Pick up fresh fruits and veggies at the Hyde Park Farmers Market. Explore a 1964 Boeing 727, experience the enchantment of Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle, and learn about the James Webb Space Telescope at the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago. Spend the day swimming in Lake Michigan and enjoy a picnic with the family at 57th Street Beach. Let the kids loose on the playground, play a game of baseball, or walk through the community flower garden at Nichols (John Fountain) Park. Start your morning with a cup of coffee paired with House Made Granola & Greek Yogurt or a Veggie Burrito at Plein Air. Order Italian favorites such as Spaghetti Al Cartoccio, Calamari Fritti, or Margherita Pizze and be sure to save room for a scoop of Hazelnut Gelati at Nella. Dine on mouth-watering Mediterranean dishes like a bowl of Humble Lentil Soup, Chicken Shawarma Wrap, or a Falafel Wrap at Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen. Or try the Taco Carnitas, Shrimp Fajitas, or Carne Asada Tortas at Tacos El Pastor 53.
Lincoln Park
Families looking to move to a Chicago neighborhood with great walkability and access to the outdoors will love living in Lincoln Park! Families will never run out of fun activities here, whether it’s trying new restaurants, spending the day outside at Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Conservatory, or attending one of the many community events, like the Savor Lincoln Park food festival. Lincoln Park residents can choose from a variety of housing options, ranging from vintage brownstones to condos with jaw-dropping views of Lake Michigan. This neighborhood also offers highly-rated schools like Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln Park High School, and Francis W. Parker School, as well as a quick commute to The Loop!
Things to Do in Lincoln Park
Spend the day swimming, building a sandcastle, or riding a bike along the beach at North Avenue Beach. Visit Lincoln Park Zoo to see aardvarks, Chilean flamingos, red kangaroos, and more! See the latest play at Steppenwolf Theatre or cheer on the Chicago Cubs (MLB) at Wrigley Field. Learn about important moments in local and national history at the Chicago History Museum. Spend the day shopping local boutiques like Art Effect or Bedside Manor Ltd. and enjoy dining at a variety of different restaurants in the Armitage – Halsted Hub. Start your day at Batter & Berries, where you can order Lemon French Toast, a Chicken Fajita Omelette, or Cluck & Gravy. Try the Lew-Wow or the Alo-Hot Pizza at Homeslice. Stop by Colectivo Coffee for a Cardamom Spice Mocha or London Fog paired with an Orange Currant Scone. Or treat the kids to R.J.’s Wings, Grilled Cheese, or Chicken Tenders paired with French Fries or Mac & Cheese at R.J. Grunts.
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Neighborhood statistics from AreaVibes