From industrial powerhouse to cultural tour de force
In 1914, poet Carl Sandburg called Chicago “The City of Big Shoulders," a reference to the workforce who labored under its mighty industrial growth. The center of America's meatpacking industry and a major railroad hub throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago was also the world’s fastest-growing city — unimpeded even by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Its population ballooned from just over 300,000 to nearly 1.7 million at the turn of the 20th century. Today, it's America’s third-largest city, with 3 million people. The metropolitan area, dubbed Chicagoland, has roughly 9 million people living across 10,000 square miles and encompasses cities and towns in neighboring states, including Indiana and Wisconsin. There are 35 Fortune 500 companies based in the city and its suburbs, including Kraft Heinz and Mondelez International, the parent company to household brands like Oreo and Ritz. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange is the largest futures exchange in the world — appropriately enough, it started out by trading agricultural futures.
Along with its reputation as an economic powerhouse, Chicago is also a cultural capital, with world-class museums, top universities and architectural wonders — from the cylindrical towers of Marina City to the Gothic spires of the Tribune Towers to the glassy modern-day Willis Tower. Upscale shopping along the Magnificent Mile and the attractions of Navy Pier draw visitors and locals alike, as do newer landmarks like The Bean. Among the pillars of modernity, pieces of the past keep history ever-present, like the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station; this Gothic-Revival limestone building was one of the few downtown buildings to survive the 1871 blaze, a symbol of the city’s resiliency that now welcomes tourists as the Chicago Office of Tourism.
Some 77 community areas and around 200 neighborhoods make up Chicago proper, each with its own distinct personality — from historic Pullman and Hyde Park on the South Side, to leafy Lincoln Park in the north, to the west side's artsy Wicker Park . But residents are united in enjoying the city's many amenities, including Lake Michigan and the waterfront, and cheering on their beloved Bears and Cubs. Elevated trains – the "L" to residents – encircle the The Loop district downtown, spreading out into the neighborhoods and connecting the city.
Streeterville is Chicago's premiere downtown skyscraper neighborhood, in the heart of the city.
The Art Institute of Chicago houses world class exhibitions and historic masterpieces.
The Loop is known for its extravagant theatres from the early 20th century.
All Chicago's EL trains encircle the downtown Loop.
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From bungalows to modern condos
While the high-rise condos and apartment towers provide a pulsing downtown scene, Chicago's neighborhoods can have a more residential feel with distinctive architecture. Multi-family homes -- known as two- and three-flats -- of northern neighborhoods like Andersonville contrast with the bungalows that line the suburban-like streets of Portage Park . Areas like Bronzeville , steeped in African American life, culture and artistic expression, see grand Greystone mansions coexisting with contemporary new builds. In other neighborhoods, condos in the $150,000 range may share backyards with architecturally significant and historic homes selling for $2 million. Workers’ cottages in the near and far south end are a riff on the bungalow silhouette, usually standing two stories tall. They are clad in wood siding and a big part of south Chicago’s core, where the workers of the past built their lives.
The expansive metro area, with its satellite cities and suburbs, provides housing opportunities, sometimes broken up by quiet stretches that used to be farmland or in commuter-friendly developments that appeared after World War II. Jeffrey Manor , for example, has fixer-upper ranches from the 1950s that start at $150,000. “You’re a stone’s throw from the Indiana border,” says Realtor Wendy Lee with Exit Realty, an expert on the Chicago market for over 20 years. She points to the famous Indiana Dunes as a place where people can relax on the lakefront. “You’re also close to Interstates 90 and 94, plus there are shopping destinations along Route 20.” Overall, the median home price in the Chicago metro area is around $360,000, below the national median of $420,000.
Ravenswood Manor residents stroll past the large cottages and vibrant font yard scapes.
Greystones and Two-Flats decorate the tree lined streets of Andersonville.
Modern high-rises with scenic views of the area catch the sunset in Rush-Division.
Chicago style Bungalows are the predominate style found in West Lawn's housing stock.
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Some of the nation's top public schools, plus world-class colleges
Chicago Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in the country, enrolls over 400,000 students but still maintains a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio, which helps to secure an overall B score from Niche. Dozens of schools have been shuttered since 2000 due to low enrollment, as parents opt for charter schools, private schools, religious schools or military academies. Across the metro area, Niche gives an A-plus grade to 27 school districts – naming Adlai Stevenson High School District 125 in Lincolnshire, Illinois, as not just the best school district in the region but as the #1 Best School District in America. Nearby, Glenbrook High School District 225, Evanston Township High School District 202, and Township High School District 113 are among America's Top 10 Best School Districts per Niche.
Magnet schools like the Chicago High School for the Arts hold auditions, while some high schools pull students from a lottery of those who have passed the selective enrollment exams. “It can be stressful; parents and kids are worried about that,” says Rob Munds, Realtor with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty and a parent himself. “Seventh grade, you have to start preparing for the high school selective enrollment exam; that’s a super important year, there’s tutoring and studying extra.” Even then, with thousands of applicants for only hundreds of spaces, entrance is not guaranteed — but Munds says they are so desirable that students will travel an hour or more to get into the most selective institutions.
Chicago proper has 21 colleges and universities, including the University of Chicago, one of the most prestigious. Northwestern, filled with imposing Gothic architecture, is another top college. Located in the suburb of Evanston, it’s perhaps best known for its journalism and music programs.
Evanston's Northwestern University, with its Gothic architecture is ranked a top 10 school.
Adlai Stevenson High School in district 125 ranks as #1 Best School District in America.
Lane Tech College Prep High School offers a quality private education to Chicago students.
The University of Chicago is one of Chicago's most prestigious colleges.
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Life on Lake Michigan and parks with historic flair
Almost every neighborhood has a park, and many have a fieldhouse for indoor activities in the cold winters. Many are more than just open green spaces for running around – they host farmers’ markets, festivals, and other events to unite the neighborhoods. Millennium Park at the northwestern corner of Grant Park, often considered the crown jewel of The Loop. It’s famous for public art pieces like The Bean, a metallic structure that reflects downtown Chicago and is perhaps the city’s best-known installation. The park is also home to Buckingham Fountain, which is structured like a wedding cake and is one of the largest fountains in the world.
The shores of Lake Michigan stretch along the entire northeastern edge of the city. “Being close to the lake is awesome,” says Steve Inacker, co-owner of Vicinity Candles, who makes candles with aromas to represent Chicago neighborhoods. “I think it’s the most underrated part of Chicago.” With beaches and paths separating the water from parklands, residents make use of the lakeside in the warmer months. “The lake path is super popular with runners and bikers, you go out there early or in the evening, you’ll see a ton of people out there,” says Munds. There’s a strong boating and fishing culture, as sails poke up on the horizon in the summers, and it culminates in the Air and Water Show in August.
Across the city and beyond the city limits, over 200 golf clubs run the gamut from 9-hole municipal courses to world-class championship courses – Golf Digest rates the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton as one of the Top 20 Courses in the United States. For those who just want to enjoy the outdoors, there are dozens of nature preserves across the region, including Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve in Lockport and Illinois Beach Preserve in Zion, along with arboretums and botanical gardens within the cities. The sprawling green space of Washington Park features the DuSable Black History Museum.
Anish Kapoor's "Cloud Gate", locally known as The Bean reflects the Chicago skyline.
Installed in 1927 the Clarence F. Buckingham Fountain is an iconic piece of Chicago's skyline.
Life on Chicago's lakefront is bustling with activity during the warm summer months.
Sailing on Lake Michigan delivers scenic views Chicago's skyline.
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Diverse food options and magnificent shopping
Chicago has put its stamp on American food culture. People tend to associate deep-dish pizza with Chicago, but tavern style also originated here, a cracker-thin, square-cut pie often enjoyed at a sports bar. From the mid-1800s through the mid-1920s, Union Stock Yards processed more meat than any other place in the world – a century later, Chicago steakhouses are a fixture of the food scene. Utilizing less-choice cuts and made portable for workers, the Italian beef sandwich – made popular in the hit television series “The Bear,” which highlights the high-end gastronomical side of the city – has been ubiquitous for decades.
There are 26 Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago, including a pair of upscale eateries that receive the coveted 3-star designation: Smyth and Alinea, which focus on modern American cuisine. Pockets of international flavor include Asia on Argyle, Indian cuisine on Devon, and Ethiopian along Clark Avenue, showing off the diversity of taste buds across the metro. Meanwhile, old-school European restaurants in the North Center and west continue to serve up the Polish, Irish, and German cuisines that were part of the foundation of these neighborhoods. The city's South Side shows off its culinary chops with barbecue spots, soul food joints and modern Southern fare led by Erick Williams, the first Black chef to represent Chicago and win a James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes.
At the heart of the city and known across the county, the Magnificent Mile shopping district features over 400 stores, including Bloomingdale’s and J. Crew, luxury designer boutiques like Cartier, Dior and Nordstrom, and more. Shopping malls dot the suburbs, offering concentrated retail opportunities.
The crown jewel of the Mag Mile belongs to Bloomingdales flag ship location at 900 N Michigan.
The iconic Water Tower Place boasts five floors of flagship retail shopping on the Mag Mile.
Ginos East brings deep dish to the Magnificent Mile with a variety of in house pies.
Chicago steakhouses like Gibsons are a longstanding fixture of the food scene.
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A busy, buzzy city for sports, the arts and so much more
It’s hard to overstate Chicago’s love for sports. Wrigley Field's “The Friendly Confines” – a phrase popularized by Hall of Fame baseball player Ernie Banks – welcomes fans and families with its green vines and over a century of history and lore. Wrigley is an integral part of the Wrigleyville and Lakeview neighborhoods. On the southern end of town, the White Sox play near the neighborhood of Bridgeport . The oldest stadium in the NFL, Soldier Field, is home to the Chicago Bears, who have been in the state since 1919. Discussions for a new venue are underway, with signs pointing to a multibillion-dollar domed lakefront stadium. In the United Center , the United Center is home to the Blackhawks and the Bulls; visitors stroll in past the statue of “His Airness” himself, Michael Jordan, a permanent reminder of perhaps the greatest NBA dynasty ever. The city also has a professional women's basketball team as well as men's and women's soccer.
While sports bring out the fervor of fandom and often steal the spotlight, the museums of Chicago draw in visitors from across the country. The Art Institute of Chicago, located in Grant Park, is the second-largest art museum in the country and home to famed artwork, including American Gothic, among nearly 300,000 works in its permanent collection. On the other end of the park, the Field Museum of Natural History is the home of Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found to date. Just a few hundred feet away, the Shedd Aquarium is the third-largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, with over 1,500 species.
Chicago is known for its live scene – from the improv and sketch comedy of The Second City troupe to live theatre performances from Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Music is a thread through the history of Chicago, ranging from the blues and boogie of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and Chicago’s evolution of Dixieland Jazz that defined the early 1900s to the house and punk music scenes that defined the end of the century. Lollapalooza, the Chicago Blues Festival and Riot Fest are highlights of the national scene. The United Center and the Aragon Ballroom host nationally touring acts, while smaller neighborhood theaters and outdoor venues host events across the city.
Chicago’s seasonal events build extra anticipation throughout the year as residents watch the river turn green for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March and the Christmas Tree Lighting in Millennium Park in December. Chicago’s Pride Parade in June is one of the oldest and largest pride celebrations in the country. The celebration runs through the heart of @northalNorthalsted, a neighborhood often referred to as Boystown. This area is recognized as the oldest officially recognized gay neighborhood in the country and is part of the larger Lakeview East community. Other major draws include outdoor performances at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, with over 100 performances across three months.
Chicago's Wrigleyville has grown around the stadium with its love of baseball at its core.
Chicago's Boystown is the oldest officially recognized gay neighborhood in the country.
Chicago's Blues Fest is the largest free music festival in the world, happening each June.
Built in 1922 the Aragon Ballroom brings nationally touring acts to Chicago's music scene.
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A vast transportation network
The train is perhaps the most popular public transportation option, with stops reaching deep into the city's neighborhoods. Buses roam within the neighborhoods, and the Metra light rail serves commuters deep into the suburbs, reaching as far as Naperville, Aurora, Elgin, Kenosha and Joliet. Many residents, like Mark Zipperer, Broker with Re/Max Next, will mix different modes of transportation on a daily basis. “We’ll Uber or walk a lot of places, I also have electric scooters,” he says, “Chicago and these neighborhoods are hybrid car neighborhoods, you can get by totally fine without a car.” Inacker agrees, citing the ease of biking throughout the city and the nearby suburbs. Transportation issues are a focus as officials seek to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Drivers can on the Kennedy Expressway, a key route from the airport into town. Interstates 55 and 290 are parallel east-west corridors bringing traffic into the city. One of the most prominent local roads is Lake Shore Drive, which runs along Lake Michigan, past prime beach destinations.
Chicago remains the rail capital of America. Union Station, full of classical Beaux Arts flourishes like giant columns, is Amtrak’s flagship station for the Midwest.
O’Hare International Airport, located in the northwest reaches, is one of the world’s busiest airports. It’s considered the “most connected airport in the United States” as it connects to 270 domestic and international destinations nonstop. That comes with a price – locals know it can take hours to navigate at peak times. Residents also have access to Midway Airport, located towards the city's southern end.
The lake effect, plus crime statistics
All four seasons are present in Chicago, with summers turning humid and winters bringing snow. Lake Michigan plays a big role in local weather, often contributing to cloudy days. In the summer, cool lake breezes provide relief to residents, while in the winter, the lake reduces the snowfall in the surrounding neighborhoods. Tornadoes usually don’t occur downtown, though it’s worth considering that in 2023, 11 tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area, including one at O’Hare International Airport.
According to city police data from 2023, violent crime rates have risen by more than 10% since 2022. However, the city also reported a decrease in homicides and shootings during that same period, continuing a post-pandemic trend. Motor vehicle theft showed the greatest change, increasing by more than 35% year-over-year. Both violent and property crime rates are above the national average. The Chicago Police Department is the second largest in the country, working closely with the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability to develop a more collaborative, responsive approach to policing in the city.
I am committed to helping my clients achieve their goals for buying or selling real estate. I have the best job in the world! I am putting people into homes. I could not enjoy it if I did not feel I was helping people.
My entire career has had to do with one aspect or another of Real Estate from mergers and acquisitions to being a loan officer and after that, working for home builders for almost 20 years. There I showed homes, prepared closing documents and everything in between. I have a BS Degree in Finance so I love working with numbers.
This variety of experience gives me a broad understanding of the Real Estate industry. Becoming a Realtor was very natural. It feels like everything in my life led up to and contributed to this moment.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
