Brighton Park
Neighborhood Reviews
Rows of single-family homes
Most of Brighton Park’s homes were built between the end of the 19th century and the mid-20th century, and multi-family properties are the most common living spaces here. Options range from Georgian-style two-flats and converted houses to contemporary condos and townhouses. Values range from about $165,000 to $545,000, with some exceptions going as high as $845,000.Single-family homes are a bit rarer than their multi-family counterparts. Home styles vary, including Chicago-style raised ranch homes with narrow, bungalow-like floorplans and traditional houses with brick or vinyl exteriors. Fixer-upper homes and as-is sales typically range from about $93,000 to $265,000. Renovated houses start at about $270,000 and top out at about $530,000.
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Important to know
According to the CAP Index, some categories of violent crime occur more frequently than the national average in Brighton Park. Community organizations such as the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council have organized mentorship programs and violence prevention efforts to improve the mental health and social well-being of residents.Name-brand stores and local restaurants
Well-known brands along the main road include a Jewel-Osco for groceries just east of the neighborhood and a Ross for clothes and accessories near Pershing Road. Locals on the south end can also grab food supplies from the Pete’s Fresh Market near 47th Street and Kedzie or the Super Mercados El Güero y México at Archer and California Avenue. Independent shops in the neighborhood include Lucy’s, a boutique with contemporary fashion for women and men. Casual wear fills the racks and walls at Pants Box, where the slogan on the awning says it all: ‘Come In and Get In Our Pants.’ Additional mainstream stops such as Target, Aldi and Jewel-Osco are available along Pulaski Road, to the west of the neighborhood in Archer Heights.Checkerboard tile, a printed menu board and sizzling grills set the mood at Dino’s Carry-Outs, a take-out staple for gyros, burgers, Chicago dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. Café El Meson’s kitchen offers Puerto Rican breakfast specialties and coffeehouse selections, and locals can also stop by to browse the latest Spanish-language books on the shelves inside. Hearty meals await at stops like La Iguanita, a taqueria with an unassuming white exterior. The restaurant’s humble environment belies a menu with crisp tortillas, tender carne asada and sizzling fajitas.
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Movies in the summer at Kelly Park
On the corner of 45th Street and Western Avenue, Xavier’s Club is a hot spot for local nightlife. Guests can stop by on weekends for events like karaoke, themed parties and ladies’ nights, all with live DJ sets and rotating drink specials. Northwest of the neighborhood in the McKinley Park area, One City Tap hosts weekly trivia nights and open mic comedy. For family friendly outings, Kelly Park hosts movie screenings under the stars in the summertime.A mix of public, private and charter schools
Brighton Park is home to 14 schools, including public, charter and private options for families to consider. On the neighborhood’s southwest end, Columbia Explorers Academy serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Parents can participate in school endeavors through visits to the Parent Advisory Committee or the Bilingual Action Committee for English and Spanish-speaking families. The school holds a B-minus grade on Niche. Kids continue on to the C-plus ranked Thomas Kelly Preparatory High School, an International Baccalaureate World School. The IB diploma program at the school focuses on building kids’ critical thinking skills and developing well-rounded students.Choices outside of the Chicago Public Schools system include Pope John Paul II Catholic School, a private school serving kids from pre-K through eighth grade. The school is currently unranked on Niche.
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Outdoor life at the Brighton Park Community Campus
Brighton Park is home to Kelly Park, a space on the community’s east side near California Avenue first established in the 1950s. A resident-led advisory council helped revive the park after a long period of gradual decay, bringing features like an artificial turf football field and an indoor pool to the community. Since 2023, the Chicago Park District itself has also called Brighton Park home. The park district’s headquarters sit on the Brighton Park Community Campus, a site converted from industrial space into a recreational space with an onsite fitness center, splash pad, playground and gymnasium. Locals can also schedule workout sessions at Lockout Fitness, a powerlifting-focused gym on Archer Avenue, or the LA Fitness center near Archer and Pershing Road.To the neighborhood’s immediate northeast, McKinley Park is one of the South Side’s premier spots for outdoor life. With more than 71 acres of space and connections to the city’s comprehensive boulevard system, the park is a beloved destination for bike rides, ice skating, tennis and indoor sports like gymnastics.
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Chicago subway stations and bus stops
Archer Avenue is Brighton Park’s central road for businesses and local traffic, while Interstate 55 runs along the north side of the neighborhood for long-distance trips. Residents are about 8 miles removed from the Loop, and I-55 provides the most straightforward course northeast to the heart of the city.In addition to being a prime spot for drivers, most of Brighton Park’s local bus routes run through Archer Avenue. Bus stops are also peppered along major roads such as Kedzie Avenue, Pershing Road and California Avenue. Orange Line ‘L’ train service is available at three nearby stops: the Kedzie and Western stations on the south end and the 35th/Archer station immediately northeast of the neighborhood. The nearest emergency room is at Mount Sinai Hospital, about 3 miles north near Douglass Park.
Residents traveling beyond the Chicago area can catch flights from Chicago Midway International Airport, about 3 miles southwest of the neighborhood. The much larger Chicago O'Hare International Airport is 20 miles to the northwest.
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Written By
Tre Lyerly
Photography Contributed By
Chris Jeong
Video By
Charles Kennedy
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Reginald Patterson
Reginald Patterson
eXp Realty
(773) 830-6144
76 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$100,000 Price
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Andrea Maldonado
Andrea Maldonado
Realty of America, LLC
(866) 720-6171
94 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$60,000 Price
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Rafay Qamar
Rafay Qamar
Real Broker LLC
(833) 359-9113
1,064 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$335,000 Price
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Leopoldo Saucedo
Leopoldo Saucedo
Urbanitas Inc.
(833) 647-1831
195 Total Sales
11 in Brighton Park
$93K - $445K Price Range
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Elena Pichardo
Elena Pichardo
Realty of America, LLC
(708) 554-4870
82 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$355,000 Price
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Mayra Perez
Mayra Perez
Realty of America, LLC
(708) 883-4836
74 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$292,500 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- Pre-K to 8th
- Public
- 5th to 8th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Kelly Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Football
Hoyne Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Soccer
McKinley Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Dog Park
Brighton Park
- Basketball
- Playground
La Villita Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Skateboard
Irma C Ruiz Park
- Basketball
- Playground
Brighton Park Community Campus
Transit
Airport
Chicago Midway International
8 min drive
Subway
Western Station (Orange Line)
Bus
Western & 35th Street
Bus
3426 S Kedzie
Bus
Kedzie & 41st Street
Bus
Western & Pershing
Bus
California & Pope John Paul Ii & 43rd St
Bus
Archer & Pershing & Rockwell
Reviews
Niche Reviews
4/20/2015
Niche Review
The neighbors are respectful and mind their own business.
12/26/2017
Niche Review
I don't really like it here anymore. People are breaking into houses and one feels unsafe even though it's considered a "safer" neighborhood in this area. It is a minority community and while there is a lot of support from community members, the neighborhood could do a lot better.
4/18/2015
Niche Review
The neighborhood isn't the best. There having been many warnings about crime happening near my area. I personally haven't seen any crime happen, but it does make me nervous at times.
9/28/2018
Niche Review
I like that there is a lot of things to do around and some great people living around the area. There is great Mexican food, great churches, good counsel, etc. However, it is a dangerous area. There are many gangs who reside here so there have been a lot of shootings. But one must remember to not let fear control one's life.
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Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Brighton Park | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 3 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Brighton Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Brighton Park, Chicago sell after 62 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Brighton Park, Chicago over the last 12 months is $339,500, down 37% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$349,950
Median Sale Price
$339,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$349,950
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$327,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$620,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
58
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-37%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$236
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,162
Number of Homes for Sale
9
Median Year Built
1921
Months of Supply
1.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,200
Above the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,112
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,650
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,049
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
33,337
Median Age
34
Population Density
18 ppl/acre
Population under 18
28.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.5%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$47,968
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$62,994
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
69.9%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
12.7%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.6%
% Population in Labor Force
63%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
34''
Average Winter Low Temperature
20°F
Average Summer High Temperature
84°F
Annual Snowfall
40''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
58
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
78
/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
57
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Archer Heights
Bustling and culturally rich community with proximity to the iconic Chicago Loop
Gage Park
Modest bungalows and historic homes fill Chicago suburb
Little Village
A bustling urban enclave with a strong Latino presence
McKinley Park
Quiet, comfortable, but growing, residential Chicago neighborhood
Bridgeport
Riverside neighborhood with blue-collar roots, but newer houses are going up
Chicago Lawn
A diverse and vibrant community on Chicago's southwest side
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