Brighton Park is a southwest Chicago community known for its location and diversity. Local businesses and bus routes line Archer Avenue, and the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council engages residents through programs and events. Parks and some schools are within walking distance, but public transportation links the neighborhood with the rest of the city. Some parts of the neighborhood feature industrial spaces, but most of Brighton Park is residential.
Brighton Park’s residents are a mix of homeowners and renters. “If you drive down a typical Brighton Park street, you have apartment building, apartment building, single family, apartment building,” says Realtor Clarissa Vega with Avenue Properties Chicago. Single-family homes are typically historic Chicago bungalows and workers' cottages built between the late 1880s and the 1920s. Apartment buildings are short, brick structures with only two to three units in each, often including porches and balconies for each one. The area’s affordability attracts plenty of homebuyers and investors looking for apartments to rent. Both homes and apartment buildings range from the low $200,000s to the upper $400,000s.
Most streets have cars lining the curbs. “Street parking is a little sparse if you have two to three families per building. Especially in the winter, people start reserving parking. People put chairs and all kinds of things out,” Vega says. Homeowners can also park on the street, but most streets have back alleys where you can access detached garages. Garbage bins also go here, tucked out of view from neighbors.
Another advantage to living in Brighton Park is its location. You are only 40 minutes from The Loop during peak hours, or about 7 miles away. The neighborhood offers a mix of transportation options, including:- By car: Interstate 55 borders the neighborhood, but Archer Avenue is another way to get downtown - By bus: CTA buses stop along multiple major thoroughfares, though you might have to transfer lines when traveling beyond the neighborhood - By the L: The Orange Line’s Kedzie and Western stations are in Brighton Park and head to downtown and Midway International Airport Sidewalks throughout Brighton Park mean you can walk to neighborhood amenities like parks and local shops. The neighborhood is working to improve its biking amenities, specifically by adding more bike lanes to major thoroughfares, such as Archer and Kedzie avenues.
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council is a unique feature of this community, helping support residents’ specific needs and interests. In addition to clubs for kids and adults to help residents connect, the grassroots organization offers classes and courses for things like budgeting and health. “They’re really big on advocating for the community. They have resources, and they have events throughout the year to help people with tax appeals or learn English,” Vega says.
Right next door, McKinley Park is a large green space with a swimming pool, ice skating rink, fields and basketball courts. You can take pets to the dog park or walk around the pond. Brighton Park is a small pocket park with a playground and basketball court, while Kelly Park has turf fields and another playground. Brighton Park Community Campus opened in 2023, so the playground is updated. The fieldhouse hosts local sports leagues.
Brighton Park’s local restaurants and shops are typically off Archer Avenue. Many of the restaurants are casual Mexican joints, including:- Paco’s Tacos, - Tio Luis Tacos and Café, and - El Rey Del Taco and Burritos“A lot of people come here to get really good tacos. You can get handmade tortillas,” Vega says. Grocery options are also nearby, with a Pete’s Fresh Market in the neighborhood and major retailers like Target and Aldi just down the street.
Brighton Park is zoned for Chicago Public Schools. The district includes the local Thomas Kelly College Prep, a magnet high school. You can also enroll in other schools through the district’s school choice programs. The elementary level is open to all schools, including charters and magnet programs and is based on a lottery system. The high school level focuses more on specific special programs and functions on lottery or point-based systems. Many families opt to send their kids to private schools. In Brighton Park, there’s Pope John Paul II Catholic School, a private K-8.
Bobby Vasilev
Remax Future
(708) 576-4338
44 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$335,000 Price
Sohe Reyes
Smart Home Realty
(872) 395-6376
121 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$375,000 Price
John Wanda
Century 21 Circle
(708) 859-7043
99 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$165,000 Price
Maria Ortiz
Kale Realty
(708) 726-3036
60 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$255,000 Price
Juanita Flores
RE/MAX 10
(833) 313-8254
115 Total Sales
3 in Brighton Park
$210K - $319K Price Range
Victor Senteno
Senteno Real Estate LLC
(773) 902-0547
100 Total Sales
1 in Brighton Park
$349,999 Price
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
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Brighton Park | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Brighton Park, Chicago sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Brighton Park, Chicago over the last 12 months is $325,000, up 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Bustling and culturally rich community with proximity to the iconic Chicago Loop
Modest bungalows and historic homes fill Chicago suburb
A bustling urban enclave with a strong Latino presence
Quiet, comfortable, but growing, residential Chicago neighborhood
Riverside neighborhood with blue-collar roots, but newer houses are going up
A diverse and vibrant community on Chicago's southwest side
