$450,645Average Value$362Average Price per Sq Ft62Homes For Sale
An old-school neighborhood with a college-town feel
The bustling neighborhood of Little Italy was named for the Italian immigrants who settled there between 1850 and 1950, bringing with them authentic traditions and recipes. Taylor Street, a historic thoroughfare lined with well-loved Italian restaurants and businesses, rests at its heart. “You can walk down the street and see carcasses being unloaded at the butcher shop on the corner,” says Samuel Ciochon, a long-time resident and broker with @properties. “But also, because the University of Illinois Chicago is right there, it’s become this old-school neighborhood with a college-town feel.” The state school borders Little Italy to the east, while Rush University is just west. “We actually get a really heavy influx of doctors and residents because we’re so close to the medical district,” adds Serena Phillips Dunn, a Realtor with Option Realty Group. “A lot of people move here for work and want to live Downtown until they see the prices. Little Italy is a great option with a neighborhood feel that’s still easily accessible to the downtown area.”
The University of Illinois is the largest university in Chicago with over 33,000 students.
Just off Taylor St, Carms is the local go to when tourist crowd the area for shaved ice.
Bar Louis has weekly kereoke and drink specials for Little Italy residents.
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Classic red sauce and fresh meat on Taylor Street
Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap has been owned by the DiBuono family since 1931. The classic Italian joint is a staple in Little Italy, made obvious by the old photographs of customers decorating the walls. But this old-school charm isn’t hard to come by in the neighborhood. “You can’t talk about Little Italy without talking about Fontano’s,” Ciochon says. “It’s one of those sandwich shops that everyone on the outside forgets about, but it’s super popular within the neighborhood. Same thing with Mario’s Italian Ice. I have a framed photo of that place! They have lines around the corner almost every weekend in the summer.” From classic red sauce to fresh-sliced meats and sweet wines, residents shop for ingredients at Conte Di Savoia, a locally owned delicatessen on Taylor Street. Of course, regional chains and big-box stores aren’t too far for the essentials. Jewel-Osco sits on the corner of Ashland and Roosevelt, while Target and Costco are located within a mile radius of the community. “A lot of people head to the West Loop for Whole Foods, too,” Dunn explains. “But Taylor Street is the main focus because of its convenient shops and walkable restaurants. It’s really the heart of Little Italy.”
Established in 1930 Tufano's is a popular al fresco favorite for Little Italy residents.
The "Big L" sandwich at Fontantos is a popular favorite and
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The Little Italy Festa
Held each year in August, the Little Italy Festa celebrates the rich history of Taylor Street. Considered one of Chicago’s most historic avenues, the street was once a hub for some of the city’s first Italian-owned businesses. “It’s not necessarily ‘popping,’ but it’s a nice local street fair for the community,” Ciochon says. Guests can dine on award-winning cuisine and peruse family-friendly attractions like carnival games or cannoli eating. Several Taylor Street restaurants participate, too, including Rosebud, a local spot turned Chicago franchise. “The nice thing is that beyond the Festa, there are plenty of events held at the Credit 1 Arena,” he continues. “The university opened it like 20-something years ago and they have basketball games and shows. I saw Kylie Minogue there once!”
Walkable residential streets in Little Italy
In Little Italy, homeownership is far outweighed by renting because apartments dominate the market. But condos and townhomes aren’t hard to find. Ranging in price between $200,000 and more than $1 million, condos typically average about $650,000. Homebuyers can expect units on the lower end to provide less than 1,000 square feet, while others occupy historic or high-rise buildings with more than 1,500 square feet. Alternatively, townhomes range from $400,000 to $900,000. Many feature a traditional brick façade, offering garages and trash collection in the alleyways out back. The tree-lined streets they decorate consistently provide sidewalks. The neighborhood has a CAP Index Crime Score of 7—compared to the national average of 4. Dunn, however, says it's not such a dangerous place to live. “You’ll find a lot of people are comfortable walking around with their kids or even walking alone,” she says. “You want to pay attention, but walkability is a core value in Little Italy.”
Proud of its Italian heritage, Little Italy remains one of Chicagos most iconic areas.
Multi family town homes are the majority of the Little Italy Housing stock.
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Sustainability and outdoor recreation
Opportunities for recreation abound in Little Italy. Garibaldi Park’s renovated playground is well-suited for families, while Arrigo Park is a dog-friendly space with paved walkways, ideal for cycling. After-school programs and summer camps are offered at Sheridan Park, home to a three-story fieldhouse with an indoor swimming pool and combination gymnasium. Guests gather on the park’s ball fields, dropping by over the summer for the annual Movies in the Park series. Jane Addams Park, however, is the largest of its kind in the area. The ComEd Recreation Center is located onsite, with both indoor and outdoor fields flaunting artificial turf alongside a three-lane track. “The university also just re-did their big track, which is open to the public,” Ciochon adds. On a smaller scale, Taylor Street Farms is a community garden geared toward outreach, encouraging locals to grow produce for the food insecure. The farm also promotes sustainable practices with a compost bin and a bee apiary.
Jane Adams Park has panoramic views of the Sears Tower and a modern sports facility.
Taylor ST Farms offers a bit of urban growing in a quaint green lot on Ada St.
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Riding the Blue Line to Downtown Chicago
Downtown Chicago is just 2 miles from Little Italy, a mere 10-minute ride on the L train. Residents can catch the Blue Line at Racine station or UIC Halsted, both within walking distance. Bus stops are offered throughout the neighborhood as well, largely along Taylor Street, Roosevelt Road and Harrison Street. Similarly, most residential streets have bike lanes. “You don’t need a car in Little Italy,” Dunn says. “If you do have one, it’s definitely a better location parking-wise than somewhere like the Gold Coast. But unless you have a family, you don’t have to have one.” Those who do prefer driving can expect traffic on Interstates 90 and 290, as they’re both heavily used commuter routes heading in and out of the city. Thankfully, nearby buses and L trains head to Chicago Midway International Airport, situated 10 miles southwest. Those traveling into the suburbs will find that the nearest Metra station is Halsted Street, less than a mile south. The nearest emergency room is also within a mile, located at the University of Illinois Hospital.
Commuting to downtown is easy with the 157 CTA Bus line running down Taylor Street.
Little Italy is well connected with both the CTA Blue Line and I-290 expressway to the North.
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College prep at nearby public and private schools
Students are zoned for City of Chicago School District 299, beginning at Smyth Elementary I.B. World School. Enrolling kindergarten through eighth grade, the school provides primary and middle-year International Baccalaureate programs. Wells Community Academy High School similarly offers Advanced Placement courses as well as a College Lab, which provides academic tutoring, ACT/SAT registration and even Financial Aid consultation to prepare students for college admission. Both institutions earn a grade of C-plus on Niche. Notably nearby is St. Ignatius College Prep, a private high school with an A-plus on Niche. “It’s a hugely revered school that’s expensive and hard to get into,” Dunn explains. “But people from the suburbs who live in great school districts will try to send their kids to St. Ignatius. Families move to the area to attend, or even have their kids take the train or public bus to get there.”
Well Community Academy is known for its diverse student population and high performance scores.
St. Ignacius College Prep, teaches students to value faith, love, service and leadership.
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On average, homes in Little Italy, Chicago sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Little Italy, Chicago over the last 12 months is $369,000, down 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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