North Center
Pillared porches and shady sidewalks
Bricked and paneled two-story Greystones and workers cottages line North Center’s gridded streets. Pillars accompany front stoops and the occasional porch, adding character to these early 1900s and early 2000s homes. While condos feature rooftop decks and sell for roughly $245,000, single-family homes hold a fenced-in backyard big enough to let out the dog and sell for upwards of $2.5 million. Average home values across the neighborhood are down by 4% since 2023; however, residents still pay more than double the rest of Chicago homeowners.Shops along Lincoln and Bad Apple brews
Lincoln Avenue overflows with dining opportunities from Cho Sun Ok Restaurant, where chefs cook Korean barbeque, to Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, slicing up classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza. “L&M Fine Foods is a small grocery store with lunch options, handmade sandwiches which are so fresh and tasty and a great budget option,” Valdez says. Locals also find recipe ingredients along Lincoln Avenue by stopping at Jewel Osco to the north or Trader Joe’s south of the Irving Park intersection. Whether seeking the liveliness of a sports bar like Wild Goose Bar & Grill or slower pace as found within The Bad Apple’s red glow, bar hoppers can walk and find another bar stool whenever their mood changes. Meanwhile, to the southeast, patrons wait until Friday to line up for live music and bar bites at Martyrs’. “North Center shares a lot of the locations with Lincoln Square next to the north,” Valdez says. “Places like Gather and The Warbler are casually elegant with American cuisine in a modern, fresh style.”
Night Out series and Ribfest
Melodies echo through the air from center stage at the wrought iron gazebo in the middle of Welles Park during Night Out in the Parks events. Since 2000, the smell of smoked barbeque has filled the air down Lincoln Avenue during the annual Ribfest Chicago festival. Pitmasters compete for the title of People’s Choice and Top Award while attendees taste their way down the street, stopping at local vendors and listening to live music on the stage in Town Square. North Center also houses multiple fringe theaters, such as Bughouse Theater, where local performers take the spotlight.Classes from Coonley to St. Ben’s
Children may attend some of the many highly rated Chicago Public School District schools. Beginning in prekindergarten and finishing in eighth grade, students may attend classes at John C. Coonley Elementary School. This public school earns a Grade A-minus from Niche and prepares students to begin at Lane Tech College Prep High School, which earns a Grade A-plus from Niche. Lane Tech students choose from over 100 electives and may take Advanced Placement (AP) courses to earn college credit. Just outside the neighborhood’s southwest corner, parents may enroll students in St. Benedict Preparatory School, more commonly known as St. Ben’s, which earns an overall grade of A from Niche.Walks to Welles Park
Within a mile from home, residents walk or bike to Welles Park to practice tennis or soccer and compete in horseshoes. Across the park’s more than 15 acres, children climb nets and other obstacles on the playground while swimmers race across the six lanes at the indoor pool. On the west side, residents arrive at Revere Park, where pickleball, tennis and baseball players compete.Navigating North Center
While walking and biking are viable options for navigating North Center, long-distance travelers may depend on public transportation along Irving Park Road to the north and Addison Street to the south. Irving Park Road and Addison Street are on Chicago’s brown line, connecting passengers with downtown Chicago within 10 miles. Travelers must drive 13 miles west to catch flights out of O’Hare International Airport. Regardless of where residents live in the neighborhood or what they plan to do with their days, North Center was created with convenience and accessibility in mind.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Rose Leversha
@properties Christie's International Real Estate
(773) 902-0362
57 Total Sales
1 in North Center
$195,000 Price
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Jim Streff
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
(773) 389-2807
291 Total Sales
1 in North Center
$325,000 Price
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John Grafft
Compass
(866) 942-1766
120 Total Sales
4 in North Center
$293K - $2M Price Range
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Chris Stephens
Baird & Warner
(630) 866-5575
51 Total Sales
1 in North Center
$545,000 Price
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Mary Summerville
Coldwell Banker
(630) 931-8695
365 Total Sales
1 in North Center
$295,000 Price
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Naomi Campbell
Coldwell Banker Realty
(224) 477-2747
186 Total Sales
1 in North Center
$430,000 Price
Schools
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Parks in this Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | North Center | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 2 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 4 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
North Center Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in North Center, Chicago sell after 22 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in North Center, Chicago over the last 12 months is $707,000, up 24% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to
, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
Good Transit
Transit 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.
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