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Southside

Southside

$148,068 Average Value
$257 Average Price per Sq Ft
3 Homes For Sale

Living around East Chicago's restaurants in Southside

Southside is where East Chicago residents come to dine out. Local restaurants line Indianapolis Boulevard, stretching down the length of the neighborhood, offering a mix of longstanding local favorites and new spots opening every day. Its location in the southern corner of the city means that Southside residents might be a bit farther from other East Chicago amenities and parks. Still, the major thoroughfares through the neighborhood mean residents are just a short drive away from the lakeside, the hospital and work.

Mexican and Latin American restaurants in Southside

“East Chicago is kind of known for authentic Mexican food — probably the most authentic in the area,” says Steven Segura, director of ECTV Multimedia Division with the City of East Chicago. “There have been some staples that have been here since I was a kid, and people always return to those spots.” One of these is Tania’s Latin American Restaurant, marked with a blue and peach exterior. It’s a mix of Latin American cuisine, and most people favor the steak jibarito, which uses fried plantains instead of a sandwich bun. La Central Bakery is the spot for pan dulce, but it makes fresh pastries. While most restaurants are Mexican or Latin American, Indiana Restaurant is the exception, offering American diner classics from waffles and French toast to steaks.
Southside is also home to the city’s only grocery store — Strack and Van Til. In addition to the various Latin American restaurants, the neighborhood also offers smaller convenience stores, like La Mexicana. People can explore the racks for groceries, imported goods, and deli items, though they also stop in for tacos and tamales. Aldi is the nearest supermarket, just under 2 miles away.

Residents of Southside love the steak jibaritoes at Tania's Latin American Restaurant.
Residents of Southside love the steak jibaritoes at Tania's Latin American Restaurant.
For groceries residents of Southside can go to the conveniently located Strack & Van Til.
For groceries residents of Southside can go to the conveniently located Strack & Van Til.
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Wide streets lined with Chicago bungalows and Nationals

Nationals, Chicago bungalows and raised ranches line Southside’s wide streets. Front pathways connect the sidewalks and the front steps, cutting through the small patches of grass. Some young trees planted between the curb and the sidewalk offer a patch of color to the streets. Homes in Southside typically sell between $100,000 to $250,000. “You’re so close to Chicago, and the taxes are so much lower than Illinois,” Segura says.

Young trees adorn the homes along the residential streets of Southside.
Young trees adorn the homes along the residential streets of Southside.
Styles of homes in Southside range from nationals to Bungalows.
Styles of homes in Southside range from nationals to Bungalows.
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Getting around Southside by car

Southside doesn’t have buses running through the neighborhood, so residents will likely need a car. The sidewalks along the streets mean they can walk to the present amenities, like the restaurants. Chicago Avenue links people with the rest of East Chicago and Saint Catherine Hospital, about 2.5 miles away. Gary/Chicago International Airport is also down this thoroughfare, about 5.5 miles from Southside. Meanwhile, Indianapolis Boulevard heads towards the East Chicago Metra, about 1 mile south. Both it and Interstate-90 connect East Chicago with downtown Chicago, about 22 miles away.

Career and Technical classes at East Chicago Central High School

Students start at William McKinley Elementary School, which is within walking distance of many Southside homes. Niche gives it and Joseph L. Block Middle School C-minus rankings. C-rated East Chicago Central High School provides a range of Career and Technical programs, from accounting and computer science to marketing and culinary arts.

William Mckinley Elementary is an elementary school near Southside.
William Mckinley Elementary is an elementary school near Southside.
East Chicago Central High serves the students from Southside.
East Chicago Central High serves the students from Southside.
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Kosciusko Park has one of the only pools

While Southside has many restaurants, Kosciusko Park is the only green space in the neighborhood. The park is one of two in the city with a pool, but it also has a playground, basketball courts, baseball fields and a walking trail. Veterans Park technically isn’t in Southside but is just across Chicago Avenue in Northside. Along with more basketball courts and playgrounds, it’s also home to Heritage Hall Recreation Center, which offers an indoor gym.

Kosciuzko Park has great outdoor spaces for relaxing in Southside.
Kosciuzko Park has great outdoor spaces for relaxing in Southside.
Residents of Southside can enjoy programs at Heritage Hall in Veterans Park.
Residents of Southside can enjoy programs at Heritage Hall in Veterans Park.
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Kielbasa Fest and Fusic Festival are popular in East Chicago

In mid-August, Kosciusko Park hosts Kielbasa Fest, a Polish food and music celebration. The city’s biggest annual tradition is the Fusic Festival, which is described as a combination of food, fun, and music. It takes place every August at Jeorse Park Beach, with different performers each night. “And it’s been growing every year. We probably get three to four thousand people each night,” Segura says. “Sometimes we’ve had close to six thousand — it really depends on the artist.”

Caroline Ernst
Written By
Caroline Ernst
Luke Basinger
Video By
Luke Basinger

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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

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Nickolas Witvoet, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Chicago Midway International

37 min drive

Bus

151st & Indianapolis Blvd

Bus

Chicago & Indy Blvd

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Southside US
Homicide 6 4
Sexual Assault 6 4
Assault with Weapon 6 4
Robbery 5 4
Burglary 5 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 5 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 5 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Southside Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$417,500
Median Sale Price
$394,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$398,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$515,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$380,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
34
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$257

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
881
Number of Homes for Sale
3
Median Year Built
1917
Months of Supply
1.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,494
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,153
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,484

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Nickolas Witvoet, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
5,709
Median Age
33
Population under 18
30.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.6%
Below the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$39,836
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$53,839

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
66.5%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
6.5%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.2%
% Population in Labor Force
58.4%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
41''
Average Winter Low Temperature
16°F
Average Summer High Temperature
83°F
Annual Snowfall
6''

Area Factors

Bikeable

Bike Score®

61 / 100

Very Walkable

Walk Score®

70 / 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.

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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.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Southside