Skokie

A bustling neighborhood with convenient transit and shopping Skokie is one of Illinois’ largest villages with over 50,000 residents. "Southeast Skokie sits on the cusp of Evanston and Lincolnwood, so it has a lot of elements of both," says Rafay Qamar, an expert realtor with Qamar Group and Skokie resident. Blending commercialized convinces of Lincolnwood and Evanston, while maintaining Skokie's suburban appeal, this neighborhood has been highly sought after. Julie Naumiak, a Skokie resident and expert realtor with Baird & Warner who has sold homes in the area for 40 years, says Southeast Skokie stands out from its counterparts because, “It has lower taxes and a lot of commercial influence.” Qamar echoes Naumiak. “Touhy and Howard are expanding and there are a ton of developments, bringing a lot of commercialization. People are flocking closer to that,” he says. Shopping and dining along Touhy Unlike Downtown Skokie, this southeastern neighborhood has more nationally recognized shops. “It has more big box stores,” says Naumiak. “Downtown has more mom-and-pop shops. Touhy has everything: Walmart, Amazon Express, Target, Best Buy, Dicks Sporting Goods, a bunch of stuff.” Essentials can be picked up at the local Walmart, and Mariano’s is a convenient spot to stuff grocery carts. Dining options range from large chains like Chik-fil-A, Wendy’s and Longhorn Steakhouse, to locally owned favorites like Buona–Skokie and The Halal Guys. New establishments are also starting to pop up, and little gems can be found all throughout the neighborhood. “There’s just tons of hidden bars and restaurants, from McCormick going west,” says Qamar. Yellow Line, several bus lines, and highways Skokie is one of the few villages with access to the Yellow Line, a subway route that provides service between Skokie and Howard. Southeast Skokie residents are within walking distance of both metro stops. There are also several conveniently placed bus stops throughout the neighborhood along Touhy, Crawford, North Howard and Oakton. Skokie Boulevard and Touhy are the main points of contact to get to and around Downtown Skokie. Edens Expressway is conveniently situated nearby and intercepts Lincoln Avenue. “You’re close to the metro, and it’s easy to hop on the highway; that’s a major attraction to a lot of people,” says Qamar. Schools in Southeast Skokie Kindergarten through eighth grade students in Southeast Skokie are zoned for Skokie School District 73.5, which has a B rating on Niche. They start at Elizabeth Meyer Elementary, a pre-k through kindergarten school with a 9 to 1 student-teacher ratio that has not been rated on Niche. The next step is John Middleton Elementary, a first through fifth-grade institution with a B-plus rating. Oliver McCracken Middle School has a B-plus rating and serves sixth through eighth students. Ida Crown Jewish Academy has an A-plus rating and is a popular private option for high schoolers, but most kids attend Niles West High, which is a Niles Township Community High School District No. 219 and has an A-plus rating on Niche. Mid-priced ranches, bungalows and two-stories “It’s mostly mind-century homes, but there are some new builds,” Says Naumiak. Brick ranches dominate the architectural landscape of this neighborhood, but there are also many bungalows, Georgian two-stories and new traditional homes. Prices range from $250,000 for a two-bed that needs some love to upwards of $600,000 for a custom-built five-bed. “People are coming here to buy a single-family home,” says Qamar. “They want to get away from the city, apartments, condos. If they have a budget of $300,000 to $400,000, they can find something here.” Ample parks and recreation From the local sports complex to a nature preserve, South East Skokie offers a wide selection of outdoor activities. One of the most popular is the Skokie Sports Center. In addition to a two-tier automatic driving range, batting cages, and a mini golf course, the facility boasts full-size soccer and cricket fields. Locals and tourists alike visit the Emily Oaks Nature Center, which offers natural greenspace and programs for all ages. The Nature Center hosts several community-based events throughout the year, including seasonal youth camps and hiking club outings. Visitors are also encouraged to kayak in the park’s two-acre pond or stroll through its various walking trails. Across the neighborhood, the North Shore Channel Trail leads right into the Skokie Sculpture Park, an outdoor art space with over 70 sculptures installed. The park is dog friendly, offers group tours and picnic areas, and welcomes bicyclists and joggers. Floods and noise Unlike neighborhoods closer to Skokie Boulevard, reliable flood insurance is a must-have in this southeast neighborhood. And while living near convinces has its upsides, residents closer to main roads like Touhy, North Crawford, and McCormick deal with more noise than their neighbors.

Southwest Skokie residents often prefer a relaxed pace and laidback lifestyle where they know their neighbors by name without being too far from downtown Chicago. "It is a total melting pot; the neighborhood has so many different types of people from all backgrounds," Lisa Sanders with @properties Christies International says. Sanders is the top-ranked broker in Norwood Park and has been a top broker in the Chicago area for several years. Homes in the neighborhood are often stand-alone, single-family homes. Locals will see many ranch-style homes along with bi-levels and Georgians. Prices start at about $350,000, which will get homebuyers a couple of bedrooms and a bathroom. For $850,000, they can get four to six bedrooms with as many as four bathrooms and a garage with a driveway. The area has condos as an alternative option, many built in the late 1900s. Most homes will include a front or back yard with enough room for a small gathering and holiday decorations. Southwest Skokie residents have a plethora of options for commuting. The area has easy access to the highway for those looking to drive, and the L bus line takes people downtown. "It is very close to the city and has great transportation if you work downtown," Sanders says. Southwest Skokie has a few parks for residents who like to spend time outdoors. Lockwood Park is in the heart of the neighborhood and includes areas for picnics, sports courts and walking space with sculptures decorating the place. Locals can also head to Lorel Park, which features a playground with swings for kids to play on, sports courts and is dog-friendly. “The neighborhood has very nice parks and lots of outdoor activities for kids,” Sanders says. Students in Southwest Skokie start school at Fairview South Elementary School, an A-graded school according to Niche. The school gets students involved in music with guitar, band, orchestra, jazz band and choir classes. The next stop on their academic adventures is Lincoln Junior High School, which receives a B-plus. Lincoln offers clubs like gymnastics, debate and Chef Q club. Teenagers will attend Niles North High School, an A-plus institution, where students can participate in sports like volleyball, badminton, football and track. For those looking to continue their education post-high school, Oakton Community College has over 80 subject fields, 13 sports teams and more than 30 clubs for students looking to stay local for college. Stop by the local ALDI to pick up essential groceries for the week, like produce and pantry stuffers. Marketplace on Oakton is a Spanish supermarket across the parking lot from ALDI with isles of Spanish food necessities, including a deli and bakery. Skokie International Market is another grocery store option for residents on Lincoln Ave. Kaufman's Bagel & Delicatessen is a long-time local favorite, with a kosher-approved deli and bakery. Grab a few drinks and pub food at Sketchbook Brewing off Main Street. Locals won't have to travel a couple of miles outside the area to find big-name retailers like Target and Walmart.

An abundance of nearby amenities and proximity to forest preserves allow residents of Barcelona to experience both natural serenity and urban conveniences. This densely populated Skokie suburbia is 17 miles north of downtown Chicago and features hundreds of closely situated homes. Barcelona is on the north side of Skokie, where major highways, grocery stores and dozens of local eateries are easily accessible. Most houses in Barcelona were built in the early to mid-20th century and sit on small lots. The neighborhood’s homes are somewhat uniform in style with brick ranch-style homes and split levels occupying most of the market. Most houses have three to five bedrooms and, while some date back over 100 years, many have seen recent remodeling and full renovations. The average home value here is just over $400,000, but newly renovated, 4,000-square-foot homes can be listed for over $600,000. Residents may send their young learners to Jane Stenson Elementary School found on Church Street near the neighborhood’s southern boundary. The elementary school serves 350 students and earns a B overall grade from Niche. After the fifth grade, students can attend Old Orchard Junior High School, a B-plus-rated school that lies just 1 mile east of Barcelona. To finish out their K-12 careers, locals can head to Niles North High, which earns an impressive A-plus grade and is the 26th-best public high school in Illinois, according to Niche. Niles North places value on preparing students for life after high school, and students can follow career pathways by taking dual-credit courses and advanced-placement courses in areas like information technology, agriculture and arts and communication. Stepping outside of the elementary school you will find Sequoya Park where locals can utilize its basketball court and playground. A short walk to the east will take you to the more expansive Emerson Park which features tennis courts, a basketball court, playgrounds and a walking trail. For more fresh air away from Barcelona’s active suburban streets, residents can take a short drive northwest where they can visit Harms Flatwoods nature preserve, featuring 100 acres of woodlands with winding trails and picnic groves. Just east of Barcelona’s residential streets, locals can spend an afternoon at Weber Park Golf Course where they can enjoy the beautifully landscaped 9-hole course with a season golf pass or benefit from privately coached lessons. The eastern edge of Barcelona is home to a busy shopping district off of Skokie Boulevard where locals can visit the Old Orchard shopping center for stores like Nordstroms, Athleta and Free People. The shopping district is also home to a wide selection of fast-food restaurants. For groceries and other day-to-day goods, Barcelona residents can stop at the local Jewel-Osco. After a day of shopping, you can stop for a refreshing beverage at TeaRex Bubble Tea Café, a dinosaur-themed café where you can pick from an array of frozen teas and milk boba teas. For travel to and from downtown Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, locals can hop on Interstate 94 for a 25-minute drive into the city, or head to Skokie’s Metra station for the hour-long ride. Barcelona provides residents with an active suburban atmosphere and densely populated residential streets, with easy access to amenities and nearby nature preserves.

Skokie is about 15 miles north of Chicago and is nicknamed "The World's Largest Village." The North Skokie neighborhood is the primarily residential part of the village for residents looking for a place to relax. "It's a sought-out area," Lindy Goss, a local realtor with Baird & Warner, says. "It's pretty and there are good schools, so people are drawn to it." Skokie has a history of being one of the quickest population booms in the Chicago area, drawing people from various backgrounds to the area. "It is a total melting pot," Lisa Sanders, the top-ranked broker in the Chicago area for several years, says. <br><br><br>North Skokie offers various home styles, with some areas featuring several single-family homes while others primarily have townhomes and condos. Condos in the area range from $200,000 to $300,000 and are mainly in the northwest corner of the neighborhood by Gross Point Road and Skokie Boulevard, near several businesses and restaurants. Homes range from $325,000 for a split-level with three bedrooms and baths near the park to around a million dollars for a custom-built home with several bedrooms and bathrooms to go with a basement, attached garage, backyard and other amenities. Homes sell after an average of 19 days on the market, compared to the national average of 42. Goss says homes and styles vary greatly, but there are plenty of choices. <br><br><br>Residents can head to the northwest end of the neighborhood to pick up groceries from Jewel-Osco, a popular Illinois supermarket chain. People can also go shopping in this part of the neighborhood, with the Skokie Pointe shopping mall, Marshalls and other shops in the area. Before leaving this part of the neighborhood, people can stop at EJ's Place, a steakhouse in a cabin-like atmosphere with exposed wood. The southeast end of the neighborhood offers several local restaurants and other supermarket options along Dempster Street, including Hub's Restaurant, a fast-fare fixture in the area since 1976 serving Greek food, like gyros. People will have to leave the neighborhood for a few miles down North McCormick Road to find big-name retailers like Walmart and Lowe's. <br><br><br>Locals have easy access to several local parks and outdoor spaces throughout the neighborhood. The prominent park is Devonshire Park in the center-west area of the neighborhood, featuring various sports courts and fields, a swimming pool, a playground, a picnic area and scenic trails for walking and bicycling. The park includes the Devonshire Cultural Center, a facility that hosts classes, activities, and performances and offers other enrichment programs. The award-winning facility hosts birthday parties and special events like the Devonshire County Fair. Central Park is another option in the neighborhood's center-east part, offering picnic tables, a basketball court and a playground. "Skokie has a very strong park district that runs all the parks," Sanders says. "Very good for outdoor recreation." <br><br><br>Students will start at Walker Elementary School, a kindergarten through fifth-grade school that receives an A-minus from Niche. Walker Elementary offers a 'running strong' after-school program for boys and girls to encourage physical and emotional well-being and promote positive behaviors and thinking. The next stop on their educational journeys is Old Orchard Jr. High School, a sixth through eighth-grade school that gets a B-plus. Old Orchard offers several clubs, including choir, art club and the Battle of the Books. Teenagers will attend Niles North High School, an A-plus institution ranked the 26th best public high school in the state by Niche. Students participate in sports like baseball, basketball, badminton and football. <br><br><br>Residents in North Skokie have several commuting options, depending on where they are going. People who work or regularly visit downtown Chicago can take the yellow line on the 'L,' the rapid transit system that goes to Chicago and surrounding suburbs. The Chicago Transit Authority and Pace bus lines have several additional options for public transportation. Drivers have easy access to Eden Expressway or Interstate 94 along the neighborhood's western edge. Chicago O'Hare International Airport is about 12 miles away for people looking to take a trip.