Choosing a neighborhood in Chicago has certain requirements. You can’t just live in any neighborhood, no you should live in one that feels like it’s more custom to your lifestyle. The one that has the things that you love, the food that you eat, and the favorite local bars or restaurants that you consider “your spot.” Here are 7 helpful tips to pick the best neighborhood in Chicago.

1. What’s important to you?

   Gym, grocery store, Walgreens, coffee shops, etc. If it’s important for you to walk to all of these things then it’s something to consider when choosing your neighborhood.

   
   

2. Which type of home do you want to live in?

   If you think you prefer high-rise living then Wicker Park and Logan Square might not be the right place for you. In Chicago when you think highrise you’re thinking downtown, River North, The Loop, Streeterville. But if you want a brownstone or what we call a “walk-up” then Wicker and Logan are sounding more up your alley.

   
   

3. Where do you spend most of your time?

   And not just in your personal life, but think about your commute to work. 45 minutes on the CTA each way can start to add up.

   
   

4. Where do you feel at home?

   Yes I mean FEEL at home. Each neighborhood has its own vibe if you will. If you ask anyone who lives in Wrigley the difference between Lakeview and The Loop you’ll likely get a short laugh and a long explanation.

   
   

5. Break a neighborhood into subcategories.

   For example, the quiet part of Old Town or the busy part of Old Town. There is a difference between living on the main street of Wells and living a few blocks away on the quiet tree-lined streets.

   
   

6. Where do your friends live?

   Now you don’t want to just follow your friends from neighborhood to neighborhood, plus Chicago has great public transit. But the travel time to a friend’s house can make a difference. If you want to live in the South Loop and your core group of friends lives in Irving Park then this can be a considerably long commute.
   
   

7. Tip for my home buyers: Taxes.

   Some neighborhoods have higher taxes than others and that’s based on their popularity. You likely can’t get away from taxes which means you’ll have to pay them for the duration of your homeownership year in and year out.

   
   

Hopefully, these tips help lead you in the right direction to finding your perfect Chicago neighborhood. There are a ton of great Chicago neighborhoods to live in, 77 of them to be exact. To say just one neighborhood is the perfect fit almost sounds crazy, but once you get started you’ll realize that there is that one perfect neighborhood for you, you just have to find it.