6 Chicago Neighborhoods You've Probably Never Heard Of
Wrigleyville, Bronzeville, Pilsen, the Loop—a lot of Chicago neighborhoods have instant name recognition. But we aren’t here to talk about those neighborhoods.
We’re here to talk about the pocket neighborhoods, the little neighborhoods, the far-flung neighborhoods—the ones that you might not have heard of even after living here for years. Here’s a peek into some of Chicago’s more obscure and entirely underrated neighborhoods.
Belmont-Cragin
Belmont-Cragin is not a pocket neighborhood. It actually falls onto the list of Chicago’s 77 official community areas. Yet, its Far North location means it’s often overlooked in favor of neighborhoods located closer to the heart of the city.
People who live outside of the neighborhood may not recognize its name, but residents have plenty of reasons to love their community. Going by the nickname “Bungalow Belt,” Belmont-Cragin looks like a classic Chicago neighborhood with rows of brick bungalows so often associated with the Windy City.
The neighborhood has a fair number of condos, but single-family homes are more common in Belmont-Cragin. Since it’s further from the Loop (about nine miles) than a lot of popular neighborhoods, homes in the neighborhood are more reasonably priced. The median sale price in Belmont-Cragin is in the mid $200s, according to Neighborhoods.com.
As with many other Chicago neighborhoods that favor single-family homes with yards over high-rises and townhomes, Belmont-Cragin has a more residential feel. Yet, residents can still find plenty of places to eat, and the pocket neighborhood of Belmont Central has plenty in the way of shopping options.
East Village
When someone says they’re from East Village, your mind probably jumps straight to New York City. Some people even say this Chicago neighborhood is straight-up fake. But, the Second City has its own East Village, and it’s a real neighborhood.
Bounded by Division Street, Ashland Avenue, Chicago Avenue, and Damen Avenue, East Village could be considered a pocket neighborhood of Ukrainian Village.
Though relatively close to downtown, East Village is a somewhat quiet spot to settle in the city. The busy streets creating its borders offer plenty of things to do (Black Dog Gelato, brunch favorite Whisk, and Yuzu Sushi are all within easy reach), but the interior of the neighborhood is a patchwork of residential streets. Also, two community gardens add to the smaller, residential ambience.
This East Village may be in Chicago, but the home prices aren’t too surprising for a place with the moniker of a New York neighborhood. Neighborhoods.com lists the median home sale price in the mid $500s. Yet, prospective homebuyers can find a fairly wide range of price points (low $300s to almost $1 million as of this writing).
The Gap
The Gap (no, not the clothing store) is a pocket neighborhood of the larger South Side community of Douglas. This neighborhood is positively petite—just a few-block area bounded by Martin Luther King Drive, 31st Street, 35th Street, and Michigan Avenue.
Contained within this small area is a collection of condo buildings and a few single-family homes. The neighborhood also has four Frank Lloyd Wright row houses. Homes range in price from as little as the mid $200s to as much as the mid $800s, and the median sale price falls at a reasonable $252,500.
Though there’s not much aside from homes within the neighborhood, The Gap is close to plenty of entertainment. Lake Michigan and 31st Street Beach are just a few blocks to the east, while Guaranteed Rate Field (home of the Chicago White Sox) is a few blocks to the west.
Marynook
Marynook is a pocket neighborhood that actually contains the namesake park of its parent neighborhood Avalon Park. The Far South Side neighborhood is formed by the boundaries of 83rd Street, Stony Island Avenue, 87th Street, and the Metra Electric District line. Residents have access to two Metra stops: 83rd Street/Avalon Park and 87th Street/Woodruff.
Most of the homes in this small neighborhood are single-family style with yards. If you’re shopping for a home in Marynook, prices range from below $100,000 to the low $200s with a median price in the high $100s.
The Chicago Park District’s Avalon Park gives residents access to amenities including a field house, a fitness center, a pool, a playground, and greenspace. Beyond the park, Marynook is also home to roller-skating spot The Rink and a number of restaurants along Stony Island Avenue.
Oriole Park
Located just east of O’Hare Airport, Oriole Park is a small pocket of the larger Norwood Park neighborhood. Oriole Park is largely created by the boundaries of I-90, Harlem Avenue, Canfield Avenue, and Foster Avenue. Residents who drive on their commute have easy access to the highway, while those who use public transportation can hop onto the CTA Blue Line at the neighborhood’s Harlem station.
Oriole Park has a mix of single-family homes and condos. The single-family homes are largely grouped on the western side of the neighborhood, while the condos stand mostly to the east. The median sale price for a home in Oriole Park is in the high $200s, according to Neighborhoods.com data.
The neighborhood’s Oriole Park sits at the heart of the community. The park has sports fields, a playground, tennis courts, and a paved path. On the southeast end of the park, residents also have access to the neighborhood’s Chicago Public Library branch.
The Villa
The Villa is a Chicago historic district and a neighborhood unto itself. Unless you’re an avid follower of Prairie-style architecture, you probably haven’t heard much about this neighborhood. Once you visit this 100% residential neighborhood tucked away within Avondale, you might find you do have an appreciation for that style.
The large homes of The Villa, lined up along grassy boulevards, make quite the impression. However, the historic, single-family homes of The Villa command a high price—a median sale price in the high $600s.
Within The Villa it can be easy to forget you live in the city, but once you step outside of its bounds, you’ll find easy access to the CTA Blue Line, local restaurants, and plenty of shopping spots.