Millennials are killing Chicago. Just kidding. The Windy City can’t be added to the generation’s kill list, which contains everything from diamonds to chain restaurants at last count. Census data has shown that millennials (people ages 25 to 34 years old) are actually the largest group living in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Millennials are drawn to the city for jobs and the urban lifestyle. As much as the generation is maligned in the headlines, cities want them. Wisconsin spent $1 million on an ad campaign designed to lure Chicago’s younger generation up north.

Janet Smith, a University of Illinois at Chicago professor, predicts millennials will continue to come to the city. “The influx of growth of young people, that’s likely to continue. We anticipate that for a couple of reasons (including) the growing globalization and technology,” she told the Chicago Tribune. 

So, you’re a millennial, and you want to buy a home in Chicago (granted you can put down the avocado toast). What do you need to know about living in the city?

Know Your Neighborhoods

Homes in Wrigleyville photo courtesy of Gerald Farinas

Chicago has 77 different neighborhoods, each with its own character, and some of these neighborhoods have a vibe that attracts the millennial crowd. More than half of the population of Bucktown is on the younger side (the median age is 31). The neighborhood has a vibrant nightlife, and it’s highly walkable and bikeable. Lakeview is home to the smaller neighborhoods of LGBTQ-friendly Boystown and Cubs town Wrigleyville. The West Loop has easy access to downtown and Randolph Street’s Restaurant Row for foodies. Logan Square is known for its creative crowd and its solid collection of coffee shops and craft breweries.

While the feel of a neighborhood is important to any homebuyer, the majority of millennials are also interested in settling down in a single-family detached home. That type of home can be found in each of these neighborhoods, but the detached homes are peppered in among a mix of condo towers and townhomes.

Where to Eat Brunch

All tongue-in-cheek avo toast jokes aside, brunch is delicious, and no one should be begrudged enjoying it. If you need a regular brunch spot close to home, consider Andersonville. The pancakes of The Bongo Room and the Southern biscuits of Big Jones are found in this North Side neighborhood. In Hyde Park, you can find the cafeteria-style Valois and the classic breakfast restaurant Plein Air Cafe and Eatery.

Let Your Dogs Live Their Best Life

This dog is enjoying his favorite restaurant

Millennials love their dogs. A poll put dogs ahead of marriage and kids as a homebuying motivation for the generation. If you’re going to settle on a house to give your dog the yard she has always deserved, you’ll probably want the neighborhood to be good fit for pups too. In Uptown, you can take your dog to the dog-friendly section of Montrose Beach. In Albany Park, you can go for long walks in LaBagh Woods. In addition to outdoor spots, Chicago has plenty of neighborhood restaurants that welcome the four-footed with open arms. Take your dog on a patio crawl in West Town, which has the dog-friendly Mahoney’s Pub and Grille, Happy Village, and Sportsman’s Club.

Sip on Your Drink of Choice

Gaslight Coffee Roasters photo courtesy of Edsel Little

Caffeine addicts will find themselves right at home in Chicago. In Logan Square, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to coffee shops. Take your pick from Colectivo Coffee, Gaslight Coffee Roasters, Passion House Cafe, Caffe Umbria, Sip of Hope Coffee Bar, and more. If tea is more your style, head to Tea’se Tea Shoppe in Portage Park for a fresh cup of tea or loose leaf to brew at home.

When it comes to grabbing a quick drink or lingering over your glass, Chicago’s neighborhoods once again perform with flying colors. Ravenswood is home to Malt Row, the place to be for any beer drinkers. If wine is your drink of choice, try Income Tax in Edgewater and Rootstock in Humboldt Park. 

Dedicated margarita drinkers will be delighted by the options in Pilsen (try La Vaca Margarita Bar).

Find the Entertainment Vibe for You

Outside of Thalia Hall in Pilsen photo courtesy of Payton Chung

Generational generalizations are a time-honored tradition, but it should come as no surprise that being a millennial doesn’t completely define an individual’s interests, no more than being a baby boomer or member of Gen X does. If live music and vinyl records are your jam, Pilsen may be the place for you. You can catch live shows at Thalia Hall and beef up your record collection at three vinyl shops. Bookworms will fall in love with the dusty and packed stacks of Myopic Books in Wicker Park. And diehard baseball fans can live in the heart of Cubs territory in Wrigleyville or in Sox country in Bridgeport.